sanded grout ?

 

Contractor claims it is unsanded, but it looks (and feels) like sanded to me. I definitely feel grit as I move my finger over it. But I'm not well versed in these things. From pics #1 and #4 can you tell?

 

plus it looks like it needs to be cleaned more.

 

Yes as above.

Sanded grout can be culpret on the softer marbles.

Also, strangly and lately I have been having an issue in getting grout haze off some very simple white porceline or subway tile. Never had the problem before, and honestly thought that maybe formulas have changed in the grout. I believe it was Customs BP grout both times.

I would test hit it with a grout haze acidic remover , using only a "soft - light grit" scotch type pad.

I don't know if marbles can be honed/polished (with diamond abrasives) after install if it is permently scratched.. Never done that or had the problem.

 

Yes as above.

Sanded grout can be culpret on the softer marbles.

Also, strangly and lately I have been having an issue in getting grout haze off some very simple white porceline or subway tile. Never had the problem before, and honestly thought that maybe formulas have changed in the grout. I believe it was Customs BP grout both times.

I would test hit it with a grout haze acidic remover , using only a "soft - light grit" scotch type pad.

I don't know if marbles can be honed/polished (with diamond abrasives) after install if it is permently scratched.. Never done that or had the problem.

I just did 3 X 6 white subway tile in my master bath shower and had a hard time getting the haze off. I used water and a gray scotch brite pad to get it off. No ill effects of the tile. Of course I rubbed the crap out a left over piece first to see.

 

If the marble is that soft, scratchable when grouting, normal shie traffic is going to dull it in a month or two.

 

Marble is pretty soft ,cracks easy too. I have black and white marble in my master bath. Still looks pretty good after 10 yrs although the wife spilled some toilet bowl cleaner on it and it etched the surface in that spot. I used much smaller grout spacing and black unsanded grout. You may be able to have your scratches polished out although iv never tried it.

 

Grout is clearly sanded, so contractor is either clueless or lying to you to avoid the problem. Of course marble manufacturers are going to recommend against sanded grout specifically because of this issue. Now, there are some "sanded" grouts you can use. Mapei Flexcolor CQ, for example, because it's not really sand - it's more of a rounded off little quartz bead (which is how it was explained to me). But even for that one, the literature says "Some types of sensitive tiles such as glass mosaic or marble can be permanently stained, scratched, dulled or damaged when grouting. Always test the grout on a separate sample area before grouting to determine the suitability of the tile". I don't know what kind of grout you have. Presumably you picked the color from some color palette, right? So you should be able to know the brand. Ask him to show you the product he used. Then read the instructions. Surely it will specifically warn against using it on marble.

Having said that, that is an awful lot of scratching and it's hard to believe that was caused by grout. Not sure what to say about that. Just based on the photos, I think I would have to go out of my way to intentionally scratch the tile like that.

The second issue is obvious though - they didn't clean the grout well during install. Glossy polished tile like this is very very particular about having the grout cleaned off meticulously, and some installers just weren't up to the task.

 

Grout is clearly sanded, so contractor is either clueless or lying to you to avoid the problem.

No! Say it ain’t so!

So since you and I are on the outside looking in, with all the knowledge in the world to back us up … is it reasonable to have expected the contractor to advise the customer that sanded grout was proscribed, and thus he is on the hook to make it right?

 

I can say that the newer premixed, waster based grouts like Mapei Flexcolro CQ, Laticrete Spectralock 1, and Custom Fusion Pro dry VERY fast (not in the grout line, but when spread thin on the tiles) and have to be wiped up very quickly or it's going to be a real pain in the ass. One case where following manufacturers instructions is not a good idea. Mapei says to wait 5-10 minutes (that will be a disaster). To their credit, Custom says the working time is only 1-4 minutes.

But anyway, I doubt that was premixed grout.

 

I found a bag of leftover grout in the garage (I assume it was from this powder room, although I did have one other area tiled as well). The bag clearly says not to use it on marble.

Thanks all.

 

I think you can get away with 15 minutes on the powder grouts.