Like to hear your opinion about the bathroom floor tiling we have in our soon-to-hand-over house. We are not quite happy about the grout colour and some of the tiles not level properly. The grout colour makes the whole bathroom looks like a 5-10 years old house.
We expect the colour to be consistent, single colour, but as shown below, you can see some black/grey/mixed colour at the bottom.
This one is even more obvious, also the spacing between the upper right hand side one wasn't quite correct when compared to others.
This is a closer look, you can roughly see the grout seems to be a mixture of all sorts of different colour sands. Also, the upper right hand side tile wasn't very level and pops up a bit.
Another one with different coloured grout.
When compared with the pure white colour grout for wall tiles, the colour problem of the floor tile grout is even more obvious
Another one for comparing grout colour with wall tiles.
All previous photos are for upstair bathrooms (ensuite+main bath) as they both use the same tiles. This one is for ground floor powder room, it's slighyly better, but also have similar issue with grout colour for floor tiles.
Our tiler's explanations are:
1. When the tiles were finished, there wasn't any problem with the grout colour.
2. Probably the cleaner used some sort of chemical for cleaning causing some of the grout colour to change
3. May be the tiles wasn't completely dry yet, leave it for a bit longer and the colour will settle down.
4. May be it's just dirt and need cleaning.
The most $^%@! comment we got from the Vietnamese tiler is "it's just a project home, what sort of quality would you expect?" We complaint to his boss, who of course denied it instantly.
Any way, like to hear your oppinion on this, any comments or suggestions welcomed! Thanks.
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Browse Forums Bathrooms and Laundry Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathrooms 2Mar 11, 2008 10:18 pm it looks as if dirt or something has been absorbed into the grout, the cleaner may have spread dirt into the grout when cleaning the floor , i remember the grouting in our old house was ruined after the cleaner went in and cleaned  . it was never the same..
the floor tiles are unevenly spaced up and down. Can the floor tiles be regrouted? Pays to seal the grout before its cleaned i reckon... thats what im going to do this time, before our floor tiles are cleaned. Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathrooms 3Mar 11, 2008 10:22 pm Thanks clath for the info.
But how do I know if my tiles have been properly "sealed" or not?? Is there any simple method to find that out?? Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathrooms 4Mar 11, 2008 10:37 pm Ahuang i wouldnt think the tilers would seal the grout unless you ask them to. If the tiles had been sealed you wouldnt have gotton that discolouration in the first place .Think the sealing would be up to you to do... unless you had ask them to do it when they were laying them
Maybe get a brush and try cleaning a small area.. and see if the dirt comes off... or Maybe the grouting used was inferior. have heard that that can be the case. Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathrooms 6Mar 11, 2008 10:46 pm How soon after grouting was done did you take the photos????
In some case grout can take a few days to dry properly, depending on the amount of fresh air coming into the space. It also looks like something that can be scrubbed off, you may find it could be dirt.  Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathr 7Mar 11, 2008 10:53 pm [quote="ahuang"]
The most $^%@! comment we got from the Vietnamese tiler is "it's just a project home, what sort of quality would you expect?" [quote] 
Holding my breath!!!!!! And tongue on that comment! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com  29 Feb 2008 441 Adelaide Gold Member Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathrooms 9Mar 11, 2008 10:58 pm Allan,
When you get your problem solved, and thinking about grout sealing, take special care. Make sure you clean ALL the sealant off the tiles BEFORE it dries. Once it dries on the tile surface (even a very thin film of it), it is virtually impossible to get off. It will cause the tiles to look dirty (especially on light-coloured tiles). Re your problem, I'm no expert but have done some tiling before. Admittedly, one of my tiling jobs at home has ended up with grout of non-uniform colour -- some areas of grout looks wet (but it isn't). Not sure why or what caused it, and it is still noticeable a year after the tiles were laid. But your case looks worse than the wet look. Chris 15 Apr 2007 3,120 Gold Member Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathrooms 10Mar 12, 2008 12:01 am Allan,
That looks to me like a sub-standard job. I feel you have every right to demand it is rectified by a competent tiler, and not the 'tiler' that did this job!
Reading through the responses, I can't help saying that (as well meaning as they are) there is a serious lack of informed and expert advice so far. Neither am I a great expert, so here is what I suggest..... Read this newsletter http://www.aquamix.com.au/files/Aqua_Ch ... ber_07.pdf It pretty much covers the problem of shade variation in grout. At the bottom of the newsletter, you will find contact details of Aquamix. They are in Sydney. Ask to speak with A'nge (pronounced Anj). He is the President of the Australian Tile Council, and the manager of Aquamix Australia. Send him the pics you've posted, and get his assessment of the tiling job. Tell him that Ash said you can call him anytime day or night! 
You can count on professional, well-informed advice and info from A'nge. Being in Sydney makes it all the better. One solution may be to seal and colour the grout with Aquamix grout colourant. But that doesn't fix the poorly aligned tiles. Let us know how you get on! Ash. Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathrooms 11Mar 12, 2008 8:51 am Well said Ash.
Those tiles do look 10 years old, its hard enough keeping grout clean without them starting off dirty. Stick to your guns, don't back down. Good luck Paula Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathrooms 12Mar 12, 2008 9:01 am Hi Ahuang
Sorry to hear this, but from the close up of the photos, the tiles are not aligned properly. Still need to take this up to the builder (if that is his responsibility) or the tiler's boss. Hope you got the best outcome. Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathrooms 13Mar 12, 2008 10:02 am Well said Ash!!!
Allan, i wouldn't accept it.....sorry!!!!
It looks like there has been a stuff up with the mixing of the grout colour... Stand your ground and get them to remove the grout and re-do it... In regards to the tiles, your builder probably has a specification/tolerance in regards to allowable variations in tiles???? But while you on them for the grouting...jump up and down about that too!!!! Good Luck... 15 Apr 2007 3,120 Gold Member Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathrooms 14Mar 12, 2008 10:12 am  **Phoenix**Stand your ground and get them to remove the grout and re-do it... That might be a way to go, however it isn't that easily done. Removal of grout can be a delicate operation, as a sharp carbide tip grout remover is used, and one wrong move and the edge of a tile can be chipped in the process. Nevertheless, it may have to be done, then any misaligned tiles (or those damaged) replaced, then the joints re-grouted. And yes, it is best to seal the grout afterwards. Ash. 31 May 2007 1,041 Member Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathrooms 15Mar 12, 2008 10:40 am Allan, personally I reckon that tiling is far less than acceptable.
Are you getting a building inspection done prior to hand-over? Surely the inspector will note the tiling as being unacceptable and Allcastle will be obliged to fix it appropriately.. Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathrooms 16Mar 12, 2008 12:11 pm Thanks for all your comments/info.
Michelle - The tiles were finished at least 3 to 4 weeks ago, so we would expect them to be completely dried now. Ash - I will certainly contact A'nge and get some advice. I am interested in finding out more info about this "grout seal" thing. Will throw that question to builder for confirmation. I also noticed there are some companies offering "grout colouring" service, which I assume could be a solution for this -- at my builder's cost of course.. Last thing we heard from supervisor is, he is going to arrange for the cleaner to somehow scrap the top thin layer from the grout and then apply some coating on top to see if that fix it. As a "proper" handling of work like this would take ages and the chance of unnecessary damages to the titles is quite high, we are a bit reluctant to go this path but looks like there's no other option available. So let's wait and see how it goes. Thanks again! 04 Mar 2008 121 Senior Member Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathrooms 17Mar 12, 2008 12:20 pm If that was my house, i wouldn't expect it.
Even if it was some chemical used by their cleaners, it is their responsibility. Don't give in otherwise you will regret it late. Yes it may be dirt, but why should you have to scrub it off when it was under their responsibility to start off with? good luck Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathr 18Mar 12, 2008 12:38 pm  ahuangThis is a closer look, you can roughly see the grout seems to be a mixture of all sorts of different colour sands. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't grout come as a coloured powder that you mix with water... I don't think there is "sand" involved. This job is absolutely shocking! More the colour of the grout, but still that is horrendous! My answer would be rip them up and do them again. If the grout is wrong, and the lines are wrong that to me would be the only fix. Ray. Second Time 'Round 19 Feb 2007 120 Senior Member Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathr 19Mar 12, 2008 3:32 pm  First_Timer_Ray ahuangThis is a closer look, you can roughly see the grout seems to be a mixture of all sorts of different colour sands. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't grout come as a coloured powder that you mix with water... I don't think there is "sand" involved. This job is absolutely shocking! More the colour of the grout, but still that is horrendous! My answer would be rip them up and do them again. If the grout is wrong, and the lines are wrong that to me would be the only fix. Ray. That's what I thought too! I'm sure ours was done like that, we still have a bag of the grout stuff out in the shed. To me it still looks like the cleaners have done it cleaning, I only say that because in some of the pics it looks like it's dirty on the tile and edge of tile where it touches the grout, in the same spots as where the grout is dirty. 15 Apr 2007 3,120 Gold Member Re: Tell me how you feel about the floor tiling in our bathr 20Mar 12, 2008 5:32 pm First_Timer_RayCorrect me if I'm wrong, but doesn't grout come as a coloured powder that you mix with water... I don't think there is "sand" involved. Ray. Consider yourself corrected..... over my knee with you! 
There are different types of grout, but sand is a common constituent of grout, especially where wider grout joints are concerned. Ash. CDC Housing Code 3 When to apply Floor Area external face of wall vs Gross Floor Area internal face of wall. Reading thru CDC Housing Code 3, lets take a lot 915sqm.… 0 3194 isn't a garage level with the rest of the house a given? pretty sure they 'came around' long time ago. if you have a flat block, the garage is usually level with the rest… 1 4463 Would be interested as well on costs with rectified tiles through HGWA 1 4238 |
... not the tiles sorry mate 
