Did I ruin my brand new slate flooring by trying to fix blotchy grout with black Grout Refresh?
Asked by آیلین رضاییان 
7 months ago
Last Updated: May 10, 2024
UPDATE: Just wanted to give a quick shoutout to everyone who suggested using a wet look sealer on our slate flooring. I applied two coats and it’s looking so much better already, even though it’s still drying in the photo. Luckily, the problem area will be hidden under the toilet, so crisis averted!
So, here’s the deal – we had slate flooring put in recently, and we opted for black grout. But somehow it ended up drying a weird white/gray color and super splotchy. I thought I could fix it by using black Grout Refresh, but it ended up staining the slate tiles instead. I’ve tried everything – slate cleaner, hydrogen peroxide, you name it – but I just can’t seem to get the black marks off the tiles. Is our new floor completely ruined?
Slate has a lot of tiny holes. Not sure how to resolve that. Someone might have an idea. You probably washed away the grout color while wiping with a wet sponge.
Always make your own products instead of purchasing pre-made ones
Slate acts like a sponge, not sure how to handle that, my bad.
I personally find the dark border around the slate appealing. If you’re dealing with this problem now, you might want to lightly test the stain on a small section of the slate.
Slate tends to absorb liquids easily and it’s challenging to completely remove a stain. Perhaps you could think about staining the entire floor or certain sections to make the sealant blend in.
Seal the surface before applying the stain
I apologize for the grout problem, but do you think those cracks were there from the installation?
Mentioned that the slate will naturally peel in layers. I had the same problem with the slate in my foyer until I decided to remove it all.
Make sure to seal it before applying the grout, okay?
You truly brighten up the room!🌞
Is right, that stuff is not coming off. Also, just don’t be a 🍆
Seal them now! The surface may appear moist, but it will become water-resistant.
Yes
Give it some time before making any changes. Stone tends to soak up stains if untouched. Stick to your usual mopping routine.
The slate should have been sealed twice by the installer – before grouting and after everything was done. It’s also a good idea to tape carefully and seal again on top before attempting to redye. Matte finish slate sealers are less effective than glossy finish ones and pose more risk.
If it weren’t for the attempted home redye job making things complicated, I would have asked about their installation process and if there was no mention of pre-sealing before grouting, it would be clear that they made a mistake. A slate floor refurbisher might be able to provide the best solution at this point.
Unfortunately, the slate might be ruined depending on your standards. It’s hard to clean the dye out once it’s absorbed into the tile. You could try applying a heavy glossy wet look seal to darken it and hope that it camouflages the dye enough for you to live with it.
Thanks a lot for the suggestion!
Wow, that’s great! The grout stain marks seem to have disappeared very well!! Dark and glossy looks fantastic. You’re doing great. I adore slate, it’s my favorite despite the maintenance it requires.
It’s important to seal slate before putting anything on it.
You may need to consider staining the whole tile to make it more even. Dealing with problems like this is never enjoyable. Hopefully, everything will turn out fine!
I believe it’s alright to have variations like natural stone does. However, if it’s as porous as people are claiming, you might want to stain it in the desired overall color and then seal it.
In my opinion, those tiles seem to be positioned too closely for the grout. It could be the incorrect grout choice as well.
I think I did mine in the wrong order too. I never realized you should seal first, then grout. I had a professional do the tiling and grouting. After that, I sealed it. I used slate with dark grout as well. The result was perfect. Unsure why mine turned out right.
I think my grout might have been dark gray? I can’t recall
Looks amazing
Thank you!
Dealing with slate can be tricky. It seems like they didn’t seal it before installing, which is a common mistake. Unfortunately, once it’s stained, it’s pretty much there to stay. Sorry about that.
Slate should have been sealed with grout release before grouting, as slate is a natural stone that absorbs a lot. Consider cleaning it with Myric acid and then sealing it.
Try using bleach on a small area first. They also offer a grout/haze remover, might be worth a shot. Just make sure to test it on a small area or spare tile before going all in.
I recently applied grout stain to a large area of over 1000 sq ft. Be careful not to accidentally get it on the tile; I usually use a wet rag to clean as I go. You can scrape off the old dried-on grout with a razor blade, but it’s wise to test on a scrap piece to avoid scratching your tile. I have noticed that some cleaning products, like Lysol toilet bowl cleaner gel and Zep grout cleaner, can cause the coating to peel off, although I’m unsure if these are safe for slate. Slate is a natural stone that demands special care.
Hey, but I wouldn’t suggest staining slate, the grout stain is meant for regular tile.
It’s possible that your installer didn’t use the correct grout or the right size spacers. If one side of the tile is longer than 6 inches, it falls into the ‘large format tile’ category. The boxes usually contain instructions for grout line size, installation patterns, and the type of grout to be used. Inconsistencies in grout mixing can lead to color variation, so we always weigh the dry grout for consistency.
Hey , you sound like a pro weekend warrior!
Unfortunately, attempting to fix the issue yourself may have voided the contractor’s obligation to rectify the situation, potentially resulting in further damage, which is not what you initially intended. I hope you manage to find a solution to the problem. In the future, consider contacting your contractor first before taking matters into your own hands.
Either redo from the start or just stain them all.
Seems like the slate wasn’t sealed before installation… if it’s natural and unsealed, the grout will adhere to it. Sometimes excess washing can cause this issue… and sometimes it occurs when the thinset rises through the grout line. It dries to a much lighter shade. It almost resembles thinset seeping through the grout lines… not sure.