How To Darken And Re-Color Grout

Grout Recoloring Tips

By Troy Cantini

It is a common problem for the grout color to look much lighter than desired.   Using too much water in the grout is a common reason for the grout color to look lighter than desired. Too much water in the grout can also cause the grout to look splotchy with different areas of dark and light colored grout throughout the grout lines. Luckily there are ways to darken grout and give it a more even looking appearance.

The color and look of the grout can ruin the look of the entire tile installation.  The first thing that you should do when you realize the grout color is not to your liking is to analyze the grout. It is important to allow the grout to dry for at least a week to ensure that the grout has fully cured and the color of the grout has fully stabilized. In some cases there may be a grout haze on the surface of the grout that is causing the grout to look too light.

It is important to not do things to darken the grout that could damage the tiles and also cause irreparable harm to the existing grout.  You should never try to seal the grout with an impregnating sealer until you are satisfied with the look and color of the grout. Clear impregnating sealers will initially darken the grout when they are applied but when they dry the color of the grout will be exactly the same as before you sealed the grout. Also if you try to remove the grout haze with an acidic cleaner and this does not help then continually applying acids, vinegars and other DIY solutions will just make matters worse and damage the integrity of the existing grout.

If a grout haze or an efflorescence film has formed on the surface of the grout You should try to clean the grout with water and a mild acidic tile and grout cleaner.  The acidic clean will react with the grout haze and allow it to be easily cleaned up and wiped away. You should then thoroughly rinse the grout and allow the grout to fully dry to asses the true color and condition of the grout.

The easier, less messy way to darken the grout is to colorseal the grout with a grout colorant.  Colorsealing grout involves applying a topical colored sealant to the grout. The grout color will take on the color of the grout colorant and your grout will now have a much more even color than it originally had. A grout colorant will also seal the grout and protect it better than a normal impregnating clear sealer. In cases where the grout color looks too dark you can also use a grout colorant to lighten up the color of the grout.

Colorsealing grout is a great way to darken the grout or change the grout color to whatever you want.  Grout that has been sealed with a grout colorant is a lot easier to clean than grout that is sealed with a normal impregnating sealer. Grout colorants cost more than a normal impregnating grout sealer but the benefits of the grout colorant will pay out over time. Never having to seal your grout again and having easy to clean and maintain grout will make a color sealer more economical and less work in the long run.