How to Match Grout When Doing Repairs
Tulsa masonry repair is important for keeping brickwork safe and looking great. One aspect of this is matching the grout. When done correctly, this makes the repair virtually invisible. However, if done incorrectly it highlights the area of repair.
Matching grout is much like matching paint! Seemingly slight color variations can produce glaring differences.
Get a Sample
Grout is a great addition to a brick surface. It makes it look finished, and it can also highlight the spot where a repair has been made. Matching new grout to existing grout takes time and patience, but it’s well worth the effort if done right. This is the way professionals do it, and you can too with the right process and tools.
Start by getting a sample of the grout that you need to match. This can be done by removing a bit of the existing grout from an inconspicuous area and then taking it to a local store that sells grout. They will be able to provide you with a color chart that you can use for comparison.
If you can’t get a sample, try to salvage a bit of the old grout from under baseboards or other areas where it isn’t seen. It can be difficult to chip away enough grout without disturbing the tile, but it’s possible. Use a hammer or a narrow chisel to do this, and be careful that you don’t hit the tiles.
Once you have a good sample, it’s time to work on matching the color. Masonry repair is usually performed with a mixture of sand, lime and Portland cement, so trial and error will be necessary to figure out the proper ratios. Then it’s a matter of mixing small amounts of the mortar and adding dry pigments until you find the right mix.
Remember that wet grout is darker than it will be once it’s dry, so you need to take this into consideration as you are making your color match. Also, different types of grout will stain differently and may require more or less cleaning. For example, a lighter colored grout will collect more cooking residue and might need to be cleaned more often than a dark grout would.
Once you have the correct mix, set out a few samples to dry. They will be a much more accurate representation of the final grout color than a wet sample. Then you can make any adjustments needed to the formula to ensure a perfect match.
Do a Mock Layout
Grout that is discolored, cracked, or missing is unsightly, even when the surrounding tile is in good condition. Some homeowners will try to touch-up these areas by just adding a little bit of new grout, but for a long-lasting repair this isn’t a good idea. It’s important to remove as much of the old grout as possible in these areas and replace it with a new, sealed grout.
If you can’t fully remove the existing grout, a mock layout is a good way to get an accurate sense of how the new grout will look. By placing a piece of paper over the damaged area and scribbling in pencil, you can see how the color will look with the new grout in place. This will give you an accurate sense of how the finished project will look, and it will help to prevent any surprises down the road.
When choosing a color for your new grout, take a look at sample grout chips at a home improvement store. They are often available in both sanded and unsanded varieties, so you can choose the correct one for your project. It’s important to note that dry powdered grout looks different than it will when it is wet, so a color might look lighter or darker than you expected in the chip.
For the best match, it’s usually a good idea to choose a shade that is lighter than the original grout. This is because light colored grout tends to hide dirt and stains better than dark grout. It’s also a good idea to consider the overall style of the room and tile before making your decision.
If you’re not sure what the best option is for your project, consider asking our brick repair Tulsa professionals to take a look. They can give you their recommendation based on their years of experience and knowledge of how different colors and textures work together.
Whether you’re doing a small repair job or tuckpointing an entire building, matching grout takes time and attention to detail. However, with the right techniques, your repaired areas will blend in seamlessly and provide a clean, beautiful finish.
Use Contrast
Grout that's cracked, heavily discolored or missing in small areas can really detract from the beauty of your tile installation. While it may be tempting to simply touch up those areas, it's a far better idea to remove the old grout and replace it, reseal and protect it from future damage.
If you're going to do that, it will be important to match the color of your new grout to that of the existing grout so the repair is invisible. That's where a little time and careful work come into play.
As you probably know, grout comes in many different colors from a number of manufacturers. It's impossible to get a perfect match from just one bag of grout and even if you did it would be difficult. Grout is a powder that, when mixed with water, becomes a viscous paste. That means wet grout shows up as a deeper shade of color than dry grout will. For this reason, masons often use a dry pigment system (like Laticrete Permacolor) to achieve the exact color they need. This method requires a lot of time and patience as you blend the dry pigments together. It also demands a high level of discipline and thorough record keeping.
Using the sample grout chips you've made, mix up a batch of your chosen color of grout and test it on the surface to see how well it matches up with the existing grout. If the original is lighter, you'll need to lighten the new grout by adding more water when you mix it. If it's darker, you'll need to add less.
Once you've got the right mix, apply it to the gap and smooth out with a grout float. A nonstick rubber float works the best and it's available at most home improvement stores. If you get any grout on the face of your tile, wipe it off as soon as possible with a clean cloth. It's also a good idea to protect your hands with gloves as the cement can irritate them.
If you've followed these tips and your work is neat and tidy, the result should be a perfect match that will last for years to come. But if the repairs look like a patchwork quilt, it might be time to call in a pro.
Match at Midday
Getting the color of grout right is very much like matching paint. Seemingly slight color variations can produce glaring differences when it comes time to do repair work. To get the best results try to match at midday if possible. That’s because at night the color given off by bulbs in the bathroom can interfere with your ability to match the grout color.
Often you’ll need to do some creative blending of different colors to get the exact match you want. You’ll need to be very meticulous and diligent with your record keeping as you mix, blend and test different batches. This can be very frustrating but it’s one of the only ways to get a perfect match.
It’s also important to remember that you need to match the dry grout color to what it will look like when it’s fully set. It’s very easy to mistake the color of a bag of dry powdered grout for what it will be once it’s wet. This is why it’s so critical to always get a sample and use a color chart or a sample stick. You can even salvage a piece of the existing grout from underneath a baseboard next to the wall to get a good reference point. In need of fireplace repair Tulsa residents trust? reach out our professionals today
Tulsa masonry repair is important for keeping brickwork safe and looking great. One aspect of this is matching the grout. When done correctly, this makes the repair virtually invisible. However, if done incorrectly it highlights the area of repair. Matching grout is much like matching paint! Seemingly slight color variations can produce glaring differences. Get…