Grout turned white post installation help

[renonewbie]

 

 

 

 

hi there

ive recently completed a crazy pave on our outdoor pool surrounds. It all went well apart from the grouting. 
we grouted with a beige color and then unfortunately it rained heavy about 8 hours after completion

it did seem dry though

since then the grout has turned white 

im not sure if it’s efflorescence and if it is what I should do

ive tried brushing it with a hard brush and it does slightly change the color but I’m not sure if I keep going in case I rub away too much grout. 
when it is wet it still turns to a nice beige that I like so I’m not sure how to proceed

- keep scrubbing and then seal? 
- try the efflorescence acid washer ? 
- seal with a wet look seal? 

thanks heaps in advance 

pics of the color the grout should be followed by pics of the pavers laid and how they look wet…

[JacobZ]

Hi @renonewbie,

What you are seeing is almost certainly efflorescence caused by the rain. Even though the grout felt dry, moisture can still move through it in the first day or so and bring salts to the surface. The strongest indicator is that the grout returns to the correct beige colour when wet, which means the pigment has not been damaged and the whitening is sitting on the surface.

At this stage, do not seal the paving. Sealing now would trap the salts and permanently lock in the lighter colour. Also, avoid aggressive scrubbing with very hard or wire brushes, as you can slowly erode the grout joints. 

Light dry brushing with a stiff nylon broom when the area is fully dry is fine and often improves efflorescence over a few attempts. I'd give this a try before moving on to other options.

If brushing alone does not resolve it, wait at least two weeks after grouting to allow the grout to fully cure and then use an Efflorescence Remover. Pre-wet the surface first, test a small hidden area, let the cleaner do the work with minimal scrubbing, and rinse very thoroughly. This usually removes the salts without stripping colour when done correctly.

Once the grout has stabilised and looks as close as possible to the beige you like, then sealing is the final step. A penetrating sealer like this Davco Sanitized Tile And Grout Sealer would be your best option.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob