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How to fix grout that has turned white?

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…

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Comments

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

renonewbie

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/60942#Comment_60942

Hi Jacob

thanks so much for the reply

I have tried some scrubbing with a small grout brush I bought from

bunnings

https://www.bunnings.com.au/sabco-soft-grip-grout-brush_p4480053?store=7016&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20876642384&gbraid=0AAAAADtbEB-y0mmObtG2zzeuhZfXYJ-lL&gclid=Cj0KCQiAx8PKBhD1ARIsAKsmGbf-7i__CTgEQF5MJY98-MeyYZBh7Ab9_XkEfANK8LEw5Uf5t3iiv2UaAjKpEALw_wcB

it made it only very slightly darker but definitely a small change

I didn’t wanna do anymore as it was getting into the grout line too much

we have only a few days of overcast weather then a bit of rain forecast

should I hold out for a few hot hot days before trying the efflorescence remover?

Everytime it gets wet am I back to square one?

thanks for your help

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/92955#Comment_92955

Hi @renonewbie,

From your images, your grout appears to be a beige colour. It's brownish/dark beige when wet and dries to a light beige colour. It appears white compared to the inspiration images, but it is far from it. I think there's a discrepancy between what you have here and the product images. What you have is a light beige colour rather than the darker beige/tan colour in your third image. Was this grout one of our products? If not, you might like to reach out to the manufacturer to discuss the difference you're seeing.

Although Jacob is correct that you do not want to seal the grout if it is not fully dried, you might find that once it has dried, applying a wet-look sealer could give you the look you're going for. Sealers often darken the colour of grout. I would suggest that the grout in your image has been sealed, which is the difference between the light beige you currently have and the darker beige that is depicted in the image.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

renonewbie

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/112646#Comment_112646

Thanks Mitchell

nope the grout is from the supplier of the stone and I’ll definitely give them a call once they’re back which isn’t till the 6th Jan

I’ll show another photo but the grout does seem whiter compared to a light beige but has been getting a bit darker hmm

I’ve sealed a very small area to test with a natural sealant color but doesn’t change the grout color-

if I sealed it with a wet color sealant does it change the grout color?or just make the stone appear damp?

do you think it is efflorescence ?

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/123853#Comment_123853

I'm not seeing any signs of efflorescence @renonewbie. Well, certainly not that covers all the grout. In the image below, I've circled an area that could potentially be.

The grout, for me, would fall well within the beige category; it's just not as dark as what is shown in the images. If you were to put something white next to it, I think that would show how far into the beige category it is. Another thing to bear in mind is that the product image appears to be a little under-exposed. I've added a side-by-side comparison of it exposed as it would be in

natural light. You can now see how we are getting closer to the finish you've achieved.

A "natural" sealer typically keeps everything looking natural, as it doesn't change the look. A wet-look sealer does exactly that, it gives the same look as if the grout/tile was wet, which could give that darker colour. However, whether a wet-look sealer is suitable for the tiles is another question entirely.

Mitchell

renonewbie

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/131289#Comment_131289

Okay great

good to know

thank you!
They are natural limestone stone

A wet sealant sounds like it may be perfect as long as it doesn’t make the tile slippery?

Do you have a suggestion for a sealant?
thanks again

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/135826#Comment_135826

Crommelin 1L Satin Wet Look Paving Sealer could be suitable @renonewbie. However, I do have concerns about it's slip resistance around your pool. I would first chat with the paving supplier for their recommendation, and then contact Crommelin's technical team on Ph: 1800 655 711 to ensure compatibility.

Mitchell

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