Matching grout

[dlminehart]

I need to patch a few places in the grout around my shower, where about 10 of the X-shaped spacers were left in place after the tiles were attached, and the thin grout covering them fell away. I plan to use my Dremel to clear the spacers away, then fill the holes left behind.

My problem is that I can't find the exact shade of grout at HD. The "Alabaster" is too white and cool; "Snow White" is warmer but a little too light; the "Antique White" is warm enough but a little too dark.

Anyone know whether Lowe's has a different spectrum of colors? Or whether one can add some latex paint to grout (e.g., add some white to lighten the Antique White) without weakening it? Would it be better to add white primer or topcoat?

[Mr__Bill]

It could just be white with a sealer on it that darkens the color. Then again age may be the factor or just a little pantana (sp) from use.

[jAngiel]

Check the John Bridge forum, tile your world or something like that. They're always very helpful on tile questions.

[jziegler]

HD and Lowes do carry different brands of grout, and the colors are different. I needed black grout for my kitchen, Lowes didn't have anything darker than a medium-dark grey, but HD had a really dark grey. I don't know how the whites compared, but it is worth a look.

Jim

[Kensrock]

Matching grout

A trick used by masons is to save the dust from when you remove the grout and add it to the new grout. It helps.....

[DaveS]

Go to a tile store - a real tile store - that just sells tile.

They have grout samples that you can check out and bring home to compare against.

They must have 100 colors.

[pecker]

When I had to replace some floor tiles in an area where i had installed them about 2 years earlier, I bought the exact same brand and part number of grout that I had used previously.

After it dried, it was not an exact match...even to it's old self.

[Uncle Cracker]

After it dried, it was not an exact match...even to it's old self.

Even new grout from different batch numbers of the same color and manufacturer can differ to some degree. It's a crap-shoot. Sometimes better (although wasteful) to get small bags of a few likely candidates, and do sample pieces, since the color will change as the grout dries, and then maybe some more when it is sealed.

Another trick is to re-grout the whole wall panel, or maybe just a shaded area where the light is different, as an exact match is not so important there.

[dlminehart]

I looked at the samples I'd smeared on some plastic last week, to see which color was the best match. The one that had looked too dark then, after drying for two days, now looks pretty close. So, back I go to HD! Now, if only they have the matching caulk.

[Ed62]

I just had to replace some grout on a fireplace hearth I built about 8 years ago. I still had some grout left from when I built it. The patch was definitely lighter than the originally placed grout. I'm sure it's just age, and in time it will all blend in.

Ed