Source
r/Tile•
circleuranus

Mapei UltraColor Plus - Leaking Black Dye everywhere.

Installed a new tile shower using black Mapei UltraColor Plus grout. Went to wipe the grout and it just smeared black dye over all the tiles. Waited a couple days and tried again..same thing. Put grout sealer on it and still the same. It's been 2 weeks now and everytime we hit it with a damp sponge we just end up smearing black dye over the rest of the tile.

Read on some forums that it could be due to old/expired grout (which I didn't know was a thing) and the Floor & Decor guys said it wasn't mixed properly... Thoughts?

Posted Jan 2, 2023, 11:48 PM UTC

19
Masonportland1980•

So this is what I’ve been told by different grout manufacturers. The pigments these companies are using are a nano technology and they put so much of the pigment into their products especially the black that it can leach out for up to two months especially in a wet/dry environment like a shower. I’ve only had this happen to me with black grouts btw.

3
gmmadison•

Agree with Masonportland. Alot of color goes in black. These grouts nowadays are made to fire off and cure quick - it can be a pain to work with but generally the faster the grout cures the more color consistent the grout will end up - this is one of the reasons they are going this route. So essentially what could of happened is the grout actually cured and there was still some pigment sitting on the edge of tile or grout that just didn’t get sealed/in with the rest of the grout before it fired off. The old grouts like polyblend were sometimes little difficult to get to all dry consistent after multiple batches. A good sealer like bulletproof does help I believe. It still may bleed some color but if your sure you followed directions well then this is what I’d go with. I’d follow up with a mapie customer service also.

2
waynestractor•

I am guessing it was mixed way too wet so does not have any strength.

1
circleuranusOP•

It was mixed according to the directions on the bag and the grout itself doesn't come out, just the black dye.

1
Duck_GibletsPro•

Was it mixed with a drill?

1
circleuranusOP•

yep, used a mud paddle.

1
Duck_GibletsPro•

What's the date on the grout? I presume you let it sit for 2 minutes or so then re mixed prior? And cleaned up with water and a sponge? It's very unusual for the dye packs to leach if used according to spec, but it's always possible to have a faulty batch, or inadvertent storage conditions/settling or humidity exposure.

1