grout colouring

[craigap]

Hi everyone, we have just used a black sealer on our limestone patio (was black when we laid it 6+years ago) and its gone on great. We thought it would be a good idea to colour the grout with the black sealer at the same time so it was quicker and easier to apply the sealer. However, after doing half the area (about 20 Sq M) we have changed our mind as the patio looks like a big slab now. What can we use to colour the grout, ideally lightish grey that will go over the black?
I know its going to be a pain to do but needs doing

 

[jj4091]

Perhaps applying some bleach on the joints might lighten it. Try a test area.

 

[craigap]

Perhaps applying some bleach on the joints might lighten it. Try a test area.

Thanks, I will give it a try, although not all grout is painted black yet as we stopped once we realised it didn't look right.

 

[opps]

Which products did you use?

You might be able find a suitable solvent to remove the sealant from the sand cement(?) grout, but it might be the case that it has penetrated too deeply.

Are we talking about grout or pointing?

 

[craigap]

I used the Sika Fastsix compound light grey. I think it will have penetrated by now as it was done about 4 days ago.

 

[opps]

So you only applied a couple of mm? You might be able to chip it off. Is it sand and cement under it?

 

[craigap]

So you only applied a couple of mm? You might be able to chip it off. Is it sand and cement under it?

The grouting is full depth and when we painted the patio we juat went over the top of the grouting so it may not have absorbed too deep.
I'll try scaping out and see how deep I need to go, thanks.

 

[opps]

The grouting is full depth and when we painted the patio we juat went over the top of the grouting so it may not have absorbed too deep.
I'll try scaping out and see how deep I need to go, thanks.

Ahh, I see. I have never used the Sika product. It does say that it is water permeable (in their sales patter they say it helps to prevent water pooling on the slabs). I hope that doesn't mean that the other product hasn't soaked in too deep. It might be prudent to contact Sika and see what they say.

Best of luck