Tiles done in wrong colour grout

[medsecslave]

I've just had a conservatory floor done in charcoal coloured tiles. The tiler said he would provide the adhesive and grout and always used grey grout as it went with anything and it would darken. He's done a good job apart from the grout which looks white against the dark tiles and it's not the effect I wanted at all. I've phoned him and said it's too light but he insists it will darken and rather than regrout the floor (4 m x 4 m) I can get a black marker pen (indelible ink) and basically colour in the whole thing.

Can anyone offer any advice, is this the recommended solution or is he fobbing me off? The tiles cost me quite a bit and I feel disappointed with the results as I wanted pretty much a black floor. Thanks.

[Buenchico]

I doubt that you'd win a case in the small claims court, so your best option is probably to forget about the tiler and fix the problem yourself. A marker pen might do the job, although I suspect that it would probably rub off after time. It would probably be better to do the job properly:
http://www.tiledoctor.eu/GroutColourant.html

Chris

[chattykathy]

Surely he should do the grout in the colour you requested! I've noticed several times that tradesmen like to do things their way and not the customers' way, forgetting who's paying! I would insist on him coming back and doing the job properly. Threaten Trading Standards and see what happens. Good luck.

[buildersmate]

Yes, Cathy, but the customer didn't apparently state clearly what she wanted and allowed the tradesman to continue. Trading Standards is for poor quality workmanship and unfair commercial practices. I agree with Chris - there are a whole range of coloured powders that can be added to grout and other cement-based products to change the colour - better to do it that way.

[tezestwing]

I sympathize with you but you have already been fobbed off when he said he had /would supply the grout as it went with anything he should have offered to put a little down in a obscure joint to get your views if the offer was never given or asked for then I dont think there are grounds to complain BTW to remove the set grout then re grout would be a long dirty job and sugest you leave it to see if it does darken or do as he said with black felt tip HTH Tez

[medsecslave]

Hi - thanks for your replies. I've decided to try and live with it for now and will see if it does darken. I don't think it's something I could tackle myself, am separated from my husband and always left the DIY to him but have also discovered that regrouting such a large area will cost me a fortune as no tiler would want such a laborious job. I don't want to go to the small claims court or anything, I'm just annoyed with myself for not insisting on a darker grout from the outset - I just thought he was the expert and not me. Obviously had a job lot of grout and adhesive! Lesson learned :-(