Brick veneer grout issues

[mwv247]

Gents,
I’m hoping the forum can help me understand this. Why would a builder be against using colored grout? I’m dealing with a builder that won’t use anything except natural concrete color. Why is this? Am I missing something? This is all new construction and there isn’t anything that it needs to match. Does anyone know if the cost of a colored grout is terribly more expensive than not using it?

 

[dfittizzi]

In my area, North NJ, most of what you'll see if standard grout. Colored grout is definitely an option - usually in the form of "special order" per say. I used to work at a mason supply for quite a while. We never stocked anything of color. Most suppliers would only send us colored grout in "full pallet only" therefore requiring us to sell in full pallet only.

The other option of course is to add your own coloring dyes in to the mixture. We sold various cement colorings from both Quikrete and Rainbow brands. The trouble with this is getting the mix exactly the same each time. You run the risk of different shades of the grout and it becoming very noticeable once you stand back and observe the work area.

Think of it like laying a paver driveway; The color in the pavers are from dyes - each batch of pavers is liable to have some minor color variation which is why it's always recommended to have multiple pallets open at the same time, in order to better diversify the mix as it's laid and avoid large and noticeable color patches once completed.

Plain and simple: He's covering his *** against your potential future complaint and a "re-do that whole area as it looks terrible!"

 

[Hubmonkey]

Colored grout is very common and does not cost much more than standard grout. Sounds like the builder does not want to do what his client wants... First thing I would ask them is "Who's the customer here?". .

 

[gungatim]

I had colored grout when I had my house front bricked. I don't see what the big deal is, you go and pick the color and the brick supplier, he buys little milk carton's of the powder and just dumps it in when he mixes the grout...nothing to it.

only caveat is pick a darker color than what the display board shows. it will dry lighter. that's what happened to me, mason suggested spraying with a sealer which did make it darker (as if it just rained), but it doesn't last...I just live with pink grout with red bricks and got used to it.

make sure he properly flashes the brick, especially if you have bay windows. mine did not. just replaced the roof after 20 yrs. and they had to re-do all of it...