Big Saltillo Problems

Hi, I had a contractor install saltillo on a concrete floor 3 months ago and the result was disastor. (Contractor is gone, so please don't reply telling me to go back to contractor).
Here are my major problems:
1) grout very uneven, not sponged smooth and discolored between batches
2) Sealer peeled off in spots, dirt under sealer, sealer buildup.

Questions:
1) I'm down to redoing the grout. Since saltillo is soft, what do I use to get the old grout out? (specific tools, chemicals). What depth do I take it out to.
2) Stripping. Do I reseal before I regrout? Any idea what to use. I've tested Aldon Chemical stripper, but still see some sealer after 2 times. Any ideas?

Thanks

First of all - don't go shootin' from the hip testing anything until you get some legitimate advice. Saltillo is a great product but is very vulnerable to a lot of different invaisions.

The grout will have to be removed by hand. The tile is very soft and any of the machines available could easily and frequently cause damage to the tile. A hand-held grout saw tool is available at the home centers. The grout should be removed to a depth of about 2/3's (minimum) of the thickness of the tile.

YES, the tile must be sealed prior to grouting.

NOW, the main issue at this point is the stripping of the existing sealer. It would be helpful to know exactly what sealer was used the first time around.

Unfortunately, I don't know the sealer. I do know that it was a water based and he bought all the material at Home depot. It came in a plastic container, gallon size, but I didn't get the name. He applied it with a sprayer, and it's gunked up in alot of spots.

The testing I did was on a peice of tile that had underlying watermarks and needs to be replaced anyway. I've got a couple of these to run tests on.

I was lucky enough to find a bag of the grout in the garbage, so I can match it. About 1/3rd of the floor needs regrouting, because of the unevenness. The entire floor is 450 sq ft, so that's alot of hand scraping.

Would it be worth it just to tear that whole area up and start over? Between grout removal and stripping, it seems that would be easier

Still, however, stripping the remainder of the floor will be necessary. Any suggestions on that?

Thanks for the help.

Would it be worth it just to tear that whole area up and start over? Between grout removal and tripping, it seems that would be easier

That's your decision!

Still, however, stripping the remainder of the floor will be necessary. Any suggestions on that?

Go to HD and get the names of the sealers they sell and get the phone numbers off the labels. Mostly Tile Lab is what they sell but there are some other products.

I would start with the cheapest first. Call the tech numbers and ask them how to strip the product.