DIY: How to Seal Grout

Sealing tile grout is a tedious task that many homeowners neglect doing. In fact, most homeowners are unaware of the fact that sealing grout is important to sustain the life of your tile flooring. Only after progressive grout discoloration and tile weakening does their neglect come to light..

You, unlike most homeowners, have learned the importance of sealing tile grout. Investing in a grout sealer can not only ward-off stains, helping to make your tile more appealing, but it also helps to ensure that water does not weaken and damage the tiles over time.

Choosing a Grout Sealant

The most popular types of grout sealants are solvent-based and water-based grout sealers. The less expensive of the two is a water-based grout sealer. The only disadvantage is that water-based grout sealants are less durable and do not last as long compared to solvent-based sealants. However, water-based grout sealers are less expensive, and arguably more eco-friendly for your home.

The Grout Sealing Process

The grout sealing process is actually quite simple. You just need to dedicate part of the day to do the work, as well as educate yourself on how to seal grout properly.

1. Organize your tools. The common tools and accessories that you'll need to seal the tile grout include:

• microfiber cloth
• bottle applicator
• a firm scrubbing brush
• the grout sealer

If the grout lines you are sealing are extremely thin, you could use a spray applicator rather than the bottle applicator. The idea is to ensure you can efficiently apply the grout sealer without getting it on the tile.

2. Prepare the tile surfaces. Prepare of the floor's surface by scrubbing the grout lines thoroughly with the brush. This ensures that dirt and debris is removed while leaving a smooth surface to apply the grout sealer. After scrubbing with the brush, wipe the surface with the a damped microfiber.

3. Prepare the grout sealer. After the grout lines are well cleaned and free of debris, fill the bottle applicator with the grout sealer product (note that some sealants come in suitable applicator containers.) You'll want to keep the grout sealer very full to the brim during the application process.

4. Apply the sealant. To apply the grout sealer, use the roller found on most applicator bottles to run up and down the groove lines. The bottle applicator will fill the lines with a layer of sealant. In some cases you may want to add another layer of the grout sealant, but as in any case, take the time to read the instructions that come with the product.

5. Let the grout cure. After the grout has been completely sealed, let the grout sealer cure for about 12-48 hours, depending on how many coats you applied. Typically the longer the better.

Well that's pretty much the grout sealing process in a nutshell. We suggest working in small sections at a time so you can efficiently return and apply second coatings without much downtime. We've also found that both water-based and solvent-based grout sealers are great choices, but solvent-based are typically more sustainable.

Lastly, if you're looking for a great grout sealer product, we have found the Grout Guard Protector to be one of the best products for DIY grout sealing. It's one of the most affordable and easy to use grout sealers, and it's a quality product, (even Martha Stewart Living gave it top ratings during their experiment.) You can get the product here at www.marble-cleaning-products.com.


About the author:
Tyler Tafelsky is a do-it-yourselfer and home improvement enthusiast. Tyler offers a wealth of knowledge and experience working with tile flooring, natural stone surfaces, and various other home improvement projects. You can reach him by connecting with Tyler on Google+.

Getting Familiar with Grout

If there is one material that does not elicit any excitement from homeowners it is grout. This may be a boring material when it comes to home improvement and maintenance, but you should give grout credit for its ability to keep your tiles in place.

In addition to working as a bonding agent, proper grout installation and sealing strengthens your tile flooring and walls. Grout also prevents certain types of damages occurring on your tiles, such as cracking due to over-bearing weight. Although it may not be an intriguing material, it is recommended to learn about grout so that you can understand its essential role.

Understanding the Types of Grout

Generally speaking, there are three main types of grout. The first two types of grout are sanded grout and un-sanded grout. The third type of grout is epoxy grout, which is becoming very popular. Making a choice on the type of grout will usually depend on the types of tiles that you are having installed, as well as the amount of spacing between the tiles.

For slim spaces (typically less than an eighth of an inch) un-sanded grout would be most suitable. Larger spaces should be filled with the sanded grout to ensure the gap is filled completely as well as to avoid the joint from shrinking.

However, there is also an exception to this rule and this comes about when you are using either marble or granite. The job at hand may have slim joints but using un-sanded grout increases the chances of scratching the marble or granite surfaces. In the event that un-sanded grout has the potential of causing harm to these surfaces, it is best advised to use epoxy grout.

Whether sanded or un-sanded grout, both comprise of cement as well as polymer ingredients. This is to stop the grout from becoming brittle and having an irregular color or texture. One thing to note with both these types is that they are still susceptible to staining due to their porous nature. This is why it is highly recommended to have the grout sealed once it has been installed.

When to Use Epoxy Grout?

There are some areas in the home that are commonly exposed to either a lot of chemicals or to a lot of foot traffic. These areas will require a stronger grout that can be resilient to this exposure, and epoxy grout is the ideal selection for these areas.

The ingredients that make up epoxy grout are quite hardy, thus having some resistance to chemicals as well as staining. You will find that some types will even comprise of detergent in their ingredients making them all that easier to maintain clean. Although this type of grout may be an expensive alternative, it would be most recommended to people who would want grout that possesses a long shelf life.

Selecting a Color for Grout

A common misconception people have is that grout will come in either white or grey. The truth of the matter though is that you can get it in a wide array of colors to suit your fancy. If you would like to stay on the safe side, select a color that is neutral and that will not affect the overall look of your tiles.

Otherwise, you can get creative and try to pair a suitable color with that of your stone. Just be sure to seal your grout after it has been installed. Grout sealant will ward-off staining and discoloration, while sustaining the life of your grout, as well as tile, for many years to come.