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+.

Best Grout Cleaner and Grout Sealer: Out Top Picks

It's common for the average homeowner to overlooking sealing his or her grout. It's also a common belief that cleaning a tile floor on a consistent basis will minimize the need to seal and protect the grout.

This is a huge misconception, for the fact of the matter is, cleaning grout can actual promote stains, discoloration, and weaknesses in grout.

Grout that has not been sealed is highly susceptible to staining. In fact, the common cause of staining is often the result of cleaning the tile floor with a mop and bucket of water. During the floor cleaning process, the mop water becomes dirtier and dirtier after each rinse. When dirty water meets unsealed grout, it penetrates the material and causes discoloration and weaknesses between the tile.

So whether you've used grout for many years, or are installing tile floor for the first time, sealing your grout is paramount to protect against stains, discoloration, and weakening.

Here at Granite n' Grout Gurus, we came across two do-it-yourself grout care products that clean, restore, and seal grout for optimal protection. We have found these products to be the best for grout cleaning and grout sealing.

Our Pick for the Best Grout Cleaner and Restorer

If you're looking to restore existing grout that has some staining or discoloration, you'll want to clean the grout first. One of the best products to clean your grout is Grout Guard Restorer. What makes this the best grout cleaner is how the product works wonders in lifting stains and restoring severely discolored grout, with minimal effort.

Additionally, Grout Guard Restorer is safe to use on all types of tile flooring, including ceramic, porcelain, quarry, terra cotta, and brick. The price of this grout cleaner is about $30 for the 8oz container. Given the amount of coverage this option offers (100 square feet per 4 oz) and the professional-quality results, the $30 is a very economical price.

Our Pick for the Best Grout Sealer and Protector

After using the Grout Guard Restorer mentioned above, seal and protect your grout with the Grout Guard Protector. The D.I.Y grout sealer is a clear, water-based sealant is colorless, odorless, and completely safe to use on almost any kind of grout. After using this grout sealant, we've found that it is very reliable in warding-off stains from water, dirt, and oils.

The Grout Guard Restorer is one of the best grout sealers we could find, and it's comes highly acclaimed by many trusted sources (namely Martha Stewart Living magazine.) What makes this the best grout sealer compared to other grout sealants is that it releases vapor transmission when applied, which allows the grout to breath. This help to protect the the grout from shrinking or cracking, as well as ensuring that the grout sustains its original texture and appearance.

The Grout Guard Protector is $28 for the 8oz option. According to the supply, this should cover 200 square feet of grout. The supply also has 16oz and 40oz options for about $48 and $78 each. Click to see this grout sealer.

The Takeaway

So for a modest sized floor, you can get the 8oz sizes of the Grout Guard Restorer and the Grout Guard Protector for about $60 together. You may also need some basic tools to clean the grout and apply the sealer. All-in-all, you can manage to restore and seal your grout for under $100 with these two amazing products.