Top tips for grouting

Grouting is often the final stage of a tiling job and can be one of the most rewarding. Bringing out the quality of the tiles by filling the joints is one of the most important parts of tiling, as incorrectly applied grouting can ruin the whole effect you have worked so hard to create. Here at Tiles 2 Go we have a wealth of experience in relation to tiling and grouting, and here are our top tips for grouting success.

Let the grout slake

Once you’ve mixed the grout, leave it to set for ten minutes so that the water can be fully absorbed by any dry powder left in the residue. After ten minutes, stir the grout and test its thickness adding more water if necessary.

Small area

Only grout a 3 X 3 ft area at one time, fully grouting, shaping the joints and cleaning each area before moving on to the next one. This means that you won’t have the problem of grout being left to set and become extremely hard before you have the chance to clean it off.

Shaping

Use the rounded corner of either the grout float or another object such as the end of the toothbrush to shape the joints as you work through each 3 x 3 ft area. You want to create a concave joint between the tiles to prevent water from leaking underneath the grout lines.

Caulk

Remove any pre-existing grout before applying caulk to those tricky places like around the bath or in the corners of the wall. If you use a narrow screwdriver or putty knife, the old grout should come away with no issue, leaving your surface free for a pristine layer of caulk to be applied.

In summary

Focusing on one small patch of the area to be tiled will ensure that you get the best possible finish in each area, with no issues of stuck grout, especially if you allow your grout to slake before use as this will ensure the correct consistency. Removing old grout will give your caulk a perfect finish and using a concave shape joint will protect from future wall damage.