How to Stain Grout for Mosaic or Tile Projects

Staining grout is simple and fun. I use acrylic paint to custom stain all sorts of grout projects. I especially like stained or colored grout with mosaic projects whether I'm using mosaic tiles, glass, mirror, smalti, pique assiette (broken pottery or tile) or "found items".

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sanded or Non-Sanded, Light Colored Grout
• Acrylic Paint
• Stir Stick
• Water
• Clean Bucket
• Approximately 20 minutes Until Time to Grout

1. Mix up your grout according to the package instructions. Every manufacturer may be a little different; so please, READ the package. Once your grout is mixed (it's ready when it's about the consistency of thick cookie dough)and ready to SLAKE; IT IS TIME TO ADD THE ACRYLIC PAINT. (Slake just means to "stand" or "set-up" for 10 to 15 minutes, it is vital to the success of your grouting project.)

2. Gently but thoroughly mix in your acrylic paint until your color is about two shades darker than you want it in the finished project.
   I buy acrylic paint at the hobby store. Be sure you shake it thoroughly. And a little is going to go a long way.

3. If you're doing a large project:
   --you will want to measure CAREFULLY to avoid differences in color from one area to the next because of variations inherent to several batches mixed separately
   --you may want to mix all that you'll need at the same time and perhaps have more than one person doing the installation/application.
   --However, I strongly recommend that you do something small first to get a feel for this process before you go in and do this in a room of any size. A test board (piece of plywood with tiles attached)is a good tester project. I suggest you do a small test batch to get used to how much lighter your color will be once it has completely dried and been sealed. My experience is that it will be 2 or 3 times lighter once dry than it was when it was when wet. Sealers may also darken the color; but not as much as drying. And one color (red, blue, yellow, orange) may vary one or more shades in how "true" it dries.

4. Once your grout is slaked-up. You remix it to redistribute the moisture and you are ready to install/apply your custom mixed, colored grout.

Tips & Warnings

• Sanded grout: ordinarily used with grout lines larger than about 1/8 inch. For instance, I used sanded grout in my bathrooms and dining room.
• Non-sanded grout: ordinarily used for tiny grout lines that are sometimes so small as to be indistinct. I use non-sanded grout with tight mosaics and in my shower where I used glass tiles that have teeny, tiny grout lines.
• Please, please, please do a tester (picture frame, test board) before you mix up your grout, stain it and do an entire room. Trust me, you do not want to have to re-grout by removing the grout that you don't like. It takes forever, it's a mess and you'll probably end up calling a tile contractor to be sure you don't ruin your floor. It is possible that the color won't stay true over time. I have not had that experience, but color can fade, lighten or even darken with exposure to cleansers, sunlight, wear and tear, dirt etc.

Resources

• grout

[ssweeks6]

on 11/4/2009 Thank you for the tips on staining grout. 5*

[genehoffpauir]

on 9/8/2009 Excellent advise! 5*

[nycgalinpa]

on 9/2/2009 Very interesting - good tips, thorough info. 5*REC

[RENorton]

on 9/2/2009 Outstanding article. Very well-written with some great info. Excellent tips for staining grout. Thanks. 5 stars and a recommendation!

[lighthouse1958]

on 9/1/2009 Thanks for these tips, they were wonderful. I have to replace some tile that has gotten some chips broken when I dropped something on it. This will surely come in handy. I will be doing this. 5*