How to Color White Grout to Match Old Grout
Grout is a building material used for sealing the spaces between tiles. Sanded grout is a form of grout containing Portland cement, sand and other additives providing a porous surface after it is dried. This means that you can adjust its final appearance if you are unsatisfied, although extra steps may be needed to avoid accidental staining. Premixed, or nonsanded, grout is made up of latex-based mixes that give a very smooth result because they are less porous than sanded grouts and do not contain cement. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Sanded or premixed grout
- Water
- Grout tint, acrylic paint, or various colors of grout
- Mixing/spreading tool
- Bowl
- Sponge
- Paper towels
- Sandpaper
- Grout sealer
Instructions
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How to Color White Grout to Match Old Grout
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1
Set your tiles using the method best suited for your project and let the mortar or glue set. It is possible to use tinted grout for home or art projects as long as you use the proper form of grout for each. It is not recommended that premixed grout should be used for small joints under 1/16 of an inch and not be used in flooring projects. If you are using a porous unsealed tile such as terracotta, it is a good idea to seal the tile before using the grout with a pre-sealer or top coat to prevent the grout from being absorbed by the tile.
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2
Add a small amount of water and mix it into the grout. Add and mix until you have the consistency of a thick cake batter that will stick to your tool. Alternating like this will ensure that you don't add too much water and that the grout will set properly.
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3
Add the grout coloring in small increments until the preferred color is achieved. Keep in mind that the color may lighten a shade or two once the moisture has left the grout and is dry. If you are tinting premixed grout keep in mind that it is harder to alter the color once it has set, test before you add it to the final project.
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4
Spread the grout lines with grout using your tool evenly and push into the joints at a diagonal angle to avoid removing grout from the joints. Make one more pass to ensure that all the gaps have been filled.
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5
Lightly dampen the sponge and wipe any excess grout from the tiles. Be very careful not to carry too much water in the sponge or it can leak into the grout causing it to crack when it's dry. Rinse and wring out the sponge well occasionally to remove the excess grout.
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6
Shape the grout lines by passing over the joints with the clean sponge making sure the grout is slightly lower than the tile. Clean the area once more with both sides of a clean sponge removing any excess grout that may be left. Let your tile area dry for a few days to make sure it hardens properly.
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7
Check the grout color once it has dried in case adjustments need to be made. You can deepen the color by brushing a light amount of acrylic paint along the grout lines which will be absorbed into the grout.
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8
Seal the grout by going over the joints with a grout sealer specific for the purpose of the project. This will prevent future stains and color change.
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Tips & Warnings
It can be a good idea to set up a test sample by using extra tiles to go through the process, in case unexpected adjustments are needed for the final project.
Be careful of how much water comes in contact with the grout as it will absorb the water and can cause cracking.
