How to Apply Grout Between Ceramic Tiles
Grout is a form of mortar used to bridge the spaces between tiles and help prevent moisture from getting under them. There are two basic kinds of grout--"sanded" and "unsanded"--which simply describes whether sand is added for strength. Unsanded grout is mainly for very thin grout lines (less than 1/8 inch) between slate and other natural stone tiles. For ceramic, which generally has a space of about 1/4 inch between the tiles, you'll use sanded grout. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Sanded grout mix
- Bucket
- 4-inch drywall knife
- Grout float (flat rubber trowel)
- Sponge
Instructions
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Mix your sanded grout in a bucket with cold water, using your putty knife to stir it. Exact ratios of water to powder vary with different makes of grout; your package will offer advice, but it's best to judge it by the thickness of the grout as you mix it. It should have the consistency of cake frosting.
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Let the grout sit in the bucket for 10 minutes to "slake," the process by which the chemicals in the grout meld.
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Re-stir the grout with your putty knife after 10 minutes. Pick up a baseball-sized scoop of it with your grout float and apply it directly to one of the lines between your ceramic tiles. (If it's a floor, start in a corner of the room; if it's a wall, start at the top.)
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Using your grout float, run the grout across the tile faces, pressing it into the lines. Use the long, flat edge of the float, held at about a 30-degree angle, to squeeze the grout off the tile faces as you go. Grount four or five square feet in this manner.
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Once you've grouted one four- or five-square-foot section, let the grout sit in the lines for a minute. Then run a damp, well-wrung sponge over it. Use the widest part of the sponge, laid flat against the tile, to take up the excess grout from the tile faces without digging it out of the lines. The sponge should leave the grout lines smooth and even.
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Move on to the next section and repeat. Continue until the whole floor or wall is grouted. Re-wipe the area with your sponge two or three more times over the next few hours to take up any residue that forms. Don't use the area for two days, while the grout dries. If you're planning to seal the grout lines, wait a few weeks for the grout to completely set.
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Tips & Warnings
Ventilate the room while working with grout.
