How to Apply Shower Tile Grout
Your shower tile performs an important function--sealing moisture out from the wall behind it. Proper application of the grout between the tiles is crucial to creating that barrier. Grout is basically a form of cement that sits in the spaces between the tiles.. It's important that your allow the grout to "slake'' properly before application -- giving time for the chemicals to bond. It is also key that you get the lines nice and smooth with your sponge. Grout is naturally porous, so it has to be sealed after it dries and cures. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Powdered grout mix
- Bucket
- 4-inch drywall knife
- Grout float (rubber trowel)
- Sponge
- Caulk
- Grout sealant with sponge-applicator bottle
Instructions
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1
Put an inch of water in the bottom of your bucket. Add powdered grout to cover it. Mix with your 4-inch knife. Add additional water and powder as needed to get a consistency of cake frosting. Let the grout sit in the bucket for 10 minutes to slake, allowing the chemicals to meld.
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2
Re-stir the grout. Scoop up a trowelfull of it on your grout float and apply it directly to the shower wall, starting at the top. Spread it across the wall, pressing it into the lines between the tiles while squeezing it off the tile surface. Hold the float at about a 30-degree angle, with the edge pressed to the tiles. Don't grout the right-angle joints between the walls or at the floor; leave them open.
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3
Let the grout sit in the lines for about a minute, then wipe down the area with a damp sponge to remove the excess grout. Use the widest part of the sponge, laid flat on the wall.
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4
All the grout to set for two days, then caulk the joints between the walls and floor that you left open before.
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5
After the grout has set for at least a week, apply grout sealant, using the sponge applicator on the sealant bottle.
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