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Need help with the process of grouting tile!

15 years ago

I have my tile installed and I am getting ready to grout. I have 18"x18" tile, 1/8" grout line, and no experience what so ever grouting!

1) Home Depot recommended sanded grout, is this fine?

2) Is there a certain type of caulk I need to use, and is there anywhere else I need to caulk other than against my fiberglass tub/shower? Caulk first and then grout or grout first and then caulk?

3) What is the correct way to clean up the grout after it has been embedded in the grout lines? I am very concerned about this one because I know if it is not done correctly you have to use some sort of acid to remove it.

4) When cleaning up the grout should you be concerned about stepping on it? Should you wear socks while doing so?

Please help a greenhorn out!

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Comments (3)

bill_vincent
15 years ago
1) yes.

2) Siliconized latex caulk made by the grout manufacturer, in the same color as the grout. Anywhere in the perimeter of the room where the perimeter joint will show, especially if you're butting the tile up to another flooring like hardwood-- that joint also needs to be caulked. If the perimeter joint will be covered by baseboard, leave it open.

3) Once you start seeing the grout haze up behind you as you're grouting along, it's time to start washing what you have. Take your sponge, dip in your water pail, and wring it out well. Wash the tile diagonally to the joints. If you go WITH the joints, you'll wash out the grout. Scrub all the tile you've got grouted to that point, rinsing out the sponge every so often-- whenever it looks like it's getting "clogged" with grout. Once you've loosened up all the grout, go back and start a clean rinse. This time, using another bucket of clean water (and preferrably another sponge, although not necessarily), do the same thing-- dip the sponge, and wring it out as dry as you can. Then take two strokes on the same strip, again, diagonally-- one to get the majority of the grout film, and the second with the other side of the sponge, and just enough fingertip pressure to maintain contact with the tile (so as not to hit the joints and pull more pigment out).

4) Once a section of floor is done, you don't want to walk on the joints for an hour or two, and when you do, try not to walk on the joints any more than necessary.
MongoCT
15 years ago
A couple of minor details:

In addition to color-matching the caulk, you can get "sanded" caulk to better match your sanded grout. Not a requirement, just thought I'd throw that out there.

Grout first then caulk. Clean out any grout that got into your joints that are to be caulked, then caulk. It's easier to let the grout set up then rake out the semi-hardened grout of the joints than it is to rake out fresh/wet grout.

Since this is your first time, you might want to just do the walls first. That'll give you a good handle on the timeline for haze removal, etc. Then the next day come back and grout the floor.

And since this is a "home depot" recommendation, do not use the premixed grout that comes in a plastic tub. You want powdered grout that you add water to. I know HD carries the "Custom" line of grout, they may have another line too. Regardless, do not use the premixed grout.

Mongo
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burns44
Original Author
15 years ago
thanks guys

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