How To Grout Tiles
How To Grout Tiles
Grouting is the crucial, last step in tiling a wall, floor or patio. Grout adds strength and rigidity to the entire tile installation, and it gives it a nice smooth finish. It also protects tiles from chipping and stops water and dirt from getting in behind them.
Different types of grout are available for different environments, such as interior or exterior grout. Different colours such as white or grey grout are also available to give different finishes.
Grouting is also a job that DIY enthusiasts can do themselves. It is easy to get things wrong if you’re not careful, but with the right method, you can achieve a good grout finish at home. Grouting also only takes a few tools, such as a grout float, a bucket and a sponge.
In this article, we’ll explain how to grout tiles. We’ll explain how to mix grout, and we’ll give instructions for grouting floor tiles and wall tiles as well as for grouting a patio. We’ll give detailed steps and professional tips, so you can achieve a professional finish by yourself.
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What tools do you need to grout tiles?
You only need a small selection of low priced tools for grouting. Here’s are all the tools you need:
- Two buckets - for mixing the grout and cleaning your tools
- Gauging trowel – for mixing the grout
- Grout float – to apply the grout
- Masking tape – for taping off around the edge of tiles
- Grout rake – to clean the space between tiles
- Vacuum – for removing dust between tiles
- Tile cleaning products – to clean tiles before grouting
- Grout sponge – to clean tiles and smoothing grout lines
- Two microfibre cloths - for final tile cleaning
Note that it is possible to use a grout spreader rather than a float if you’re only working on a small area.
You also need to buy your grout. Look further down for some information about different types of grout.
Preparing your tiles and surfaces before grouting
Before you start grouting, make sure your tiles are set firmly and the entire surface is clean and free of excess adhesive.
Give tile adhesive time to dry
Make sure the adhesive used to fit your tiles has had time to completely harden. The amount of time this takes will depend on the adhesive used and atmospheric conditions. The best thing is to refer to the product packaging for guidance. Normally, you should wait at least 24 hours before you start grouting.
Clean your tiles
As well as giving the tile adhesive time to set, you also need to prepare the tiled surface by removing tile spacers and cleaning it. Cleaning is important to ensure good grout adhesion and to make sure you finish with a clean surface.
- Remove any tile spacers left between the tiles after fitting.
- Clean the entire tiled surface with a damp sponge, making sure it is completely free of tile adhesive and dirt. Purpose designed tile cleaning products are very helpful for this.
- Inspect the gaps between the tiles for dirt or excess adhesive. Clean as appropriate, using your grout rake to remove excess adhesive, and your vacuum to collect any dust. Be very careful not to scratch the tiles.
At this point, you should also use your masking tape to cover any areas around your tiles you do not want to be covered in grout. You might want to cover painted walls around the edge, for example. It’s also a good idea to cover up any tiles or trims that have detailed patterns that could be damaged if grout gets on them.
Choosing the right type of grout
Grouts come in a range of types. It’s important you choose a grout that is designed for the tiles you’re grouting and the environment it will be exposed to. Grouts also come in a range of colours, and you need to pick the right colour.
Read the packaging to find out what colour your grout is and what environment it’s designed for.
Common types of grout are sanded, unsanded and epoxy:
- Sanded grout is used where strength is important. It’s used where gaps between tiles are wide, for example.
- Unsanded grout is less strong, but it works well in applications where gaps between tiles are narrow.
- Epoxy grouts are high strength and can be used in areas with high foot traffic.
Grouts are often given additives to improve their performance in certain conditions. They also come as ready mixed or dry-bought types.
Grout pens are another useful grouting tool for touch ups and small grout repairs.
How to mix grout - step-by-step
Knowing how to mix grout correctly is key to doing a good job.
At this stage, you also need to plan your work. It’s normally best to grout an entire tiled surface in one go rather than in stages.
The best thing when it comes to mixing grout is to refer to the product packaging for the correct procedure. However, the process is similar for most types, involving adding water and carefully mixing it in.
Here are the normal steps for how to mix grout:
Step 1. Measure the amount of grout
Measure out the correct amount of grout in your mixing bucket.
The best thing is to mix enough grout to cover the entire surface you are grouting. You should then mix and apply the grout to the entire surface in one go.
You can refer to the product packaging for detailed information on coverage areas when you’re planning how to grout your tiles.
Timing when mixing grout
You should be aware at this stage that you need to be able to apply the grout to the entire surface swiftly and before it starts to harden. Normally, grout starts to harden about 20 - 30 minutes after application.
This can present a challenge with large areas.
If you are grouting a large area, it might be possible to mix smaller amounts and grout in stages. With some grouts, however, colour matching between stages can be a problem. Read your product packaging for more information.
Step 2. Add water to the grout and mix
Add water to your grout, and mix it in with your gauging trowel, ensure to use the amount of water recommended on the packaging.
Turn the bucket on its side slightly, like a cement mixer. Then use the trowel to scrape the grout off the edge of the bucket as you mix. Keep adding small amounts of water and mixing it in thoroughly. You might need to add very small amounts of water in the final stage of mixing. Do not mix too vigorously because bubbles can form in the grout.
Aim for a consistency that is soft enough to spread but not so soft it runs.
After you’ve finished mixing your grout, give it around 15 minutes to pre-harden before you start applying it.
How to grout tiles - Step-by-step
The grout application process is the same for grouting floor tiles, grouting wall tiles and grouting a patio.
Here’s how to grout your tiled surface.
Step 1. Scoop grout onto your float
Tilt your bucket over, and scrape grout onto your float with your trowel, from the side of the bucket. Load your float up so you have plenty to work with, but don’t scoop up so much it falls off the side of the float.
Step 2. Spread grout over the tiled area
Now, you need to spread the grout across the entire tiled surface, completely filling up the gaps between the tiles as you go.
Work the float diagonally to the lines between the tiles. Make sure you completely fill the gaps between the tiles as you go. Work with a smooth and consistent action. You should press hard enough to fill the gaps with grout, but don’t press so hard you make the grout bulge up between the tiles.
Working with an even pressure and moving the float in the right direction are key to achieving a good finish.
If you’re grouting wall tiles, it’s easiest to work with an upward motion.
As you work, use the edge of the float to clean off as much excess grout from the face of tiles as you can and work this into the next section as you move the float. You should cover the entire surface before the grout starts to harden. Normally, this is after 20 – 30 minutes.
How do you grout tile trims?
If you’ve fitted tile trim on the edges of your tiles, you should grout right up to the trim. Make sure the gap between the tiles and the trim is sealed with grout in the same way as the rest of the surface.
How do you grout a large area?
If you’re working on a large area, such as for grouting a patio, the key is working with a smooth and consistent action. Do not rush, but work quickly enough to finish spreading the grout into all the joints before it starts to harden.
Step 3. Remove excess grout with a sponge
Once you’re happy you’ve worked the grout into all the tile joints properly, you need to remove excess grout with a sponge.
Dampen your sponge, but make sure it doesn’t drip any water. Gently sweep the face of the sponge across the surface of the tiles in a diagonal direction again. The idea is to clean most of the grout off the tiles without disturbing the grout in the joints between the tiles.
You won’t be able to remove all the grout. There will be a haze of grout left on the surface of the tiles. This is okay, and you’ll be able to remove it shortly.
Step 4. Smooth the grout lines
Now, you should smooth the grout lines with your sponge.
Again, dampen the sponge but not to the point it drips any water. Hold it in your hand, and run it straight down the grout lines between the tiles. Use your index finger to apply gentle pressure if you need to. The aim is to smooth the lines of grout so they’re even across the entire tiled surface.
The finish you leave at this stage will be what your tiled surface will look like permanently.
The key to achieving a good finish is being gentle and consistent in the amount of pressure you apply.
Step 5. Clean off the grout haze
After you’ve finished levelling your grout joints, wait for half an hour to give the grout more time to harden.
Now, you should clean off the grout haze on the surface of the tiles to get the final finish.
Cleaning with a sponge
First, dampen your sponge again, and use it to clean the face of the tiles. Rinse and dampen it in clean water, and then work very gently in a diagonal direction to remove the haze from the surface of the tiles.
Cleaning with microfibre cloths
After this, use two microfibre cloths for final cleaning. Again, working very gently in a diagonal direction. First, clean the surface with a damp cloth and then after this, give it a final clean with a dry cloth.
It’s important to be very gentle in the final stage of cleaning.
Key takeaways when grouting tiles
DIY enthusiasts can learn how to grout tiles and grout their own floors, walls and patios themselves. It is, however, important that you’re well prepared and that you understand exactly how to do grouting before you start. Take the time to pick the right grout, prepare your tools and make sure you understand the exact steps before you start.
After tiling a floor, wall or patio and then grouting it, you will need to reinstall any fixtures you removed for the tiling process. You might need to install a toilet or a sink, for example.