Grouting is one of the final steps of tile installation, it acts as a barrier preventing water from seeping through the gapped lines between your tiles, causing damage to your property and your freshly lain tiles. Grout can also be the finishing touch that really brings your design together, as there’s a wide range of colours you can choose from.
Choosing your grout colour
Choosing the right colour of grout is important as it can really make or break the design of a room, so it’s worthwhile to investigate what colour scheme you want for your tiles. You should think if you want your grout to highlight, contrast or blend with your tiles.
Preparing your tiles for grouting
There are a few things you’ll want to check before you do any grouting. Firstly, it’s vital that you make sure your adhesive is completely dry, this is because if it’s still wet you could displace the tiles or weaken the bond between tile and adhesive, meaning they aren’t stuck firm to the wall. Then, check to see if your tiles are dust and debris free before you grout so that it doesn’t obstruct any of the grout lines, specifically check for any left-over spacers that you may have missed removing before as they will make grouting a lot harder and can make it difficult to get your grout level.
Preparing the grout
We recommend putting water in your mixing bucket first and then adding the powder after, this is to minimise lumps in the mixture. Always refer to the exact instructions on the bag as ratios can differ between products and sizes and mix at a slow pace to avoid air bubbles from forming and to get a nice smooth paste.
You should occasionally check the consistency of the grout, aim for a smooth peanut butter consistency. Grout that has had too much water added will be liquidy and won’t stick, it’ll shrink and crack if laid. If your mixture does get too watery simply add more powder to the mix to thicken it up. If you add too much powder the mixture will get very clumpy and difficult to mix and work with, and will be soft and crumbly if used. To loosen your grout up add more water to make it softer.
There’s no need to rush this step, take us much time as you need to get the correct consistency for the grout. It’s actually better for the grout if you take this step slowly, as it allows the chemicals in the grout to bond creating a stronger bind.
