For Grouting That Appears Its Very Best, 3 Crucial Steps
If the only idea you’ve given to grout is what color it should be, you might have a nasty surprise down the road. There’s a lot to think about: A great grout job can save a poor tile installation, and also a poor grout job could ruin a great tile installation.
for grout to be installed well, the tile and substrates will need to be installed well, too. Make sure that your tile is suitable for showers — I have seen a growing trend of poorly made tiles sold in sheets which aren’t suitable for a wet environment.
Some sheet tiles use pressed paper as one of the reinforcement substances; others use sterile adhesives — both split with exposure to water. Everything in your shower must accompany the proper Tile Council North America (TCNA) or Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Association of Canada (TTMAC) specifications.
It sounds frightening, but do not get intimidated — three easy measures will help make sure that your grouting will be successful and that your new shower will function superbly.
Kayron Brewer, CKD, CBD / Studio K B
1. Find the Right Type of Grout
Choosing the right grout has a lot to do with your tile’s recommendations.
Cement grouts are inclined to be more affordable and are easier to work with, but many require a sealant. This grout comes in sanded and unsanded models to work with different grout joint widths.
Calculate how much grout you want exactly and then receive a security net of 25 to 50 percent greater. If multiple bags are wanted, always blend all of the cement collectively prior to mixing the first batch to get an even grout color all throughout your bathroom.
Hint: Be careful when working with tiles like glass. Test grouts on a sample board to be sure you own a grout that will not scrape the tile face.
Mark English Architects, AIA
Epoxy grouts are more expensive but extremely durable. Laticrete SpectraLock Pro — a fantastic line of epoxy grout — is chemical and stain resistant and comes in many colours. These grouts also offer greater flexibility for thermal growth. Your bathroom’s structure expands and shifts with changes in temperature and humidity, and also a flexible grout helps accommodate these changes.
Hint: Flexibility is a particularly important concern if the room experiences extreme temperatures changes, such as if it’s big windows which let in different amounts of light and warmth when the seasons shift.
Mark English Architects
If you are using wood in your bathroom, like in this installment, consider the transition between tile to wood when choosing your grout.
Considering both the tile and wood will expand and contract with temperature changes, a small expansion area is ideal. Many companies have matching caulking (like silicone or Dap) because of this. Be careful, because not all of these color-matched caulks are suitable from the shower or another wet zone. I personally like to stay with silicone at the shower and depart color-matched caulks to places which are not exposed to water.
MP DESIGN
Many pros advise against making a custom color mix, because it can cause future repairs tricky. I think that is problematic, and habit grout colours can be worth the investment when you’ve got a picture of your dream bathroom set in mind.
For any reason, it’s almost impossible to find plain classic white grout. It’s so hard to find that the more quickly you’re delighted with marginally off-white, the earlier your pursuit for white grout will finish.
My favorite white grout is Mapei’s Quick Placing Ultra Color Plus.
Hint: Epoxy grouts could fade in direct exposure to sun. In case you’ve got a lot of natural light in your bathroom, a lighter shade may discolor with time. A cementious grout might be a better option for these types of installations.
Before Photo
By Any Design Ltd..
2. Grout Your Sample Board
Mark English, a San Francisco architect, spoke with me about his approach to grouting. Like many professionals, English makes sure to utilize sample boards prior to any installation. The grout and tile are all ready on a plank and submitted to the customer for approval.
Sample boards are all vital for security, durability and aesthetics. In case you haven’t seen your tile with a grout sample, then you won’t know whether you’ll even like the spacing between the tiles when it’s grouted — grout joints often look bigger when a tile has a beveled or eased edge.
Michael Tauber Architecture
3. Let From the Light
A perfect tile and grouting project deserves great lighting to show it off. Shown here is a gorgeous accent light attribute — a easy downlight like this could be a ideal bathroom nightlight with a dimmer. But when the tile and grouting were less than ideal, this downlight would just highlight poor tiling abilities.
I adore layered mild in baths. But each light source subjects a finished tile project to different levels and directions of light, potentially highlighting a tile installation defect or inferior grouting job.
If possible, have all of these light sources exercised prior to grouting, and also have each one of your windows cleaned together with the protective picture outside removed. This will aid your grouters prevent any errors which may be missed in poor light.
Hint: Grouting is one of the very last steps in a bathroom renovation. It shouldn’t be rushed, because the tile installation needs time to dry until the grouting is finished. Pushing your grouting before the finish gives your tile installation more time to heal.
In case this is not feasible, self-curing (rapid-drying) setting substances must be specified.
More: Top 10 Tips for Choosing Shower Tile