Why Seal Grout?

Grout plays a very important role with tile installation. Not only is it there for an aesthetic purpose, grout gives tile an extra form of strength and keeps dirt and debris from getting underneath the surface of the tile. But, nobody really pays attention to grout unless it is cracking or discolored. That is where sealers come into play. After grout has been laid, it is highly recommended to apply a sealer coat on top of the grout. We recommend a penetrating sealer over a topical forming sealer as the penetrating sealer has a lot more longevity to it. The topical sealer does not seep into the grout and only lays on the surface. The penetrating sealer actually absorbs into the grout and protects all throughout, not just on top of the surface. So, we ran through what grouts purpose is and also what you should seal it with. But, did you know that grout sealers come in a wide variety of colors? We tend to recommend sealing your grout with a color that blends in with at least one accent of your tiles. So if you have a light brown tile that has darker tints of brown in it you can use the main color of your tile or try and find a sealer that matches the color of one of the accents. It tends to blend better and make everything look as one and not a checker board look as some people don’t like. Most home builders don’t seal grout as it is a very tedious job. If your grout is dirty we recommend you cleaning your grout with a steam cleaner once to remove the dirt and then immediately seal it after. After you have sealed the grout you won’t need the steam cleaner anymore as with time the steam cleaner could end up breaking down the sealer. So steam clean once, seal, then bye bye steam cleaner. We here at Groutacular specialize in grout sealing, deep cleaning tile and grout, re-grouting, grout repairs, and replacing old caulking. We seal main floors, showers, backsplashes, and pavers! If you’re interested in taking advantage of our FREE sales quotes. Give us a call today. (561)654-4811. We serve all of Northeast Florida (From St. Augustine all the way to Ponte Vedra) as well as Alachua county.

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Sanded v. Un-sanded Grout.

Sanded vs Un-sanded Grout: Sanded grout is a form of grout that is good for large grout joints; a general rule of thumb is any grout space that is larger than ⅛”. The sand in grout helps grout stay in between the joints. Sanded grout comes in both dry and pre-mixed forms. Sanded grout is very versatile, and can be used in virtually any project whether inside or outside. Sanded grout does need to be sealed in order to properly protect against dirt, spills, and discoloration. Sanded grout cannot be used with certain stone materials, specifically marble, as the sand can scratch your stone. Unsanded grout is like sanded grout but made without sand. For smaller grout joints under ⅛”, use unsanded grout. You can’t use sanded grout in small joints because not enough grout will make up the space, instead being filled with too much sand. This can lead to instability. Unsanded grout is stickier than sanded grout — perfect for those smaller grout spaces. Like sanded grout, unsanded grout does need to be sealed to protect against damage caused by stains, spills, and even UV lighting.