Tile & Stone

Grouting Tile and Cleanup

Choosing sanded, unsanded or epoxy grout by joint width and tile, float technique, haze cleanup timing, curing and sealing.

Updated · 2 min read

Grout choice comes down to the joint width and the tile. Good technique means working in small areas, floating at an angle and cleaning at the right time. The details below come from grout makers' data sheets.[1][2][3]

Pick the grout

Joint width is the first filter.

Grout Joint width Notes
Sanded cement (Custom Polyblend) 1/8" to 1/2" ANSI A118.6[1]
Unsanded cement (Custom Polyblend) Up to 1/8" For polished tile, marble, glass and impervious porcelain[2]
Epoxy (Laticrete SpectraLOCK PRO) 1/16" to 1/2" ANSI A118.3; stain resistant[3]

Mixing cement grout

Water control is the biggest factor in color and strength.

  1. Mix to the bag's water ratio, and don't add water after mixing.[1]
  2. Let it slake 10 minutes, then remix.[1]
  3. Mix only what you can use and clean up in time.

Applying

Work in sections small enough to clean before the grout firms up.

  1. Make sure joints are clean and the setting mortar has cured.
  2. Spread grout with a rubber float held at about 45°, pushing diagonally across the joints to pack them.
  3. Strike off excess with the float edge held nearly upright, moving diagonally so you don't pull grout out of the joints.
  4. Spread only as much as you can clean within 30 minutes.[1]

Cleanup and haze

Timing and water are what separate a clean job from a hazy one.

  • Once the grout firms, wipe diagonally with a damp, well-wrung sponge. Rinse the sponge often.
  • With unsanded grout, use as little water as possible.[2]
  • Buff off any remaining haze after 3 hours.[1]
  • Epoxy is different: follow its cleanup instructions closely. SpectraLOCK PRO has 80 minutes of working time at 70°F, dropping to 30 minutes at 95°F.[3]

Curing and sealing

Grout needs time and the right conditions to reach strength.

  • Keep cement grout above 50°F for 72 hours.[1]
  • Seal cement grout with a pH-neutral penetrating sealer after it cures.
  • SpectraLOCK PRO takes light traffic after 12 hours and reaches full stain resistance in seven days.[3]

Common mistakes

Most grout problems are water or timing.

  • Too much water in the mix or the sponge. It causes weak, blotchy grout.
  • Sanded grout on polished stone or glass. It can scratch the surface.
  • Grouting too large an area. The first section hardens before you clean it.
  • Grouting over wet mortar.

Tools we carry

These are the floats, sponges and accessories for grouting.

References

  1. Custom Polyblend Sanded Grout (TDS-129)
  2. Custom Polyblend Unsanded Grout (TDS-130)
  3. Laticrete SpectraLOCK PRO data sheet

Linked PDF documents are archived copies saved by PreFloor Tools so they stay available if the publisher moves or removes them. Check the publisher's website for the latest revision.

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