Sealing Grout Lines FAQs
Grout is a construction material used to seal the spaces between tiles or concrete. Grout is typically made from cement, water, sand, and added colour. Grout is added once tiles have been installed, then whatever excess grout there is gets wiped away. Grout is applied in liquid form, and then hardens over time.
If you want your grout lines to remain fresh and crisp and their original colour then yes. Many manufacturers will say it's an unnecessary expense but when you are down on your knees scrubbing the grout lines you will wish you had them sealed. It will also increase the lifetime of the grout, particularly in wet and outdoor areas.
Essentially no. A "grout only" seal should be applied with a penetrating sealer as a topical seal(or surface sealer) will flake and the area will look ununiformed. If you seal the entire tiled area with a topical sealer then that will adhere to the grout better.
Although a sealer will make the grout easier to maintain it doesn't act as force field for dirt and grime. Regular maintenance is necessary to make sure your grout remains fresh.
This depends on the type of sealer you decide to seal your tiles with. Topical sealers usually have a lifetime of around 3 years, while impregnating sealers have a lifetime of up to 15 years. On vertical surfaces impregnating sealers could last a lifetime, however, on heavy walkway areas or heavily used areas such as shower recesses, the areas should be checked more often and re-sealed if necessary. You can test how porous your grout is by applying a drop of water to the surface and watching how it is absorbed. You can then see how any type of water based stain can be absorbed by the grout.
Yes you can and it is recommended to seal your grout lines especially if they are a light colour, this will save you the likely cost of having to regrout your tiles only a few years after installation.
Sealing is not waterproofing. If you are having waterproofing problems (for example leaking through on balconies etc.) sealing will not six this problem. It is more likely you will need complete regrouting.
If you are looking for a new look for your floors, colour sealing may be an option. Changing the colour of the grout can create a modern look at a fraction of the cost of retiling.
Tile Cleaners® charge per square meter for grout sealing. There is a price list on the Tile Cleaners® website for you to review. Before we begin our work we will measure the area individually, confirm the work to be carried out as well as confirm all costs with you.
We recommend that you measure each area separately. The simplest way to measure is by multiplying the width by the length. For example a room that is 3 meters long and 2 meters wide is 3 X 2 = 6m2 in total.
Move all items from the area being sealed so it is ready for when we arrive.
If you are getting your floors sealed, then you should keep in mind that it usually takes around 4 hours before your tiles are touch dry, however the sealer takes up to 24 hours to fully cure which means that you are not allowed to mop the floor or allow it to get wet for at least 24 hours after the job has been completed.
It usually takes around 4 hours before your tiles are touch dry, which means that you can walk on them and even return most furniture items after 4 hours of completing the job, however you can not mop the tiles, or allow them to become wet for at least 24 hours as that can potentially wash off the sealer as it takes up to 24 hours to fully cure. You should not return rugs to the floor for at least 24 hours after the job has been completed, since the rug will stop your tiles from breathing before the sealer is fully cured.