Skul Plumbing

Tile grouting, the simplest How-to-guide for great results

Part 1 of  3 series.

Here is the simplest wall tile grout guide for great results to impress your husband!, boss and yourself.

Materials and tools required:  depending on the size of the bathroom, type of tile and joint size (1/16, ¼ or ½ inch) you need either un-sanded wall grout or sanded grout which is used on floor tile as well. Read the boxes at the store and make sure you get the right stuff. Again unsanded wall grout for joint size 1/16 to 1/8”, anything over 1/8” requires sanded grout (floor grout)

• Tile grout saw, for removing and cleaning grout lines (very important)
• Abrasive bathroom cleaner (Ajax, Comet, etc.)
• Scotch-brite® pad
• Razor blade scraper
• Grouting sponge (not just any sponge, very important)
• Wall Grout rubber float
• Clean plastic bucket about 2 gal size is ideal.
• Plenty of clean cool water
• Vacuum cleaner

Wall Tile Grouting

1.-        Using the tile grout saw, begin  scraping and working the lines at the top of the wall section to be done first, removing as much material as possible to get clean lines.

2.-        Work the corners and tub joint as well by scraping clean all materials like, caulk or silicone.

3.-        Vacuum area clean and begin washing the tile wall with the powder cleaner, pay attention to area around the soap dish, faucets, hardware and corners.

4.-        Rinse well and leave wall sections to be done damp.

5.-        Using the plastic bucket mix grout according to manufacture’s directions.

6.-        Spread the mixed grout using the rubber float across the tiles in a diagonal motion, covering the joints completely, but leaving the tile, somewhat clean.

7.-        Cover only a section that can be floated with grout and cleaned in 30 minutes at a time. Never attempt to grout all the walls at once.

8.-        Once a section is floated with grout, begin working the lines with the grouting sponge, wet the sponge with clean cool water, wring it out to almost dry, wiping the lines smooth and letting the grout filling the joints completely, at this point the lines should be clean and straight and no grout should remain on the tile itself except the grout haze which will be removed later on when dry.

9.-        Once all wall sections are completed and wiped clean of all excess grout and the line are looking good and feel dry to the touch begin the last wiping and polishing       with a DRY cloth until all the haze has been removed and the wall is clean and glossy.

10.-      The caulking around the bathtub part of this job is best explained in a separate note, see:       “How-to-Caulk-a-Tub-Like-a-Pro!”

Orlando Salazar is the founder and President of Bathtub Doctor, Inc. a division of Corporate Bath Systems, Inc.
He can be reached at:

Bathtub Doctor, Inc.
180 Wantagh Ave.
Bethpage, NY 11714
USA
516-931-8311 Fax 516-776-9623
http://bathtubdoctor.com
http://twitter.com/tubdoc http://tubdoc.wordpress.com

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