Grout needs to be sealed. It's naturally porous and will stain easily. Most installers of tile floors do not seal them because grout has to cure first. It's something you should do to keep your grout looking its best.
When grout is not sealed in time, grime and water can seep into it, causing cracks on your tiles and forcing them to break at a certain point. By sealing your grout, you get to prolong your tile surface's lifespan and minimize damage to a considerable extent.
As it's made of cement it means that it's naturally very porous. Sir Grout writes that this means that, unsealed, it will absorb a lot of the water, dirt, and debris that it comes into contact with. This can mean within a few short months your tiling can go from looking immaculate and clean to discolored and dirty.
Signs Your Grout Isn't Sealed or the Seal Is Deteriorating
If you notice your tile grout is changing color, specifically getting darker when it's wet, you can be pretty sure the seal is broken and needs to have some grout sealing reapplied by a professional.
The grout in your shower should always be sealed; this will block any moisture that could easily enter the very porous material. A sealer will prevent water from becoming stuck behind the tile and grout, forming mold and mildew.
Grout is porous and therefore absorbs liquids. Because of this, the reason you should not seal your tile grout is that the sealer's liquid chemicals combine with the grout to create a surface that is actually much more difficult to clean.
The only type of grout that doesn't need sealer is epoxy, which is inherently pre-sealed.
You can seal the grout the day after you applied it or 100 years later. If it isn't dirty, seal all three sides of the shower with a tile sealer or masonry sealer. That will make the grout water-resistant, if not waterproof, and help prevent the growth of mold and dirt.
Some people will try to put a sealer on the grout joints, but that doesn't waterproof it. It doesn't work. It only makes it more water resistant.
For high-traffic areas, like the main bathroom, you should consider sealing it every six months, while low-traffic areas like the guest bathroom can be resealed every two years. If you are using epoxy grout, it might not be necessary to reseal it as it is highly water-resistant.
Let dry for at least 8 hours
Finally let the shower wall or floor grout to dry for a minimum of 8 hours before getting this area wet and using the bathroom again.
Make sure your tile surface is completely dry before you attempt to remove any haze. This typically takes about 24 hours. Consult your installation professional—or, if you DIY-ed it, your grout's packaging—for the exact amount of time. But do not wait more than 10 days to remove grout haze.
If you try adding new grout over your old grout, the new mixture will not properly adhere to the existing grout or tile edges, leaving your shower open to water damage.
Yes, certainly. Grout isn't a waterproof material, and lets water through. A properly-built shower takes that into account by giving water a path to the drain beneath the tile. If you don't have a leak, however, you can choose to fix little cracks or openings as an aesthetic choice.
The answer to the question is, surprisingly, no. Tile and grout is not totally waterproof and neither is cement board, backer board, sealers and cement adhesives, they absorb water but do not block penetration.
Porous materials, like travertine and other natural stone tiles, often require sealing, especially in high-moisture areas like showers or tub surrounds. Conversely, for porcelain and ceramic tiles, which are highly resistant to water, sealing may be optional, especially for those that have a glazed finish.
How often should you regrout shower tiles? Moisture and direct water contact contribute to grout deterioration over time, and eventually, the tiles will crack. This is why you should consider regrouting shower tiles every six months.
Grout doesn't last forever. You can expect a lifespan between eight and sixteen years. Its lifespan will vary depending on how you treat your shower.
After making sure that your tiles are freshly installed and grouted, then it's time for sealing grout! Once you make sure your grout lines are clean without any cracks or chips, give it at least 48-72 hours to ensure it's completely dry and cure before applying the sealer.
In general, grout is a great option for shower tiles but if you're sealing the joint of a bath or a shower tray, you need the flexibility and the anti-fungal properties of a good watertight silicone.
Your shower tile will be constantly exposed to water. Over time, the water can weaken the stone, which can lead to fissures or cracks in the tile. Eventually, the water can penetrate to the subfloor, and once it does that, it can spread to other parts of your home.
If it gets darker or changes color, it is a clear indicator that the grout hasn't been sealed. However, if the color remains the same, the grout has been sealed properly. Another way to check if the grout has been sealed is to monitor the water beads.
Epoxy grout is a great choice for showers and moist environments. Epoxy grout is water resistant and made from resins and fillers that help it work like a sealing adhesive.
But does grout color really change when sealed? In short, the color doesn't change after sealing. But you can expect the shade to darken a bit. And don't worry; it's not a drastic change.
At this point you may wonder if a complete re-grout is necessary or if it would be possible to simply put new grout over old grout. The answer is, yes, it is possible to put new grout over old grout.