Grout for Ceramic Tile

• After you lay ceramic tile and it has dried, you fill the spaces with grout. Grout is a mortar used to fill in areas to make it solid with another area. You can buy a sand mix grout or a latex base. Grouts come premixed or in a powder you mix with water; they come in a variety of colors. Gaps 1/8 inch or smaller require the latex-based grout. You will find as the latex grout--or unsanded grout, as it is sometimes called-- shrinks, you will have to apply it a second time.
  
  

Applying the Grout

• If you have purchased the powdered grout, mix it according to the manufacturer's directions as to the area you are covering. Getting it the correct consistency is paramount to your project, so take your time. Using a grout float, place a pile of grout on top of your tile. Push it around with the float, working it into the spaces between your tiles. Do a section at a time. When you've worked in your grout, take a tiling sponge and a bucket of warm water and wipe down the tile, removing the excess grout and residue. This will also expose any areas you may have missed and will clean up your grout lines. Repeat until you have finished the entire project. Let the grout dry according to the manufacturer's directions.
  
  

Cleaning and Sealing the Grout

• After the grout has had time to completely dry, use a sanding sponge and go over the tile. Wipe with clean, warm water and a sponge. Let that dry for about an hour or two. Grout sealers come in liquid that you apply with a sponge or in a spray. For floors, using the liquid seems to penetrate the grout better. Sanded grout is porous, and the sealer needs to get into it. It is best to do at least three applications to a floor, shower or countertop. Two applications should be enough for walls and backsplashes.