Prepare the Grout for Staining

• Selecting and applying your new grout colorant or stain (technically, these are not considered "paints" in the traditional sense), regardless of which you choose, should begin by making certain that grout areas to be painted have been cleaned and missing pieces of grout repaired or replaced prior to application.
  
  

Grout Colorant Drying Times May Vary

• Different drying times -- sometimes significantly different drying times -- are necessary depending upon which grout colorant you select. Some, when applied in the morning, are ready for use by dinner time. Others require 24 to 48 hours to completely set before you can use the space without marring the results. Make certain to check the specifications before purchasing, particularly if time is of the essence. Perhaps guests are coming that evening, for example, and you want to apply a grout colorant to the kitchen floor.
  
  

Different Methods of Applying Grout Stains

• Application of grout colorants are different as well, depending on the manufacturer. There are several grout marker pens available, in a host of colors, that are purported to be long-lasting and easy to apply. Inspecting the size of the marker nub, or end, prior to purchase is a good idea. Depending on how closely your tiles are spaced, the marker end may be too thick to avoid colorant on the tiles, requiring constant wiping and cleaning throughout the application process. Others are applied in a more traditional manner, similar to paint. Either a toothbrush or an artist's brush is a good option for this type of application.
  
  

Bonding and Sealing Your New Grout Colorant

• Inspect the grout colorant for the epoxy and sealant amounts. Those grout stains with higher levels of epoxy may bind better to the grout and provide additional durability (epoxy is used in paint for the same reason). However, like traditional paint epoxy, drying times may increase. Virtually all grout colorants have a measure of sealant as well, though how much and how well the seal actually "takes" may vary. To avoid the additional step of sealing the new grout colorant after drying, purchase a stain with stronger sealant qualities. A grout stain that provides a guarantee for wear and tear is also available.