Grout sealer is an essential part of completing home renovations that incorporate the use of tiles. Grout is a porous substance so using a grout sealer is highly recommended to prevent staining, discoloration, and moisture buildup which can cause mildew.
Two main types of grout sealer
- Applicator or Brush On Grout Sealer
Using a roller ball tip or a brush, you will need to trace along the grout lines with the sealant. Depending on the size of the area that you need to seal, retracing over the grout lines could be a time consuming process.
- Spray On Grout Sealer
This type of sealer allows you to just spray it on instead of meticulously retracing the grout lines. The downside of using a spray on sealant is that you will have more tile surface to clean.
Do not get grout sealer on a non-glazed tile surface because it will soak into the tile and you won’t be able to get it out.
Is there a type of grout that I don’t need to use a sealant with?
There are 3 types of grout that you can use for a project involving tiles:
- Sanded – This type of grout contains fine sand and is used for seams that are 1/8″ and wider.
- Unsanded – Use this type of grout for a seam that is less than 1/8″ wide.
- Epoxy-based grout – This type of grout comes in unsanded and sanded types and is resistant to most stains and chemicals because it includes a hardener and an epoxy resin. It is not recommended for tiles that are over a ½” thick. Epoxy grout is the best choice for heavily trafficked areas or exposure to grease or acids.
When using an epoxy-based grout, a sealant does not need to be used.
Does it matter what size tiles are being used?
Keep in mind that the smaller the size of the tiles, the more grouting you will need to do. Then you will also need to apply the sealant. Depending on the size of tiles used, determine what type of sealant would be most efficient to use. Using an applicator to seal grout in a roomful of small tiles is going to be tedious and take up too much time.
Before starting any project, it is important to plan your steps. Part of planning is making sure that you have all the supplies that you will need to complete a job. When doing any type of tile work, you will need to apply a grout sealer unless an epoxy-based grout is being used.