Grout Guide:

Why is grout needed for showers?

Showers are the most common places in our houses where grouting is useful. When tile is installed, there are small gaps between them which can be dangerous when they are not filled with grout. Grout is a mixture of cement and water that is used to fill grouting gaps.

“Do I really need grout?”

There might be times when you install shower heads but there are still tiny spaces left between the tiles. Moisture and water can get inside these tiny spaces causing mold or mildew growth, making your wall weak from within. To avoid this, you must fill the tiny spaces using grouts. This mixture of cement and water will stop moisture penetration into your substrates. In this way, you can even add a bit of color to your grouts!

How to know which type of grout is need?

“What is Sanded?”

Sanded grout has sand mixed in it which makes it have a gritty feel. The sand particles are tough enough to fill tiny spaces between tiles and make them tightly adhered to each other. Sanded grouts are usually used for larger gaps that could cause the grouts to expand because of water pressure. Sand also gives an abrasive quality to the mixture which does away with any greasy residues from oils produced by our body, thus giving us a clean look after showering.

“What is unsanded ?

Unsanded grouts are usually used for small, tiny gaps that do not expand at all.

 

Do I need a cleaner for this grout?

Cleaners are highly recommended to maintain the neatness of your bathroom. When you have your bath or shower, these cleaners will keep the walls clean by removing any dirt that may have accumulated there over time. Cleaners should be applied on a regular basis for which shining tile and grout floors are made! Tile cleaners should also be used before tiles are installed. They can help you get rid of grease, mildew or mold from ceramic, porcelain, marble etc.

What Does a Grout Sealer do?

Grout sealers are not grout cleaners. They are made especially to form a protective coating over grouts, which prevents penetration of water into grouts. This helps in grout cleaning and grout sealing.

” Do I really need Sealer for shower walls?”

Using sealer is not just needed it is highly recommended to have applied on your wall too because these grout sealers protect the grouting from dirt that has grown inside the tiles causing mildew or mold growth. Sealer also makes your bathroom look good by allowing no moisture penetration to cause damage! They can also prevent absorption of stains like make up etc. The best part about using grout sealer is that they are easy to apply.

Recommend:

Ironclad from K.O.R. Stone Care Products

 

Buying Guide:

Texture:

Grout should be thick and not too loose. Loose textures will give a weak fixture to your tile, and with time it can get dangerous for your grouts.

It’s better to go for a balanced grout that never becomes another added headache for you in the near future!

Grout color:

Grout color is usually chosen depending on our wall color. But if we follow the grouting schedule properly, grout does not actually get dirty over time giving us the opportunity to play around with grouts of different colors.

Mold prevention:

It is highly recommended to use grouts that protect your  wall from mold and mildew growth. They normally come with a formula in them which prevents these fungal attack!

Sanded grout:

These grouts are usually used for large gaps that cannot get filled up by unsanded. They can be said to be safe for shower walls though, if you apply it properly.

Oil resistant grout:

This type of grout is preferred mostly by professionals who do tile setting jobs in homes or offices because they are extremely tough when it comes to oil penetration. Petroleum products like oil can cause grouts to dissolve making them break away from tiles, this is Epoxy.

Prevent moisture and infiltration:

Sealers prevent moisture infiltration into grouts thus keeping them clean and healthy.

If you do not want to go for sealers, then sanded  is the way to go because it has sand particles that prevent water penetration!

Tips:

Do not clean your bathroom/ shower tiles with bleach or ammonia products. This can make your tiles lose their color over time. Always use tile cleaners to keep your tiles shiny and dirt free !

Never mix compounds of different brands together if one of them has already dried up because this may lead to white or ‘bleaching’.

 

Conclusion

In the end, we would suggest you go for a grout that can give your bathroom not only look nice but also remain protected. Your chosen product should be effective at filling in those gaps and making sure there isn’t any harmful dirt or moisture getting into cracks- because who wants their tiles looking dirty?
A lot of them come with various formulas: some cleaners (like Regular Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes) are best suited to surface cleanliness while others will provide protection against water damage like K.O.R. Stone Care Products , Rarefier and Ironclad do! So whichever type is right for restoring/protecting all surfaces inside my bathroom or kitchen then I’m good here..