Grout questions, answered

Find your question by topic. Each one opens the guide where it is answered in context, with the background you need to apply the answer to your own job.

Grout Basics

• Is grout structural?
• Is grout the same as cement or concrete?
• Can I skip grout on a tile backsplash?
• What is the difference between grout and caulk?
• Does grout hold water?
• How long after setting tile can you grout?
• Is epoxy grout waterproof?
• Does sealing grout make it waterproof?
• Can water leak through grout?
• Is cement board waterproof?
• Do I need waterproofing behind a kitchen backsplash?
• Why is my shower grout always dark and wet?
• Should grout be flush with the tile?
• How deep should a grout joint be?
• What is the shoulder of a tile?
• What does tooling a grout joint mean?
• Why does my grout line look wider than my spacer?
• Can grout joints be left empty?
• Can you lay tile without grout?
• What is the smallest grout line you can have?
• Can rectified tile be butted together?
• Why did my tile floor pop up?
• Does butting tile void the warranty?
• How do I make grout lines less visible?
• Can I use grout that is 2 years old?
• What happens if you use expired grout?
• How long does premixed grout last once opened?
• Where is the expiration date on a bag of grout?
• Can lumpy grout be sifted and used?
• Does epoxy grout go bad if never opened?
• How cold is too cold to grout?
• Will grout cure if it freezes overnight?
• Is premixed grout ruined if it freezes?
• Can I store grout in an unheated garage over winter?
• Why is my outdoor grout crumbling after winter?
• Does epoxy grout survive freeze-thaw?
• How often should grout be replaced?
• How long does grout last in a shower?
• Does epoxy grout last forever?
• Is it normal for grout to crack after a few years?
• Does sealing grout make it last longer?
• Can old grout be refreshed without replacing it?
• Is grout dust harmful to breathe?
• Do I need gloves to grout?
• Can grout burn your skin?
• Is epoxy grout toxic?
• What do I do if grout gets in my eye?
• Can I wash grout down the sink?
• Is it safe to be in the house while grout is removed?

Grout Science

• Is grout just cement and sand?
• Does grout harden by drying?
• Why does adding extra water weaken grout?
• What makes grout white powder appear on the surface?
• Is grout toxic?
• What is in epoxy grout?
• Does grout dry or cure?
• Should I spray water on new grout?
• Why is my grout still soft after 24 hours?
• Does grout cure faster in a warm room?
• How long does it take grout to reach full strength?
• Does epoxy grout need air to cure?
• Why did my epoxy grout harden in the bucket so fast?
• Will epoxy grout cure if the ratio was off?
• Can I add more Part C to stiffen epoxy grout?
• What is the minimum temperature for epoxy grout?
• How long until epoxy grout reaches full chemical resistance?
• Is it normal for grout to shrink?
• Why is my grout pulling away from the tile edges?
• Does unsanded grout shrink more than sanded grout?
• Does adding more water to grout make it shrink more?
• How long does grout keep shrinking?
• Does epoxy grout shrink?
• Why does grout look darker when it is wet?
• Does grout get lighter as it dries?
• Why is my grout two different colors?
• Does adding more water make grout lighter?
• Why does dark grout turn grayish or chalky?
• Is epoxy grout more color consistent than cement grout?
• Is all cement grout porous?
• What does CG2W mean on a grout bag?
• Does sealer fill the pores in grout?
• Why does my grout turn dark when it gets wet?
• Does grout get less porous as it ages?
• Is epoxy grout porous?
• Can I add latex additive to polymer-modified grout?
• What is the difference between modified and unmodified grout?
• Why is my polymer-modified grout still soft after a day?
• Is VAE or acrylic better in grout?
• Does polymer-modified grout take longer to cure?
• Does ANSI A118.7 mean the grout contains latex?
• What happens if you put too much water in grout?
• Can I add water to grout that is getting stiff?
• Why is my new grout powdery on the surface?
• Does extra water make grout lighter in color?
• How much water should I use per bag of grout?
• Is it bad to mist grout while it cures?
• Why do my grout lines sink after floating?
• What angle should I hold a grout float at?
• How deep should grout go into the joint?
• How do I know if grout joints are hollow?
• Does pushing harder with the float make grout stronger?
• Should I use a grout bag instead of a float?

Grout Types

• What grout should I use if I am not sure?
• Is epoxy grout always better than cement grout?
• Which grout is best for a shower?
• Does the type of grout affect whether I need to seal it?
• What grout do I use for joints wider than 1/2 inch?
• Can I use sanded grout for 1/16 inch joints?
• Is sanded grout waterproof?
• Will sanded grout scratch porcelain tile?
• Can you use sanded grout in a shower?
• Why is my sanded grout rough and sandy after it dried?
• How long does mixed sanded grout stay workable?
• What is the maximum joint width for unsanded grout?
• Can unsanded grout be used in a shower?
• Why did my unsanded grout crack after a week?
• Is unsanded grout weaker than sanded grout?
• Do I need unsanded grout for subway tile?
• Can I add sand to unsanded grout?
• Does epoxy grout need to be sealed?
• How long before I can shower on new epoxy grout?
• Why is my epoxy grout still tacky after two days?
• Can epoxy grout be used over existing grout?
• Will epoxy grout turn yellow?
• Is epoxy grout good for DIY?
• How long does urethane grout take to cure before showering?
• Do you need to seal urethane grout?
• Is urethane grout better than epoxy?
• Can urethane grout be used for 1/16 inch joints?
• Why does my urethane grout look darker in some spots?
• Can I use leftover urethane grout later?
• Is premixed grout good for showers?
• How long does premixed grout last in the pail after opening?
• Does premixed grout shrink or crack?
• Can premixed grout freeze?
• Do you need to seal premixed grout?
• Why is premixed grout harder to clean off tile?
• Is high-performance grout the same as polymer-modified grout?
• Do I need to seal high-performance cement grout?
• Can I use high-performance grout in a shower?
• Why did my high-performance grout dry lighter than the sample?
• Is high-performance cement grout as good as epoxy?
• Can I add liquid latex additive to high-performance grout?
• What is the most stain-resistant grout?
• Is stain-resistant grout the same as stain-proof grout?
• Do I need to seal stain-resistant grout?
• Will white grout stay white if I use epoxy?
• Can I make my existing cement grout stain resistant?
• Is flexible grout the same as caulk?
• Can I use flexible grout in shower corners instead of silicone?
• Does adding latex additive make grout flexible?
• What grout is best for a wood subfloor?
• Is urethane grout flexible enough for heated floors?
• What is furan grout used for?
• What is the most acid-resistant tile grout?
• How fast can you walk on rapid-setting grout?
• Can I use non-shrink grout for tile joints?
• Is epoxy grout good enough for a commercial kitchen?
• What grout should be used inside a fireplace?
• What does CG2WA mean on a grout bag?
• Is ANSI A118.7 better than A118.6?
• Which ANSI standard covers epoxy grout?
• Do premixed grouts meet ANSI standards?
• What is the difference between ANSI A118 and A108?
• Does the F in CG2WAF mean flexible?
• Should grout be lighter or darker than the tile?
• What is the most popular grout color for white subway tile?
• Why does my grout look lighter than the sample?
• Why is my grout color uneven or blotchy?
• Does sealing change grout color?
• Is dark grout easier to keep clean?

Comparisons

• Can I use unsanded grout for 1/8 inch joints?
• Will sanded grout scratch porcelain tile?
• Is sanded grout stronger than unsanded grout?
• What happens if you use sanded grout in a 1/16 inch joint?
• Does unsanded grout need to be sealed?
• Which is better for shower walls, sanded or unsanded?
• Is epoxy grout worth it for a bathroom?
• Can you put epoxy grout over cement grout?
• Does epoxy grout need to be sealed?
• Does epoxy grout turn yellow?
• How long does epoxy grout take to cure compared to cement grout?
• Is epoxy grout hard for a DIYer?
• Is urethane grout as good as epoxy in a shower?
• Why is my urethane grout still soft after several days?
• Can you use urethane grout in a pool?
• Do urethane and epoxy grout need sealing?
• Can urethane grout go over old grout?
• Which is easier to remove later, epoxy or urethane?
• Is premixed grout as strong as regular grout?
• How long does premixed grout last once opened?
• Can I add water to premixed grout?
• Does premixed grout need sealing?
• Why is powder grout cheaper?
• Can I use premixed grout in a shower?
• Can I use thinset as grout?
• Is grout the same as mortar?
• How long should thinset cure before grouting?
• Can I use masonry mortar to set tile?
• What is the difference between thinset and mastic?
• Should I grout or caulk shower corners?
• Is sanded caulk as good as silicone?
• Can I put silicone over grout?
• What should go between a backsplash and a countertop?
• Can I paint silicone to match grout?
• What do I use for movement joints in a tile floor?
• Is one grout brand better than another?
• What does CG2WAF mean on a grout bag?
• Can I mix grout from different brands?
• Do I need to use the same brand of thinset and grout?
• Where do I find the technical data sheet for a grout?
• Do premixed grouts from different makers perform the same?

Joint Width and Layout

• What is the smallest grout line allowed?
• Is 1/16 inch grout line too small for floor tile?
• What size grout line for 12x24 tile?
• Can I use unsanded grout in a 1/8 inch joint?
• Do wider grout lines crack more?
• Should wall and floor grout lines match where they meet?
• What is the smallest grout line allowed for tile?
• How do you calculate minimum grout joint width?
• Does the 3x rule use the nominal tile size?
• Can I use a 1/16 inch grout line on calibrated tile?
• Is the 3x rule a code requirement?
• What if the tile manufacturer recommends a narrower joint than my measurement allows?
• Can you use sanded grout in a 1/16 inch joint?
• Is 1/16 inch grout line too small for floor tile?
• What is the best grout for 1/8 inch joints?
• Do narrow grout lines need sealing?
• Why does my thin grout line look hollow or cracked after a few weeks?
• Should mosaic sheets be grouted at the same width between sheets?
• What is the widest grout joint you can use?
• Why is my wide grout joint cracking down the middle?
• Can I use unsanded grout for 1/4 inch joints?
• Do I need a grout bag for saltillo tile?
• Should wide grout joints be flush or recessed?
• Does epoxy grout work in wide joints?
• What size grout line is best for rectified tile?
• Can rectified tile be installed with no grout line?
• Why is my rectified tile floor showing lippage when the tiles are all the same size?
• Does the 33 percent offset rule apply to wall tile?
• Can I use sanded grout with rectified tile?
• Why are my grout lines different widths when I used spacers?
• Can grout fix uneven tile lines?
• How long do I have to adjust tiles after setting?
• Is some variation in grout line width acceptable?
• How do I keep subway tile lines straight on a wall?
• How deep should grout be in floor tile?
• Is it OK if thinset is in the grout lines?
• How do you remove dried thinset from grout lines?
• How much old grout do I need to remove to regrout?
• Can grout be too deep?
• Why is my new grout cracking in some spots only?
• Should I grout or caulk shower corners?
• Can I put caulk over cracked grout?
• How often do tile floors need movement joints?
• Is sanded caulk the same as grout?
• Where should caulk go on a kitchen backsplash?
• How long should I wait to caulk after grouting?

Grout by Tile Type

• Should I use sanded or unsanded grout for porcelain tile?
• Why is my grout taking so long to dry on porcelain?
• Does grout stain polished porcelain?
• Is epoxy grout worth it for a porcelain floor?
• What grout joint for rectified porcelain?
• Should I use sanded or unsanded grout for ceramic wall tile?
• Will sanded grout scratch glazed ceramic tile?
• How wide should grout lines be for ceramic floor tile?
• How far should grout fill on cushion-edge tile?
• Can I use acid haze remover on ceramic tile?
• Why is my grout light and powdery on wall tile?
• Can I use sanded grout on marble?
• Should I seal travertine before grouting?
• What color grout for white marble?
• Is epoxy grout safe for natural stone?
• How do I remove grout haze from travertine without damaging it?
• Why are there dark lines along the grout on my limestone?
• Can I use sanded grout on marble?
• What color grout goes with Carrara marble?
• Is epoxy grout safe for marble?
• Why did my white marble get dark spots after grouting?
• Should I seal marble before grouting?
• How do I remove grout haze from marble?
• Do you fill the holes in travertine with grout?
• Should I use sanded or unsanded grout on travertine?
• What color grout should I use with travertine?
• Do I need to seal travertine before grouting?
• Can I use vinegar to clean grout on travertine?
• Why do the filled holes in my travertine keep coming out?
• Do you need to seal slate before grouting?
• What size grout line for slate tile?
• Should I use sanded or unsanded grout on slate?
• Can I use epoxy grout on slate?
• How do I get grout haze off slate?
• What color grout looks best with slate?
• Can I use sanded grout on polished granite?
• What size grout line for granite tile?
• Is epoxy grout good for granite?
• Do you seal granite tile before grouting?
• Why is there a dark line around my grout on granite?
• Can I use acid haze remover on granite?
• Can you use sanded grout on glass tile?
• Is epoxy grout better for glass tile?
• Why does my glass tile look darker after grouting?
• Why is grout cracking around my glass backsplash?
• How long should grout cure on glass tile before a shower?
• Should I use sanded or unsanded grout for mosaic tile?
• How much grout do I need for mosaic tile?
• Is epoxy grout good for mosaic shower floors?
• Why do my mosaic tiles come loose when I grout?
• What color grout is best for hexagon mosaic floors?
• How much grout do I need for pebble tile?
• How high should grout be on pebble tile?
• Should I use sanded or unsanded grout for pebbles?
• Is epoxy grout good for a pebble shower floor?
• Do I seal pebble tile before grouting?
• Why can I see the sheet lines in my pebble floor?
• What size grout line is standard for 3x6 subway tile?
• Should I use sanded or unsanded grout for subway tile?
• Is white or gray grout better with white subway tile?
• Does black grout with white subway tile go out of style or show flaws?
• Can subway tile be installed with no grout lines?
• Do I need to seal grout on a subway tile backsplash?
• What is the smallest grout line for 24x48 tile?
• Should I use sanded grout on large format tile?
• Why is grout cracking on my new large tile floor?
• Can a wider grout line fix lippage?
• Why can't I use a 50 percent offset with 12x24 tile?
• Do large tiles need movement joints in a small room?
• What size grout line looks best with wood-look tile?
• Should grout be lighter or darker than wood-look tile?
• Can I lay wood-look tile in a 50 percent offset?
• Is sanded grout okay for wood-look tile?
• Can I use gray grout with brown wood-look tile?
• Why do my wood-look tile edges stick up at the ends?
• Do you have to seal cement tile before grouting?
• What color grout is best for encaustic cement tile?
• Should I use sanded or unsanded grout with cement tile?
• Can I use epoxy grout on cement tile?
• How do I remove grout haze from cement tile?
• Can grout stains on cement tile be removed?
• What size grout joint is used for quarry tile?
• What is the best grout for quarry tile in a commercial kitchen?
• Do I need a grout release on quarry tile?
• Should I seal quarry tile before grouting?
• Can I use unsanded grout on quarry tile?
• Why is the grout washing out of my restaurant quarry floor?
• Do you seal Saltillo tile before or after grouting?
• What size grout line is used for Saltillo tile?
• What color grout goes with Saltillo tile?
• Can I use epoxy grout on terracotta?
• How do I get grout haze off Saltillo tile?
• Why is my new Saltillo floor turning white?
• Do you need to seal zellige before grouting?
• What size grout line for zellige tile?
• Can you use epoxy grout with zellige?
• Should I use sanded or unsanded grout for handmade tile?
• Why are the edges of my zellige stained dark after grouting?
• What grout color looks best with zellige?

Grout by Location

• Is epoxy grout better for showers?
• Is grout waterproof?
• Should I use grout or caulk in shower corners?
• How long after grouting can I use my shower?
• Why is my shower grout always dark near the drain?
• Can I use sanded grout in a shower?
• Should I use epoxy grout on a shower floor?
• Sanded or unsanded grout for a shower floor?
• Why does the grout near my shower drain stay dark?
• Can I use large tile on a shower floor?
• Do I grout or caulk where the shower floor meets the wall?
• How long before I can use a newly grouted shower floor?
• What is the best grout for a steam shower?
• Can I use regular grout in a steam shower?
• Does a steam shower need a vapor barrier?
• Will epoxy grout melt in a steam shower?
• How long should grout cure before using a steam shower?
• Should I seal grout in a steam shower?
• What is the best grout for a bathroom floor?
• Should I grout or caulk between the tub and tile?
• Should I caulk around the base of the toilet?
• Do I need to seal bathroom grout?
• Can I use unsanded grout on a bathroom floor?
• Why does the grout between my tub and wall keep cracking?
• Is epoxy grout worth it for a kitchen backsplash?
• Should backsplash grout be sanded or unsanded?
• Do you grout or caulk between the countertop and backsplash?
• What grout color hides grease best on a white subway tile backsplash?
• Can the heat from a stove damage backsplash grout?
• How long after grouting a backsplash can I cook?
• What is the best grout for a tile kitchen countertop?
• Is grout on a kitchen counter sanitary?
• How thin can grout lines be on a tile countertop?
• Can I use urethane grout on a countertop?
• Do I need to seal epoxy grout on a counter?
• Can you put a hot pan on tile countertop grout?
• What is the most durable grout for a floor?
• Is sanded or unsanded grout better for floors?
• Why is my new floor grout cracking?
• How long before I can walk on new floor grout?
• Do floor grout lines need to be sealed?
• What grout color is best for a high-traffic floor?
• What is the best grout for an outdoor patio in a freezing climate?
• Can you use premixed grout outside?
• Why is my outdoor grout cracking?
• Should outdoor grout be sealed?
• What temperature is too cold to grout outside?
• What causes white residue on outdoor grout?
• What kind of grout is used in swimming pools?
• How long should pool grout cure before filling?
• Why is my pool grout turning sandy and washing out?
• Can you regrout a pool underwater?
• Does pool grout need to be sealed?
• Is epoxy grout better for a saltwater pool?
• Is regular grout heat resistant enough for a fireplace?
• Can I use epoxy grout around a fireplace?
• What do you use instead of grout inside a firebox?
• Why does the grout around my fireplace keep cracking?
• How do I get soot off fireplace grout?
• How long should grout cure before using the fireplace?
• What grout is required in a commercial kitchen?
• Why does grout wash out of restaurant floors?
• What is the difference between epoxy and furan grout?
• Can I seal cement grout in a restaurant kitchen instead of using epoxy?
• How wide should grout joints be on quarry tile?
• How long before a newly grouted kitchen floor can be washed down?

How to Grout

• How long should grout sit before wiping it off?
• Can I grout tile the same day I set it?
• Should grout be flush with the tile?
• Do I grout the corners of a shower?
• How much area can one person grout at a time?
• Why is my new grout cracking?
• What consistency should grout be?
• Can I mix grout by hand?
• What happens if you add too much water to grout?
• Can I add water to grout that is getting hard?
• How long does mixed grout last in the bucket?
• Can I mix half a bag of grout?
• What angle should I hold a grout float at?
• Why do I have to float grout diagonally?
• How hard should I press when grouting?
• How big an area should I grout at once?
• Can I use a putty knife instead of a grout float?
• Should I float epoxy grout the same way?
• How long should I wait to sponge grout?
• How wet should my grout sponge be?
• What happens if I wipe grout too soon?
• Can you over-sponge grout?
• How often should I change grout rinse water?
• Can I use a regular kitchen sponge for grout?
• What is a grout bag used for?
• How thick should grout be for a grout bag?
• Can I use a grout bag for narrow joints?
• When do I tool grout after bagging?
• Can I make a grout bag from a zip-top bag?
• What is the best float for grouting?
• Can I use a regular sponge to clean grout?
• Do I need a drill to mix grout?
• When should I use a grout bag?
• What tool removes old grout fastest?
• Can vinegar remove grout haze?
• How long after grouting can I use a haze remover?
• Why does grout haze come back after cleaning?
• Will grout haze go away on its own?
• Is grout haze remover safe on new grout?
• How long does grout take to dry before I can shower?
• Can I walk on grout after 12 hours?
• Does grout cure faster with a fan or heater?
• How long should grout cure before sealing?
• What happens if grout gets wet before it cures?
• Why is my grout still soft after a week?
• Can I mix half a unit of epoxy grout?
• How long do I have before epoxy grout must be washed off?
• Do I need to seal epoxy grout?
• When can I shower after epoxy grouting?
• Can a DIYer use epoxy grout?
• What removes cured epoxy grout haze?
• What is the lowest temperature you can grout tile?
• What happens if grout freezes before it cures?
• Can I use a space heater to help grout cure?
• Why did my grout turn out lighter in some spots on a hot day?
• Is it OK to grout outside in summer?
• Does cold weather affect premixed grout?
• How long after grouting can I turn on radiant floor heat?
• Can I use the heated floor to speed up grout curing?
• What is the best grout for heated floors?
• Do heated tile floors need expansion joints?
• Why is my grout cracking on my heated floor?
• Should the heated floor be on or off while grouting?
• Can I grout tile the same day I set it?
• How long should mastic dry before grouting?
• Is 12 hours long enough before grouting over thinset?
• Why is my new grout dark in some spots?
• Can I walk on tile before grouting?
• Should I grout the walls or the floor first?
• Can I use the same grout for walls and floors?
• Why is my wall grout sagging out of the joints?
• Is unsanded grout OK for a floor?
• Should I grout the corner where the wall meets the floor?
• What is the most common mistake when grouting tile?
• Can you add water to grout that is getting hard?
• Why is my new grout cracking in the corners?
• Why does my grout look sandy after cleaning?
• Can I grout over old grout to fix mistakes?

Grout Problems

• Is it normal for new grout to have hairline cracks?
• Why does the grout keep cracking in the same spot after I fix it?
• Why does grout crack in shower corners?
• Should I caulk over cracked grout?
• Does cracked grout mean water is getting behind the tile?
• Is it normal for new grout to have hairline cracks?
• How long after grouting can cracks appear?
• Will sealing grout stop new cracks?
• Can I just caulk over cracked grout?
• My new shower grout cracked in the corners. Is the shower leaking?
• Does cracked new grout mean the tile will come loose?
• Why does my grout keep cracking in the same spot?
• Is L/360 good enough for porcelain tile?
• Will epoxy grout stop recurring cracks?
• Should I caulk the cracks instead of regrouting?
• Can an uncoupling membrane fix grout that keeps cracking?
• How do I know if the floor needs reinforcing?
• Why is my grout pulling away from the tile?
• Can I just put new grout where it fell out?
• Is missing grout in a shower dangerous?
• How deep should grout be?
• Does loose grout mean the tile is loose too?
• Why is my new grout sandy after cleaning?
• Will sealing soft grout make it harder?
• How long should cement grout take to get hard?
• Can grout that froze be saved?
• Can I regrout over old crumbling grout?
• Why is my premixed grout still soft after a week?
• Will tacky epoxy grout eventually harden?
• Why does my grout still look wet days later?
• Can I use a heat gun or hair dryer to cure grout faster?
• Can I shower if my grout is not fully cured?
• Should I seal grout that is still soft?
• Should grout be flush with the tile?
• Why did my grout sink after it dried?
• Can I add more grout to low grout lines?
• How long do I have to fix low joints on a fresh job?
• Are recessed grout lines a problem in a shower?
• Why does my grout have tiny holes after drying?
• Can I fill grout pinholes with new grout after it cures?
• Do grout pinholes cause leaks in a shower?
• Will sealer fill grout pinholes?
• How do I stop bubbles when mixing grout?
• Why do pinholes keep coming back in the same spot when I float?
• Is sanded grout supposed to feel rough?
• Why is there sand on my floor after grouting?
• Can I sand grout smooth?
• Will sealer make rough grout smooth?
• Does rough grout mean it is weak?
• Is it normal for shower grout to look dark after a shower?
• Will sealing grout stop it from staying wet?
• Why is my shower floor grout always dark around the drain?
• Can a moisture meter read through tile?
• Can I just regrout a shower that stays wet?
• Will blotchy grout even out on its own?
• Why is my grout lighter than the sample?
• Why does my grout have dark spots after a week?
• Can I paint grout to fix uneven color?
• Does sealer change grout color?
• Why is my dark grout turning white?
• Why is my gray grout turning white?
• Is white stuff on grout mold?
• Will vinegar remove white residue from grout?
• Why does white residue come back after I clean it?
• Can sealer make grout look white?
• Is pink mold in the shower dangerous?
• Why is my white grout turning yellow?
• What causes orange stains on shower grout?
• Will bleach remove orange stains from grout?
• Can sealer make grout turn yellow?
• Why is my black grout turning gray?
• Can faded grout be restored without regrouting?
• Does sealing grout prevent fading?
• Does sun fade grout?
• Why did my new dark grout dry lighter than expected?
• Is efflorescence on grout harmful?
• Will efflorescence go away on its own?
• Does vinegar remove efflorescence from grout?
• Why does my shower grout keep turning white?
• Can I seal grout to stop efflorescence?
• Does epoxy grout get efflorescence?
• Why does my shower grout smell musty even after cleaning?
• How do I get urine smell out of grout around a toilet?
• Can grout cause a sewer smell?
• Will sealing grout stop odors?
• Is a musty bathroom smell dangerous?

Repair and Regrouting

• How do I know if my grout needs to be replaced?
• Can you put new grout over old grout?
• Is it better to regrout or recolor?
• Will regrouting stop a shower leak?
• How long does regrouting a bathroom take?
• When should I retile instead of regrout?
• Can I fill a cracked grout line without removing the old grout?
• How far past the crack should I remove grout?
• Can I use caulk to patch a missing piece of grout?
• Why does my grout patch look darker than the old grout?
• Should I seal a grout patch?
• What is the easiest way to remove grout?
• Is there a chemical that dissolves grout?
• How do you remove grout from very narrow 1/16 inch joints?
• Can you use a Dremel to remove grout?
• How deep should I remove grout before regrouting?
• Does vinegar soften grout for removal?
• Can you put new grout over old grout?
• How long does it take to regrout a shower?
• Do I need to remove all the grout to regrout?
• Can I use epoxy grout to regrout over old cement grout?
• Should I seal new grout after regrouting?
• Why is my new grout a different color than the old grout?
• Can I put new grout over old grout in a shower?
• How long does a skim coat of grout last?
• Do I need to remove all the old grout to regrout?
• Will new grout stick to sealed grout?
• Can I use grout pens or paint instead of regrouting?
• Will regrouting a shower stop a leak?
• Should I regrout the shower walls and floor at the same time?
• Can I regrout just the shower floor?
• How long does it take to regrout a shower?
• Do I need to seal shower grout after regrouting?
• Is it normal for shower floor grout to stay dark?
• How long does it take to regrout a kitchen floor?
• Can I regrout a floor without removing the toilet?
• Should I use sanded or unsanded grout to regrout a floor?
• Do I need to regrout the perimeter of the floor?
• Why is my regrouted floor cracking again?
• Can I use a grinder to remove floor grout?
• Why is my new grout a different color than the old grout?
• How long does it take for grout to dry to its true color?
• Can I darken new grout to match old grout?
• Can I mix two grout colors to get a match?
• Is it better to regrout everything than patch?
• Is it OK to regrout if a few tiles sound hollow?
• Why does my grout keep cracking after I regrout?
• Can regrouting fix a leaking shower?
• How do I know if my shower pan has failed?
• Will flexible or urethane grout solve cracking from movement?
• Can I inject adhesive under hollow tiles instead of resetting them?

Cleaning and Stains

• Is baking soda and vinegar good for cleaning grout?
• Can I use a toothbrush to clean grout?
• How long should grout cleaner sit before scrubbing?
• Should I seal grout after cleaning it?
• Why does my grout look dirty again right after I clean it?
• Is it safe to use bleach on grout?
• What is the best way to whiten gray grout?
• Can I use chlorine bleach to whiten white grout?
• Why did my white grout turn yellow after cleaning?
• Does baking soda whiten grout?
• How long does it take white grout to look white after cleaning?
• Should I seal white grout after cleaning it?
• Why does my black grout look white after cleaning?
• Can I use bleach on dark grout?
• Will vinegar fade dark grout?
• How do I get rid of white haze on dark grout?
• Can faded dark grout be restored?
• Is efflorescence on dark grout permanent?
• How often should I clean shower grout?
• What removes soap scum from shower grout?
• Is squeegeeing the shower really worth it?
• Why is my shower grout turning dark in the corners and at the bottom?
• Can I use a daily shower spray instead of a squeegee?
• Should I seal shower grout after deep cleaning?
• Why is my floor grout dirty right after mopping?
• What is the best machine for cleaning floor grout?
• Can I clean floor grout with a regular mop?
• What cleaner works best on dirty floor grout?
• How long should floor grout dry before sealing?
• Can a floor scrubber damage grout?
• What PSI is safe for pressure washing patio grout?
• Can pressure washing remove grout?
• What kills algae on patio grout?
• How do I get moss out of patio grout lines?
• Why does white powder keep appearing on my patio grout?
• Should I seal outdoor grout after cleaning?
• What is the best cleaner for epoxy grout?
• Does epoxy grout need to be sealed?
• How do you remove dried epoxy grout haze from tile?
• Can I use bleach on epoxy grout?
• Will vinegar damage epoxy grout?
• Why does my epoxy grout look dull and dirty even after cleaning?
• What pH cleaner is safe for grout?
• Is vinegar acidic enough to damage grout?
• Do alkaline cleaners remove grout sealer?
• Should I neutralize after using an acid grout cleaner?
• Is oxygen bleach acidic or alkaline?
• Does vinegar damage grout?
• Is it OK to clean grout with vinegar and water?
• Can I use vinegar on grout with marble or travertine tile?
• Is vinegar safe on epoxy grout?
• Can I mix vinegar and bleach to clean grout?
• Does diluting vinegar make it safe for grout?
• Will bleach damage grout?
• Why did my grout turn white or blotchy after bleaching?
• Can I use bleach on colored grout?
• How long should bleach sit on grout?
• Can I use bleach and vinegar together on grout?
• Should I seal grout after using bleach?
• Does hydrogen peroxide damage grout?
• Is baking soda and peroxide better than oxygen bleach for grout?
• How long should I leave peroxide and baking soda on grout?
• Can I use peroxide on colored or dark grout?
• Does baking soda remove grout stains on its own?
• Why does my grout look whiter wet than dry after cleaning?
• Does steam cleaning damage grout?
• Do steam mops clean grout?
• Do I need to reseal grout after steam cleaning?
• Can you steam clean marble or travertine grout?
• How long after grouting can I steam clean?
• Does steam kill mold in grout?
• Is black mold in shower grout dangerous?
• Does vinegar kill mold in grout?
• Why does mold keep coming back in my shower grout?
• Will sealing grout prevent mold?
• What is the pink stuff in my shower grout?
• Can I paint over moldy grout with grout colorant?
• What dissolves soap scum on grout without damaging it?
• Are calcium, lime and rust removers safe on grout?
• How do I remove hard water stains from grout on a marble shower?
• Why does the white film come back days after cleaning?
• Does a water softener stop soap scum?
• Does sealing grout prevent soap scum?
• What is the best way to get grease out of kitchen grout?
• How do I remove the sticky brown film from backsplash grout?
• Why did my turmeric stain turn red when I cleaned it?
• Can I get red wine out of white grout?
• Does sealing grout stop grease stains?
• Will degreaser remove grout sealer?
• How do I tell rust from pink or orange mildew on grout?
• Will bleach remove rust from grout?
• Is oxalic acid safe on grout?
• What rust remover is safe for marble and travertine?
• Why do rust spots keep coming back in the same place?
• Can lemon juice and salt remove rust from grout?
• Can dog or cat urine permanently damage grout?
• Why does my tile floor smell like urine when it rains?
• Will vinegar remove pet urine smell from grout?
• How long should enzyme cleaner sit on grout?
• Should I seal grout to prevent pet urine problems?
• Do I need to replace the tile or just the grout?
• How do you get rust stains out of grout?
• What removes oil stains from grout?
• Does hydrogen peroxide whiten grout?
• How do I get hair dye out of grout?
• Can you remove stains from epoxy grout?
• What is a poultice for grout stains?

Sealing Grout

• Is it OK to not seal grout?
• Does grout need to be sealed in a shower?
• Do I need to seal grout if it says sealer is not required?
• How do I know if my grout is already sealed?
• Can sealing grout prevent mold?
• Should I seal dark grout?
• Will sealing epoxy grout make it more stain resistant?
• I sealed my epoxy grout by mistake. Is it ruined?
• Does urethane grout need sealing?
• Should I seal epoxy grout in a shower?
• Do I need to seal the tile if I use epoxy grout?
• How can I tell if old grout is epoxy without the bag?
• Is a penetrating sealer better than a membrane sealer for grout?
• Can you put a penetrating sealer over a membrane sealer?
• Do grout colorants need a sealer on top?
• Are water-based grout sealers as good as solvent-based?
• Will a grout sealer make my floor slippery?
• Is solvent-based grout sealer better than water-based?
• Can I apply water-based sealer over solvent-based sealer?
• How long does solvent-based sealer smell?
• Can I seal grout that is still a little damp?
• Does water-based sealer change grout color?
• Are water-based sealers safe for food areas like countertops?
• Can I seal grout after 24 hours?
• Is it bad to wait weeks before sealing grout?
• How long after cleaning grout can I seal it?
• What happens if I seal grout too early?
• Does a fan speed up the wait before sealing?
• How long after sealing can I use the shower?
• How long after grouting can I seal grout?
• Should I seal grout with a brush or spray?
• How many coats of grout sealer do I need?
• Can I use the shower after sealing grout?
• What happens if sealer dries on the tile?
• Do I seal the caulk joints too?
• How long should the water sit on grout for the test?
• Should water bead on sealed grout?
• Can I tell if grout is sealed just by looking?
• Why does my sealed grout still darken in the shower?
• Does the water drop test work on natural stone?
• Will the water drop test damage unsealed grout?
• Can you seal grout too often?
• How long does grout sealer last in a shower?
• Do I need to remove old sealer before resealing?
• Does epoxy grout ever need to be sealed or resealed?
• Is a 10-year or 15-year sealer worth it?
• How long after sealing grout can I shower?
• Do I need to seal new shower grout?
• Will sealing stop my shower from leaking?
• Should I seal shower grout before or after caulking?
• Can I use a spray-on grout sealer in the shower?
• Why does my shower grout still look dark after sealing?
• Should I seal grout on an outdoor patio?
• Can I use an acrylic sealer on outdoor tile grout?
• Does sealing prevent efflorescence on a patio?
• How long should outdoor grout dry before sealing?
• What happens if it rains right after sealing outdoor grout?
• Will sealer stop grout from cracking in winter?
• Why is my grout sealer sticky?
• Will sealer haze go away on its own?
• Can you put too much sealer on grout?
• Does vinegar remove grout sealer haze?
• How do I get sealer haze off porcelain tile?
• Does removing sealer haze remove the sealer from the grout?
• Do you need to seal grout after using a colorant?
• How long does grout colorant last?
• Can grout colorant make dark grout white?
• Can I use grout colorant in a shower?
• Will grout colorant fill cracks?
• Is grout colorant the same as grout paint?
• Can you remove penetrating grout sealer?
• Will vinegar remove grout sealer?
• How do I get dried grout sealer off porcelain tile?
• How do you remove grout colorant?
• How long should I wait after stripping before resealing?
• Is it sealer haze or grout haze on my tile?

Grout Tools

• How much area does a 25 lb bag of grout cover?
• Does joint depth matter as much as joint width?
• Should I buy extra grout?
• Can I use this for wall tile?
• Is epoxy always the best grout?
• What if two options score the same?
• Does the selector save my answers?
• Can one problem have several causes at once?
• When should I call a professional?
• Should grout match the tile or contrast with it?
• Does joint width change how strong the contrast looks?
• Can I change grout color later?
• How many coats of grout sealer do I need?
• Why is the label coverage a range?
• Does this work for grout colorant?
• Can rectified tile always use a 1/16 inch joint?
• What about the offset for large tile?
• Is a wider joint ever a problem?
• Can I shower 24 hours after grouting?
• Why does the full cure take 28 days for cement grout?
• When can I seal?

Research and Data

• How much grout do I need for 100 square feet?
• Why do manufacturer charts differ from each other?
• How do I convert to kilograms?
• Does larger tile mean less grout maintenance?
• Is a 1/16 inch joint half the grout of a 1/8 inch joint?
• Can I reuse these numbers?
• Which grout is the most durable?
• Which grout is easiest for a first-time DIYer?
• Why is premixed grout not recommended for pools?
• What is the most common cause of grout failure?
• Is failed grout a warranty issue?