Grout Paint

Tap to Read ➤ Leena Palande

Grout paint can add a dramatic effect to the tiled flooring and create a magically bright appearance. You just need to have a lot of patience and, of course, follow the manufacturer's instructions.

The porous nature of grout is basically responsible for the gradual discoloration of tiles. Factors like moisture, dirt, and superficial germs make it look stained and discolored.

Covering it with attractive paint can effectively solve this problem. Cleaning as as important as painting, since it is a part of the procedure which results in attractive flooring.

You can use different paints and colors to restore or change its appearance. You must have noticed that white grout looks filthy even after you have cleaned it. Wouldn't you feel relaxed if an interior designer tells you about the attractive look of your tile floor with a different color grout?

An epoxy grout colorant can restore it to an attractive, uniform color. It can be easily applied and is available in shades of white, many premixed colors, and even custom blends.

Painting the grout

There is no need to worry if you don't get an exact color match for the old grout. Getting a paint within a few shades is good enough. If there are broken tiles or deteriorating grout, you should first fix them.

If you have unglazed tiles for the wall or the floor, like natural stone, torrazzo, or any raw clay tiles, you should seal the tiles before applying tile paint. Otherwise the paint may permanently stain the floor.

Any of the factors like food, oils, soap residue, or grout sealers may be the reason for the failure of the paint. So, cleaning the tiles before painting is essential. Cleaning ceramic tile grout is necessary for successful application of paints.

Use gloves and goggles while using harsh cleaners. Some paints come with cleaning products. Just don't forget about the final rinse with hot water to remove any chemical residue.

Various colorant brands are available in the market. Each comes with a different set of instructions. First you need to select the paint by reading the instructions. Different colorant brands will have different drying times, waiting times between coats, and they might also vary in application methods.

For instance, you need to finish application and cleaning (which is a more tedious job) within one hour. In this case, if the floor is quite large then you need to stop painting and start final cleaning of the painted floor, before the whole floor is completely done. In this way, a medium-sized bathroom can take a few hours for the first coat only.

Before you start, the floor should be completely cleaned and dried. Choose a paint brush before you start. Some suggest the use of toothbrushes, but a small, cheap artist brush found in most hardware or paint stores is recommended. Run your fingers through the bristles to remove as many loose hair as possible.

The brush can be helpful in giving the grout a thin, even coat of colorant with minimal overlapping onto the tile. You can also use a paint pen for painting. These days, paint markers are also available in the market, which contain water-based, odorless, permanent paint, - perfect for non-ventilated areas.

Now, put on your knee pads and get ready for the fun part. Take a small amount of colorant into a shallow container. Dip the brush into the color and apply in smooth long strokes, evening out the colorant with a back-and-forth motion into all the nooks-and-crannies. Try to get a thin, even, and complete coat. Apply evenly to avoid 'pooling' or 'puddling'.

Don't pour any used colorant back into the bottle. You should throw it away. That is the reason, taking small amount at a time is recommended. Wipe out the excess from the shallow container with a paper towel and let it dry. You can wash your brush with soap and water to reuse for subsequent coats.

If the tiles are ceramic, your paint can overlap the tiles as slight overlapping will assure a good seal. Apply two coats to ensure long term durability. Sometimes, even a third "touch-up" coat in some difficult areas will be required. You may have to scrape off an excessive colorant before applying subsequent coats.

Check the drying time given in the instructions. Then, after drying, spray the floor lightly with water, wait a few minutes and then scrub the floor with a light-duty plastic scouring pad which is safe for ceramic tiles. Clean a small area at a time and rinse the pad in a bucket of cool water till the floor is done. The paint is waterproof once dry.

You will have a new, beautiful, and bright colored floor after you are done with this activity. Grout paint can change the appearance of the floor significantly and permanently.