Grouting Tumbled Marble

Copyright (c) 2007 Anthony Ventura

Choosing the correct color of grout can be a monumental choice. Proper selection depends on your expectations and look you hope to achieve.

Try and match the dominant base color of your tile or stone with grout. This is true of almost 100% of the time if it is marble or granite that we study. Using a grout color that contrasts too will have a checkerboard effect and your eyes will not grout the tile. This may be the best choice if there is a certain look and feel that you are going after, as the traditional look of many ceramic tiles. In Mexico or Spain darker color grout was the tradition of several centuries.

Again using a grout color near the base tile or marble you avoid trouble. Normally, pool tile waterline is grouted with white grout, but I have a grout color in my pool and have no problems from chlorine. Here is a summary of some of the things that you should be aware of your choice when considering grout.

1.For floors, this kind of foot traffic your floor will be subjected to? If you have children and dogs, you can go with a dark grout, because in time it will be darker use.

2. Can you take the time to have the Maitenance performed regularly? In my experience most people do not keep their marble and granite cleaned and sealed as recommended. Using the wrong cleaners can ruin your marble or tile grout. Talk to your tile or marble shop and get the information properly care for your particular hardware.

3. How competent is your tile installer or marble?

The technique of injection is very easy, but do not have that little bit of knowledge can lead to unfortunate results and major problems.

A must to avoid many problems is to keep your marble and granite sealed on a regular basis, it's easy to do, in general, you should use a penetrating sealer, not a topical sealer, I repeat not a sealer topically.

Usually when you have ceramic or porcelain tile that installers do their job and the last phase of grout and cleaning. This should not be the last step, the last step is to have your grout sealed after the grout cures in 2 or 3 days.

You can do it yourself, it requires no skill and you can save a little money to boot.

It is as easy as the application of penetrating sealer to the grout with a brush or applicator. I saw some hunters who are really simple to use, they have a special foam tip that makes it a snap to apply the sealant without mess. If all sealer on the tile, no problem, just wipe with a dry cloth, do not harm the ceramic, porcelain or glass tiles.

All marble and granite should be on your calendar for the sealing, it is easier than waxing a car hood.

For stone floors, it is probably better to have a professional do it, as special equipment is involved.

Penetrating sealers do not change the appearance of your stone or grout. You can also use a sealer that provides improved color, this look can be tested first by the anchorage area. The look when it is wet is close to the issue will be with the amplifier. Enhancers are mostly used to make the natural color of polished marble, such as tumbled marble. If this is the case remember that you darken the stone fell with Enhancer will be simultaneously darken the grout, so you can choose a grout several shades lighter because you will know that the darkest amplifier.