How Tile Grout Sealer Protect and Preserve Your Tiles
Today we’re looking at a relatively simple and basic tile layout, but here, we’re going to focus on looking at the tile grout lines and talk about different options for sealers. In most cases, ceramic tile doesn’t need any kind of sealer because it’s generally created with a glaze during the initial firing process. That glaze essentially becomes near perfectly impermeable during that firing and has a degree of vitreousness, like the ceramic tile itself. With a glaze, the tile becomes highly resistant to staining and it becomes almost impermeable to moisture. We specifically said *almost* impermeable because water can still affect tile and subfloor substrates even when the entirety of the surface is treated to be almost impermeable.
We’ll talk about this more in a separate upcoming article, but the thinset mortar used in most modern rectified ceramic tile installations is actually susceptible to water damage. Also, where on elevated decks, above grade, and where stick framing is used, in escape of liquid or leak type of events, water can enter below the tile and basically become almost trapped. In those type of scenarios, remediation companies will often remove the ceramic tile just to dry the substrate. We don’t always recommend this, it just depends on the particular circumstance.
The picture below shows the general layout of the floor. It’s a medium format ceramic tile with a earth tone or beige color, and a moderately dark grout that’s an average or moderate size. Grout lines can be built particularly thin to give tile surfaces a sleek look, but it’s very difficult to accommodate any deviations in the trueness OR planar shape of a substrate if grout lines are very thin. We generally recommend selecting a grout line so that it works well with the condition of the substrate. Here, the grout lines are 1/4 inch thickness.
The next two pictures below show the grout lines in closer view, in ascending order as the pictures progress. In the first picture below, you can see that the dark line presents a stark contrast to the light color of the tile.
In the next picture below shows the grout line very closely. You can see that there’s some age and damage to this particular area of the grout lines. They’ve chosen a dark color, maybe because they thought it would work better from a maintenance perspective. It’s easier to keep grout lines looking clean if they’re darker. By comparison, the adjacent tile has a ceramic glaze which generally will not stain nearly as easily as grout lines. Grout lines generally have higher porosity or recessed slightly to the face of the ceramic tile. And these conditions result in grout lines generally requiring more cleaning.
Whenever you’re building an interior space, the wall base does not have to be the same material as the tile. Instead, a variety of different materials can be used. One of the advantages of ceramic tile though, unlike wooden wall base, is that a ceramic tile base is not susceptible to nearly as much damage from exposure to moisture. One of the big mistakes though in this particular circumstance is that the outside corner joints come together without having any kind of termination other than the raw edge of the ceramic tile.
It looks poorly planned. There are several options that could be used to make this look better. Debatably, the best option overall is probably choosing a tile that includes a complimentary wall base or edge band tile. When we say it *includes*, we don’t mean that it’s no additional cost. In fact, these accessory tiles are generally way more expensive than the remainder of the regular field tile.
Specifically, what we mean is that many types of tile are manufactured without complementary accessory tiles such as edge bands or wall bases. Edge bands, wall bases, and specialty accessory tiles, generally have outer edges that are finished so that you don’t see the raw clay material of the tile at outside corners.
Here you can see this raw edge of the clay tile substrate exposed, in the next picture below. It looks like an afterthought, like they didn’t plan their tile layout properly.
The next picture below shows the grout line, with the glossy sealer applied. There are multiple different types of grout sealers, one of the big distinctions is that there is penetrating and non-penetrating type surface applied sealers. As well, some grouts come with integral sealers already mixed as part of the overall material composition of the grout. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type and will explain these differences in a upcoming as well.
Dupont Kitchen & Bath Can Help
As dedicated and local DC metropolitan kitchen and bath builders and installers, we pride ourselves on turning your visions into reality. Your kitchen and bathrooms can reflect your unique style and be designed with personalized aesthetics. It can be a process from creative designs to the realization of your dream space. Specializing in kitchen and bath construction, we bring expertise and skills to every project. If you’re contemplating a renovation, upgrade, or modernization in the local market, we’re happy to be your team. Consult with us, and we can start together on a path to redefine and elevate your DC living experience.
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