Color Sealing Grout: The Ins and Outs

 

Grout Can Become Stained and Discolored Over Time

Throughout time, inevitably as grout grows older it will become discolored, develop stains, and dirt will build up in its pores. Usually this happens as a side effect of foot traffic and mopping as it pushes grease and grime into the grout. As residues from mopping settle into the grout it can become very hard to fully remove later on into the future.

 

Starting With Small Steps 

Buildup and staining is a common problem with the majority of grout mixtures, and it's almost impossible to prevent it from happening as time progresses. We recommend remediating your old grout by starting with a basic level cleaning, using a legitimate steam cleaning and extraction method. Like most people, you may not have tools like this on hand, however you can find many service providers in Phoenix that will offer this method very affordably. If you’ve already tried this or don’t believe you may receive the results you’re looking for, then you may need to consider other options that are available to you. Most of the time, traditional grout and tile steam cleaning methods do not get that “new floor look” most people want so badly.

 

The Surefire Fix

Despite the low probability of making your grout look new with basic cleaning services, we still recommend trying it beforehand because you will eventually have to clean it no matter what. When it comes to fully restoring the look of your grout, you can have more confidence in color sealing compared to cleaning by itself. Color sealing is often referred to as grout recoloring or grout coloring. This is a process that uses an acrylic topical sealer with colorant additives. It varies from clear solvent sealers because it fully incases the old grout with an all new color. This results in sealing the grout from foreign bodies and providing a robust, uniform color throughout the entire tile floor.

 

The Two Main Types of Color Sealers:

The more affordable concrete stain – The first color sealer is a concrete or deck seal from Home Depot or your local hardware store. Many paint manufacturers offer this product, and all in all it will get the job done. The downside to lower quality sealers like this is its short life cycle. Because of its one size fits all approach, it is a thinner compound when compared to the second option and you can only expect to get a few years out of it. Beside from its downsides, its low viscosity does allow for much easier and less time consuming application. We recommend this option for lighter grout colors or grout that is not extremely discolored and just needs to be refreshed. In addition, its low cost and ability to cover a large square footage with minimal investment may be an attractive feature.

The longer lasting acrylic sealers – This includes brand names like Spectrum or Color Fast. These colorants are generally thicker and provide more coverage to the desired area, which can be better for severely stained or dirty grout. Unfortunately, some downfalls are that it is more expensive and will take more time to apply than generic concrete stains. We usually recommend specialty color sealing services like this, because it will typically last much longer and create a more rich look.

 

Two Common Ways to Apply the Sealer:

A toothbrush shaped tool – Colorants may last longer when applied with a toothbrush tool as the scrubbing back-and-forth motion massages the sealer product into the pores of the grout, thus the product adheres more effectively. This procedure will last you sometimes up to 10 years of use. The only downside to scrub induced application, is the seal may vary in shade. This is because of the thin coating associated with scrubbing instead of applying in a thicker fashion.

An angled paint brush – Your second, and arguably more effective method is using a paint brush for application. The paint brush method works most ideally for an older grout, as it extends more coverage to the area with a thicker coat of color seal. Ultimately this offers a more uniform look all together due to its thorough coverage. However, the cons of using a paintbrush include durability. With a thicker coat of acrylic, you’ll find that areas may chip or lift away from the grout. Problems like this can be fixed with a few simple touch ups every four to five years.

 

Why We Don’t Recommend DIY: 

Professional grade acid and/or alkaline solution must be used to open up the pores of your grout, before installing the color seal. If this chemical is not used the color seal will not last very long due to underlying residues and grout haze. Inappropriate installation may result in longevity of up to one year, with a fraction of the potential quality. We never recommend that an untrained person use acid, as it is very dangerous and it could cost you thousands in damage to stainless steel appliances.

Specialized commercial grade machinery is needed to get the job done correctly. Most people don’t own tools like this, and the cost of renting them would outway the cost of hiring a service company. Not to mention, there are dangers that come with high pressure water. Industry specific tools are non negotiable, this is because they are needed to fully extract years of soap residues, excess grease, and grime. For maximum quality, the professional extraction process must occur beforehand, otherwise the grout color seal will not adhere to the surface correctly.

The recommended course of action for the best looking and longer lasting outcome would be to find a local service provider that can properly clean and seal your grout. Be sure to obtain it at a price that does not jeopardize quality, and make sure they offer a six month warranty on the sealer as well.

 

What You Should Expect:

Below is an infographic showcasing what you should expect from a technician or company when applying your new colorant. Sometimes processes may vary slightly, but they should never vary in the order in which they are conducted.