Are your beautiful tiles being spoilt by dirty grout lines? Are you tired of scrubbing it frequently with no noticeable change? Then maybe it’s time to paint the grout lines. You can’t have ugly, stained, damaged, and cracked grout ruining your beautiful-looking tiles.
If you are suffering from the scenario described above, then you should be interested in how to paint grout lines.
Fortunately, painting grout lines is an easy task. All you have to do is clean the grout and then apply the grout colorant or paint on the grout lines with a toothbrush.
Read on as we provide a more detailed explanation of how to paint grout lines.
Read: How to change grout color on tile floor
What is Grout Paint/Colorant?
Grout paint is made of latex, fillers, and pigments. Grout paint is specifically meant for grout lines and can restore grout’s original color or change it up entirely.
With a simple brush, grout paint can be applied on the grout line, seeping into the grout lines and, at the same time, tinting the grout lines to new, restored gleam.
Most grout paints like Polyblend Grout Renew from Custom Building Products simultaneously serve as colorants and sealants. This means that these types of grout paints will not only tint the grout lines but they will seal the grout to prevent color fading.
Most grout paints come in various colors, so you can get the particular color that complements the design scheme of your tiles.
Read: Difference between sanded and unsanded grout
How to Paint Grout Lines
Table of Contents
- 1 How to Paint Grout Lines
- 1.1 Step 1: Clean the Grout Lines with Alkaline Tile and Grout Cleaner
- 1.2 Step 2: Clean the Grout Lines with An Acidic Cleaner (Optional)
- 1.3 Step 3: Allow the Grout Dry
- 1.4 Step 4: Use a Toothbrush to Paint the Grout
- 1.5 Step 5: Wipe Off Excess Colorants with A Damp Chamois Cloth
- 1.6 Step 6: Allow it to Dry and Re-paint if Needed.
- 2 Benefits of Painting Grout Lines
- 3 Can you Paint Grout with Emulsion?
- 4 Conclusion
Now, let’s get to the main gist: how to paint grout lines! Follow the step-to-step procedure to paint your grout lines:
Step 1: Clean the Grout Lines with Alkaline Tile and Grout Cleaner
You want to make sure that the grout lines are spotless before any other procedure. As mentioned earlier, most grout paints serve as colorants and sealers. Failure to properly clean the grout lines means that the paint will not bond with the grout lines.
Read: Can vinegar ruin grout?
Step 2: Clean the Grout Lines with An Acidic Cleaner (Optional)
If you feel the grout lines still have some grime sticking to them, you should clean it with an acidic cleaner after cleaning with an alkaline cleaner. The acidic cleaner helps enhance the paint to bond with the tiles as it helps open up the grout’s pores. This step is purely optional.
Step 3: Allow the Grout Dry
The grout lines must have properly dried before you go on to paint them.
Read: How long does it take grout to dry?
Step 4: Use a Toothbrush to Paint the Grout
While most grout colorant kits come with an applicator tool to paint the grout with, it’s always best to use a toothbrush since most of these applicators are a bit confusing to use.
Dip the toothbrush into the grout colorant and brushing it into the grout lines working in small sections.
Step 5: Wipe Off Excess Colorants with A Damp Chamois Cloth
You are bound to have excess grout colorant on the surface of the tiles. The trick is to work in small sections of the grout at a time and wipe off the excesses with a damp chamois cloth immediately. You don’t want the grout colorant drying on the surface as it can be extremely difficult to remove later.
Step 6: Allow it to Dry and Re-paint if Needed.
Give the grout colorant about 20 minutes to dry, and then inspect the grout lines. If there is a need for a second coat, then re-paint using the toothbrush.
Benefits of Painting Grout Lines
You might wonder, what are the supposed benefits of painting grout lines when you can easily clean dirty grout with a baking soda-water paste. Below are some perceived benefits of painting grout lines:
1. It Restores the Color of Grout Lines
When grout lines have been stained with mildew and mold growth inhibitions for a long time, scrubbing it always might be an exercise in futility. No amount of scrubbing will restore a stained grout line to its original shade. But with high-quality grout paint, you can restore the original shade of grout lines.
2. Grout Paint is Inexpensive
You might think that painting grout lines will be an expensive project, but the reverse is the case. About 8 ounces of grout paint cost around $12 to $15 and can cover 50 to 300 square feet. Even if you opt for the services of professionals, it should cost $0.75 to $1.25 per square meter, which is still affordable.
3. It’s Safe on Tiles
The frequent scrubbing of grout lines can easily weaken the tiles. Some homeowners opt for re-grouting grout lines, which entails removing old grout.
This procedure can weaken the bond between tiles and the wall, potentially dislocating tiles. Painting grout lines seems to be the safest option.
Read: Does ceramic tile need to be sealed?
4. Painting Grout Lines is Easy and Fast
No. you won’t have to spend the whole day paint grout lines. You can paint a six-square-foot backsplash in half an hour. Also, you will discover the process of painting grout lines is easy when we discuss it below.
5. Grout Paints Come in Different Colors.
As mentioned, most grout paints come in different shades that allow for color customization. For instance, Grout Renew is available in 40 different shades!
Can you Paint Grout with Emulsion?
It is not recommended to use emulsion on grout lines. After painting, the emulsion might stick to the grout but can clean off easily. It’s best to use a grout colorant for grout lines.
Read: Does Steam Cleaning Damage Grout?
Conclusion
We hope this post provides all you need to know on how to paint grout lines. Know you know with alkaline tile and grout cleaner, grout colorant, and a toothbrush, you can restore your grout lines.
