Many wonder how often grout and tile needs to be resealed. Most people will judge the need due to the appearance of the tile and if the sealer appears to be worn off or wearing away. However, in this case, it is actually over due. In reality, tile and grout should be resealed once a year. Nonetheless, there are a variety of different types of tile and grout and each has their own time line and needs. Today, Ameribest Carpet Cleaning will share how often the different types of tile and grout should be resealed.
Traditional Grout - Most traditional grout is made with a mixture of Portland cement and pigments. The grout is designed to fill the gaps in between the tile which help hold them together and in place indefinitely. However, the mixture can vary. For example, if the gap between tiles is over a ¼ inch, often installers will add sand to the mixture. Both types of mixture are very porous which allows moisture to penetrate deep inside the grout. When porous grout isn’t sealed, it becomes a breeding ground for mold and mildew. This condition will require resealing more often due to the grout’s porous nature.
Epoxy Grout - Then there is Epoxy grout which is a new type of grout that many installers are beginning to favor over traditional grouts. Epoxy grout is actually a type of plastic and is hardly porous at all. This is why so many installers are beginning to favor epoxy grouts; they are much more durable and mold resistant than traditional grouts. However they are still susceptible to grime developing on the surface. Even epoxy grout still benefits from the use of sealers as well. However they may not require resealing as frequently as other types of grout.
Cementitious Grout – Cementitious grout is a type of grout in which a sealer becomes a requirement. Cementitious grout benefits best from a film coating sealer that penetrates deep into the crevices. However the seal can change the cementitious grout color. Cementitious grout is a sensitive type of grout and isn’t used often for this reason. Cementitious grout requires more frequent resealing (about every six months) to insure the grout is protected.
It is recommended by most professionals to reseal grout and tile about once a year. However, in some cases, the tile and grout may need to be resealed sooner or even later than recommended. However, there are some signs you can watch for to help you determine if your tile and grout needs to be resealed.
• Surface sealers act much like paint. When the sealer begins to wear you may begin to see cracking and chipping of the sealers. When the seal has completely been removed the grout may have a spotted appearance. Areas may also look discolored when the sealer has chipped away.
• When a grout used a penetrating type of sealer it will have different indications than surface sealers. As penetrating sealers begin to wear away, they tend to make the grout appear darker in color. This is due to dirt. As dirt penetrates the grout, it will appear darker. As the grout begins to show early signs of darkening, quickly reseal the grout. Once dirt and oil penetrates deep inside the grout it can be very difficult to clean and restore the grouts color.
Ameribest Carpet Cleaning provides many services including tile and grout cleaning and resealing. If your grout is showing signs it needs to be resealed, contact Ameribest Carpet Cleaning today!