Grouting is a typical step in the tile installation process to get a good finish and fill the tiny spaces between the tiles. It is the last and most crucial phase when installing tile in your home improvement projects. The mastic has, therefore, not fully cured or has not dried sufficiently for you to grout because as the drying process progresses, any pressure could shift your tile.
Even if the edges of the thinset look to be dry. The amount of mastic, humidity, or cooler conditions affect waiting time for wet cement to dry before you can grout. For instance, thin-set tile and countertop mortar can dry in 24 to 48 hours, while other materials can take much longer. Mastic might vary slightly as this can only be used in certain situations and locations.
You’ll need quick-setting mortar; if you need tile surfaces, you can use them immediately. However, even these conditions must be ideal before you begin grouting tile surfaces.
In our guide, you can learn more about what happens if you grout tile too soon and how it will affect your walls and floors. By the end, you’ll know enough about how long does tile glue take to dry and cure so you can finish your tiling project in the right amount of time. (Learn How To Cover Drywall Seams Without Mud)
How Long After Tiling Can I Grout?
Before grouting the tiles, you must wait for at least 24 to 48 hours as the mortar holding tiles to the concrete or subfloor surface need to cure.
Cement, fine sand, and water-retentive substances are the essential ingredients in the mortar and adhesive used to attach tiles to walls or floors.
You need to give the mortar sufficient time to dry before grouting as doing this too fast, and you can disturb the tiles and the wet cement underneath, resulting in more problems and work.
The mortar solution, temperature, humidity, and thickness of mortar cement beneath your tile all affect how long it takes for the mortar to dry.
The thinset mortar needs air to cure, and even if they appear dry in the grout line, the mortar in the center of the tiles will still be wet.
Is Tiling and Grouting On The Same Day Possible?
Before beginning any grouting, the applied mortar must be completely dry.
It is preferable if you let the thinnest fully cure before grouting so that the alignment of the tiles is not altered when you apply pressure to the tiles.
Tiling and grouting on the same day aren’t possible unless you use a fast set grout, and even then, you need to give it as long as possible on the same day.
The air your mortar needs to cure before your grout tiles are locked out and delay the drying process, and you won’t see your grout set.
Even if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions, grouting and tiling on the same day is bad.
To guarantee that the freshly installed tiles have had time to dry, you must wait at least 24 hours before grouting so the mastic or tile set can dry completely. (Read Can You Paint Enamel Over Acrylic)
How to Grout After Tile Installation?
Here are the steps to fix your grout after you have laid your tile on your floor or wall.
It is assumed you have followed the recommended drying time and allowed all the moisture to evaporate from the concrete mortar.
1. Clean tile joints
- Dust, debris, and tile adhesive must be removed from the grout lines.
- Use a putty knife and be careful as you clean the joints and grout lines.
- Vacuum any bits of mortar or tile set that have broken loose.
- Be careful you don’t chip the tile surface; if you have concerns, you can tape off the areas you are working on.
2. Mix your grout
Without a ready-mixed grout, grout is available in powder form.
- To mix a grout solution, add water and stir.
- Continue mixing the grout until it reaches a peanut butter-like consistency, and all the powdered grout has been mixed.
- Do not use a drill or mixing paddle to stir the grout. These techniques stir the grout, introducing air into the solution, weakening the grout’s ability to cure and resulting in discoloration and strength.
- After mixing, let the grout sit (slake) for 10 minutes to allow the chemicals to cure.
- If you skip this step, the joints may weaken and become more prone to cracks. After slaking, the grout could seem stiffer, but do not add more water to compensate for the stiffness.
- To prepare the grout for application, re-mix it.
3. Load your grout float
The prepared grout must be loaded into the float in the following step. Although it’s a very straightforward procedure, it could be inconvenient if your grout mixture spills while scooping it onto the float.
- Therefore, tip the bucket in your direction and drag some grout mixture up to the bucket before scooping it out.
- This helps keep the grout on your float, and any extra grout falls into the bucket, not onto the floor.
4. Spread grout over your tiles
- To prevent spilling grout on the floor, apply grout in upward strokes over the tiles.
- To allow the grout to penetrate deep into the joints, wipe the float diagonally across the tile.
- Before grouting the floor, always grout the walls to avoid damaging any finished flooring.
- The grout can be pushed deeper into the joints using the float’s side.
5. Remove excess grout
You may remove any extra grout by angling the side of the float at a 90-degree angle with the tiles.
As a result, the grout may cover the joints uniformly, and the float won’t dig into the joints.
The face of the tile must be cleared of as much excess grout as possible.
Moving the float in a serpentine fashion may more effectively squeegee off the grout in this step.
6. Clean your tile surface
- It is advisable to use a moist sponge to clean the tile surface after removing extra grout from the tile.
- Sponge diagonally across the tile and rinse it frequently. Only a slight grout haze should be visible after cleaning the surface.
- Don’t worry if the grout seems to spread on the tiles during the initial passes; rinse the sponge with fresh water and continue wiping.
- The extra grout will eventually be taken off, leaving you with nothing more than a thin grout haze.
7. Shape your grout lines
- Eliminate any uneven grout in the grout lines by shaping the grout lines by pushing the sponge with your index finger before sealing.
- Aim to make the grout even at the same depth rather than trying to remove it from the lines by applying too much pressure.
8. Buff the grout haze
- The final step in grouting is to rub out the thin layer of grout haze using a microfiber towel or cheesecloth.
- After shaping the grout, wait 30 minutes before polishing the haze.
Grout will take up to 48 hours to fully dry based on the surrounding temperature. Then, and only then, can you add your sealer.
If you add your sealer too early, sealing will give you the same issues as grouting too early and locks in moisture that can’t evaporate. (Learn How To Fill Gap Between Baseboard And Tile Floor)
FAQs
How long does mastic take to dry?
If you can wait 2-3 days, depending on the local temperature and humidity, to ensure the mastic is cured correctly.
The working time is between 60 and 75 minutes, and the curing time (time to grout) is between 1 and 3 days, according to the manufacturer.
How thick should duct mastic be applied?
Apply a continuous mastic strip 2″ wide and 1/16″ thick across the whole joint. Work the mastic into the joint with the brush’s tip.
What happens if I grout too soon?
Remember, grouting your tile a few days after installation is not harmful, but grouting it too soon is not a good idea. When the grout is applied too soon, the mortar curing process is slowed, which can cause tiles to come loose from the wall or floor.
Is mastic better than thinset?
Mastic is weaker than thinset, so thinset is a better solution for horizontal applications like flooring that are subjected to heavy abuse. In addition, dry-mix thinset is cheap and straightforward to use.
Do you have to wait 24 hours before grouting?
It isn’t a bad idea to wait at least 24 hours should wait. You can observe thinset showing at the edges, or that is visible through the grout lines appears dry. The thinset behind the tiles isn’t entirely cured because it isn’t getting as much air as the edges.
Is mastic suitable for wet areas?
Never use mastics or thinset mortars that have already been premixed in wet locations.
You should refrain from doing this, even if the manufacturer suggests it is okay.The sole reason to use mastic or thinset mortar that has been pre-mixed for a tile installation in a shower or around a tub surround is to save time.
What Happens if You Grout Before Mortar is Dry?
You risk stopping the drying process on your floors if you apply grout before your thinset mortar has entirely dried.
This causes fractured tiles and tiles that pop loose from your floors or wall.
Additionally, the grout’s process to cure properly may be hampered by the moisture in the mortar, resulting in some regions of discolored grout.
- If the thinset has not fully hardened before grouting, tiles may pop loose or crack.
- Uncured mortar will show through when the grout is applied over it.
- Thinset that hasn’t had enough time to cure before grouting disintegrates adequately.
- Unpredictable reactions occur when thinset adhesive is not cured.
It is possible for a tiled floor around your cast iron tub or other area leading tiles to come loose and take some thinset with it. The result is a useless tile, cracked tiles, or a floor with bits of dried tile bonded to it.
Replacing ceramic bathroom tile around your tub and removing old mortar from the floor before applying fresh mortar are both expensive and time-consuming tasks.
Can You Wait Too Long to Grout Tile?
Leaving your installed ceramic tile ungrouted for more than 24 hours won’t harm you.
You can wait as long as you like before grouting your tile seams as long as the tile surface is kept clean, and dirt is kept out of them. While there are no drawbacks to waiting longer to grout, it is not a good idea to grout too soon. (Learn How To Reinforce A Wood Beam Using Steel)
Waiting longer than 24 hours before applying grout won’t harm your tile job.
You can wait forever before grouting the tile if it is kept clear of debris and the mortar is allowed to cure.
It is recommended to wait before adding tile grout if you are sure of whether or not the mortar has fully cured.
Prudence pays off. Wait longer before grouting if, after 24 hours, your ceramic tile job still feels moist or isn’t completely set. Finishing the job properly will save you time and effort compared to redoing a job that was destroyed by uncured thinset mortar.
