Natural stone tiles make an attractive and durable finish material for flooring and walls. After laying the stone tile, you need to grout the joints to keep water and dirt out and to enhance the attractiveness of your new tiled surface. Grouting can be cluttered, but appropriate preparation of the tile are able to keep mess to a minimum.

Seal Before Grouting

Seal your raw stone shingles before grouting. If you do not apply sealer first, grout will adhere tenaciously to the tile surface, and it will be extremely difficult to get off. Grout can also discolor the unsealed tile. Clean any mortar or debris away from the tile surface. Spread the stone sealer evenly across the whole surface of the stone tile using a clean, soft rag or wax. Apply only as much sealer as the stone may absorb. Allow the sealer to dry, which typically takes about one hour. Some porous stone types may need two or three sealing coats before grouting.

See related