In the bathroom renovation project Sarah -- the homeowner and novice do-it-yourselfer -- has finished laying the ceramic tiles in her new bathroom and waited a day before installing the grout. Before grouting can begin, the spacers used in laying out the tiles must be removed (figure A). Materials: Dry grout
Buckets
Tile float
Sponge
Clean rags
Mixing tool
Dry grout comes in a box with the color noted on the side. There are dozens of colors and shades available. For this project, Sarah selected one to match the gray tone in the tile. Steps: - Dump the dry grout into a clean bucket (figure B). Only one box of grout was needed for this job. Whether using one box or more, it's best to mix all the grout at one time.
- Using a dry trowel, mix the dry powder thoroughly until the color is even (figure C) and break up any clods .
- Next, add the exact amount of water called for in the directions into a second bucket. Carefully add the dry grout to the water (figure D) -- not the other way around.
- Using a mixing tool, mix the grout and water it to a consistency that sticks together but isn't runny (figure E).
- The objective is to squeeze grout into the seams (figure F) the easiest way. Sarah starts by using a float (figure G), then reverts to just pushing it into the seams with her fingers.
- She uses the float to compress any grout into the seams and clean as much off the tiles as possible. For smaller tiles, it's probably quicker to use the float for this entire process. Sarah pulls the float diagonally across the floor to avoid digging grout out of the seams.
- The float is a good start, but there are several more steps to this cleaning process. A couple of buckets filled with clean water and some bath towels are used to clean away excess grout from the tile surfaces (figure H)I. Use damp (not wet) towels for this step. As with the float, drag the towel diagonally across the floor. Rinse them in one bucket, then gets them damp with clean water from the other. Remove as much of the grit from the tiles as the towel will pick up (figure I)H.
- After an initial cleaning using damp towels, the final step in this part of the process is a thorough cleaning using a sponge (figure J). Use a stiff sponge, and employ the same two-bucket method that was used with the towels. Again, make sure the sponge is just damp -- too much water on the grout will weaken it. Feel the tile with bare fingers. If you can't feel any grit on top, you are finished for now.
- After about an hour, the tiles will dry with a gritty haze on the surface. Wait another day for the grout to set (figure K), then wipe off the haze with a damp cloth or sponge.
- For the next couple of weeks Sarah sprays a light mist of water on the grout (figure L) to help it set. After that, she then she can seal it. That prevents spills from staining and makes clean up easier.
Completing the tile floor is a satisfying job that provides a sense of progress and accomplishment. With the completion of this phase of the project, the remodeled bathroom is beginning to visually take shape. In the segment that follows, the interior door is installed in the rough opening built earlier.
RESOURCES :
The Complete Book of Kitchen and Bathroom Renovation
Time Life Books
Website: www.timelife.com
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