How to Grout and Seal Bath Tile

Written by Matthew Kolas
on Feb 19, 2011

To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.

Reviewed by
Charles Ramos, Jr.
on Oct 21, 2021

When it comes to installing bath tile for your wash area, the last step is to make sure they are well grouted and sealed. Many expensive bathroom tiling projects fail due to a lack of proper grouting and sealing to complete the job. Many do-it-yourselfers at least see the need to grout the bath tiles, but they stop there.

Little do they know that grout, being porous, will absorb water and break down. An otherwise well-finished bathroom floor or wall will be destroyed because someone didn't apply grout sealer. Do not let it happen to you. Once your bath tiles are installed, just follow these simple steps to seal the grout.

Prepare Grout

Refer to the grout manufacturer’s manual for specific instructions on how to prepare the grout mixture. Take some grout and a proportional amount of water. Use the drill and mixer to blend them into a semi-solid paste. Be thorough with the churning to ensure uniformity in the mixture.

Grout the Bath Tiles

Load grout onto a grout float and cover the bath tiles with the grout generously. Make sure the grout gets well into the partitions between the tiles.

Allow to Settle

Pause for 20 minutes to allow the grout to settle properly and eliminate air spaces. After 20 minutes, use some warm water and the grout sponge to remove the grout on the face of the bath tiles, making sure to leave the grout conjoining the tiles. Make sure that the grout forms strong lines as you clean it.

Curing and Sealing Grout

Once you’ve cleaned the face of the bath tiles, allow the grout to cure for 72 hours. After that time has passed, use a brush bottle to apply 2 or 3 coats of grout and tile sealer to the grout lines. You have to have allowed the grout lines to dry; otherwise, the sealer will trap dampness and all your efforts will be in vain.

This step is what really determines whether your bathroom tiling is well done. The sealer should be of a high-quality, penetrating variety to prevent water from penetrating the grout. Your bath tiles will stay tight without forming mold, and your bathroom will be beautiful for years to come. Wipe off any sealer that comes out of place before it becomes permanent.

Recoating

Once the first coat of sealer has dried, apply more as you see fit. Always make sure the preceding coat is dry before adding a new coat. When the final coat is completely dry, bath tiles are ready for use.