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How to Grout and Finish a Tile FloorOnce you've installed your tiles, you're ready to fill the gaps with grout and apply sealer. Make sure the tile adhesive has cured and debris is cleared from joints. Remove any remaining spacers. If you have unglazed tiles, you may need to apply a tile sealer and let it cure before grouting; check manufacturer's instructions.
Grouts
All tile grouts fall into two basic categories: cement-based grout and epoxy grout. Grouts used for tiling should not be confused with caulks, which are elastomeric materials used for filling gaps between various building materials. Silicone caulk is used at joints where tile meets other surfaces, but it also is used to grout between tiles in some cases.
Cement-based grouts have a base of portland cement, but they differ in the types of additives they contain. Most come in powdered form to which water or liquid latex is added. Some grouts are premixed and ready to use, but they usually are the most expensive as well. Cement-based grouts include commercial portland cement, dry-set and latex-portland cement grouts. Latex-portland cement grout is the most versatile grout for residential applications.
Epoxy grout contains an epoxy resin and hardener, giving it a high degree of chemical resistance, excellent bond strength and superior impact resistance. It is the most expensive of the grouts, and therefore usually confined to industrial and commercial applications. It is somewhat thick and not easy to apply. If your tiles are more than 1/2-inch thick and the grout joints are less than 1/4- inch wide, the grout will not penetrate.
Sealers
Clear liquid tile and grout sealers provide protection against stains and, to some extent, against water penetration for unglazed tiles and grout joints. Most sealers have a silicone, lacquer or acrylic base. Different formulations are available for different types of tile and grout in various applications.
Below are basic guidelines on how to apply grout and grout sealer. However, always follow the manufacturer's directions for the products you choose.
 PROJECT BASICS
TOOLS & MATERIALS
 Fig. 1INSTRUCTIONS Using a rubber-faced float or a squeegee, spread the grout over the face of the tiles and force it down into the joints between them. Work diagonally across the tiles. Then scrape off the excess with a squeegee or float. Work diagonally across the tiles; and as you remove the excess, check to make sure the joints are filled and there are no air pockets. (Fig. 1)  Fig. 2When the grout becomes firm, wipe the tiles with a sponge soaked in clean water. Rinse the sponge often, changing the water when it gets dirty. (Fig. 2)  Fig. 3Smooth and shape the grout joints with a convex striking tool, a tapered piece of wood, or the end of a toothbrush (Fig. 3). Then clean off the tiles and smooth the joints with a damp sponge. Wait about 30 minutes for a thin haze to appear on the tile surface, and wipe it off with a clean, damp cloth. Put plywood over the floor to keep from stepping on new grout. Some grout can take two weeks to cure; check the length of time the manufacturer suggests.
4) Seal the grout
When the grout has cured, the tile and/or grout should be sealed according to manufacturer's directions. Clean the tile and grout thoroughly, and allow them to dry for several days. Then apply the sealer, following instructions on the label. For sealing both tile and grout, use a foam roller; for sealing only the grout, apply the sealer with a small paint brush, and remove any sealer that accidentally gets on the tile. As part of tile maintenance, you will need to reapply the sealer every 2 years (or as specified on the container label) in order to maintain protection from stains and moisture penetration. If you find that the tile or grout is becoming harder and harder to keep clean, it is time to apply more sealer.
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