Whats your chosen method of (step by step if you have time!) grouting floor tiles?

Question

Whats your chosen method of (step by step if you have time!) grouting floor tiles?

Answer 1

first you need a proper grouting tool ..this consist of a piece of wood with a strip of rubber in its centre ...available from any tiling shop .mix the grout to a creamy consistency and apply a dollop of this to the first tile in corner ...then with the grouting tool you push the grout into the joints ..moving all the time ..the real beauty of this tool is that it removes 90% of grout as you go along and the rubber pushes the grout well into the joint ..you can grout half the floor at a time with this tool as ther is little grout left on tiles ..to clean the rest off you need a large sponge and a bucket of warm water ...it works better than cold ...squeeze the sponge out wipe over tiles ..come back later and do it again when dry ...ps as a builder for over forty years i would like a penny for every tile i have grouted this way ...and all pro tilers who have worked for me  do it the same way

Answer 2

Hi, I have just finished tiling the hole of my down stairs area, and to be honest the best way is to get some powdered grout mix for floor tiles, in the colour of your choice, mix small amounts at a time into a thick mix like custard powder, and work in square meters at a time as at this consistency it will go off fast! BUT it is worth it, keep a bowl of warm water and a sponge by the side of you and as you push the grout into the grooves use the sponge to clean up and soften the line, clean the tiles well (nightmare to get off when dry!), then leave the floor to dry, I did it this way and I had the floor laid and grouted in one day... and it looks great! good luck

Answer 3

You haven't said if the tile is alredy laid or if you are starting from scratch.  I will go with the assumption that you are starting from scratch.

Preperation

In order to insure my floor is level and smooth starting with the floor striped to the sub-floor I would purchase a very good quality silicon based self leveling compound.  This will mix up into a thin soupy compound and you can pour it over the floor and get a smooth level surface to set your tiles.  Some are pourable and others need to be troweled.

After that has cured, start by seting your tiles out on the floor at the main doorway so that the patern will be even with the door opening allowing 1/4 inch between each tile.  

The other meathod is to start at one of the longer walls and proceed across the room.  If you have tile already in the next room, line up with the existing grout lines.

Begin setting your tiles in one corner and work along the wall towards the door.  You do not want to step on the tile until the thinset is dry.

Once the thinset is cured you will mix up your grout and pour a generous amount directly on the tile.  With a padded trowel, sold in the same place you got your thinset/ grout and  tiles.  Work the grout into the spaces between the tiles on the bias.  Going in all directions until you have worked the grout throughly into the  voids.

While it is still wet, fill a bucket with clean fresh water,  replace this water often.  Take a clean sponge, the large yellow ones and dip it into the water, wiping over the surface of the tiles.  You have to continue this until you get all the grout residue off the tiles. take your sponge and run along the seams to give it that little dip we are all familure with.  you will want to do your grouting in relatively small amounts in order to wipe the residue off.

you will need to come back later and reclean the residue off.