How to paint grout, what type of paint can you use on grout, can you paint grout with acrylic paint and oil paint? We explain everything you need to know about grout painting.
Grout Painting
You can renew discolored and dirty grouts by painting them. Grouts absorb some paint because they have an absorbent surface. Nevertheless, many types of paint hold the grout.
The biggest problem in grout painting is that the grouts come into contact with water and are constantly underfoot. You will need durable grout paints, especially on the parts of bathroom tiles that come into contact with water.
The other point you should pay attention to in grout painting is that the grouts are completely full. Before you start painting between the tiles, make sure they are completely full. Check all grouts and fill empty grouts.
Do You Need Special Paint For Grout?
Paints specially produced for painting the grout are water resistant and will not crack. For this reason, your first choice for painting the grout should be a special grout paint. However, it is also possible to paint the grouts between the tiles with other paints.
What Type Of Paint Can You Use On Grout?
- Special grout paint: It is durable and suitable for long grouts.
- Grout painting pen: It is durable. Suitable for retouching and short grouts.
- Acrylic paint: It requires a special application. But it is durable. Suitable for long grouts. It is necessary to use general purpose acrylic paints.
- Oil-based paint: Easy to cover old colors and dirt. However, it may crack on unstable grouts and tiles. White oil-based paint changes color in a short time and gets dirty quickly. Dries late. “Related articles: oil based vs water based paint and how to use enamel paint?”
How To Paint Grout?
To paint the grouts, all you need is a pencil-tipped brush and a wet cloth. You can wipe off any paint that spills onto the tile with a wet cloth. “If there are paint stains on the grouts and tiles, first read removing paint from tiles.”
Whichever paint you decide to paint the grouts with, you should clean and dry them before painting. Even the presence of moisture on the grout can cause the paint to peel. For this reason, you should dry tile grouts thoroughly before painting and wait a day until the moisture evaporates. It would be a better choice to paint the grout in the summer season.
If you want to paint the grouts with one of the special grout paints, acrylic paints or oil paints, you can apply paper tape to the edges of the grouts. If you think this process is too laborious, you can use a damp cloth to clean the paint before it dries.
Approximate time to paint the grouts of a 10 square meter bathroom: 1 day
Make Sure Tile Grouting Is Completely Filled
It makes sure that the grouts are completely filled. If not, fill the grouts and allow them to dry before painting.
Clean And Dry The Grout
In order for the grout paint and other paints to adhere well to the grout, the grout must be clean and dry. Remove any water and soap residue from the grout. You can use an old toothbrush to clean stained grouting.
Paint The First Coat And Let It Dry
Apply the first coat of paint and let it dry well. For special grout paints and acrylic paints, 4 hours for drying. Oil-based paint needs at least 24 hours to dry.
Apply The Second Coat
Apply the second coat after the first coat is completely dry. Although one coat of paint looks good on the grout, you should apply at least two coats for the paint to last longer.
Apply Varnish Over It
If you have painted the grout with special grout paints and acrylic paint, you can apply water-based varnish on it to make it resistant to friction. Thus, it will be even more resistant to friction and hot water. However, you do not need to apply varnish on oil-based paint.
Is Painting Grout A Good Idea?
If you have crumbling grouts, do not paint the grouts, renew them. However, in order to renew them, it is necessary to scrape off the old grout completely. For this reason, it may be a good idea to fill the empty grouts and paint them before renovating them.
Can I Just Paint Over Grout?
Yes, the grouts can be painted over. However, bathroom tiles are frequently exposed to water. For this reason, it is important to paint the grout with the right paint and the right methods.
Do You Need Special Paint For Grout?
Special grout paints are a good choice for painting the grouts. However, if there is no special grout paint in your area. It is possible to paint the grouts with general purpose acrylic paint.
How Long Does Painted Grout Last?
The durability of grout painting varies according to the type of paint, the number of coats of paint and the frequency of cleaning the floor. However, this period should be at least five years. To increase durability, you can apply varnish after painting.