A lot of times, homes owners tend to ruin their newly repaired or constructed bathrooms by starting to use it too early. There is a particular time frame which you should wait for before pouring water on the bathroom floors, especially after grouting.
The ideal time frame which you should wait for after grouting is around 48 to 72 hours, but you should ideally wait for about 4 days after grouting to let it fully dry and then apply a sealant to ensure its long-term integrity. The sealant can take a couple of days to dry or cure as well.
What is Grouting?
It is important to understand what grouting really means to understand why you need to wait. Grouting is the process of injecting a fluid into the cracks and crevasse of the floor to further provide strength to the flooring. This is done to increasing the load capacity of the floor.
The substance which is used for grouting is known is grout and is composed out of cement, sand and water. This process if also done for waterproofing or filling of cracks in walls or the floor.
What Are the Advantages of Grouting?
Grouting is preferred by a lot of plumbers and architects because of its versatility and it can be used on most surfaces. It also doesn’t produce any vibrations and does not cause any structural damage. The improvement in the surface can also be measured.
It is also suitable for houses with a low ceiling.
How Long Do You Need to Wait Before Showering after Grouting?
The usually curing time for a freshly grouted surface is between 48 to 72 hours after which a sealant should be applied on the surface. Then you will have to wait another 24 hours to let it get absorbed and dried. After this time, you are good to use the shower.
To make it short, you will need to wait for about 4 days after grouting.
What Happens If You Shower Before Grout Dries?
If you take a shower before the grout has dried, then the first signs of damage would be the look of the grout itself. The grout will start looking chalky, grey, white and will have a crumbly appearance.
On top of this, the structural integrity which the grout was supposed to provide would be damaged even further. The grout itself will form cracks and lead to weakness in the joints. It can also lead to mould and mildew formation within the grout itself.
Do I Need To Seal Grout In Shower?
It is highly recommended that you seal the grout before taking a shower. Sealing helps the grout protect itself from any moisture from the outside. The grout materials itself is very porous so if left unsealed, moisture from the atmosphere can enter the surface and get trapped within the grout and the tiles or walls underneath.
This can ruin the look and the integrity of the grout over time. It is recommended to wait for at least a couple of days for the grout to dry before applying the sealant.
How Do You Waterproof Tile Grout?
The best method to waterproof grout is to use a sealant. A grout sealant protects the grout from any moisture or water which may fall in it. This way it also makes the grout long lasting along with your floor or wall.
How To Apply Grout Sealant?
There are three ways you can apply the sealant.
The first one is by using a brush. This is the easiest method to apply the sealant and you can find a brush in almost all the hardware stores. But one negative aspect of using a brush is that you can end up wasting a lot of sealant because of it dripping from the brush.
The other method is by using a roller, this is also pretty simple but make sure to stay within the seams. Rollers also tend to waste much less sealant.
The third method is through using a sprayer. This method is also quite simple but you have to make sure to clean the surrounding tiles once the sealant has been applied as it should only cover the grout.
How To Speed Up Grout Drying Time
There are a few steps which you can take to speed up the drying process. The temperature and humidity of the room will play a big role in determining the drying times. You can place a de-humidifier in the room and switch on the fan to speed up the whole process.
Some people also tend to use a hairdryer or a heat gun but it won’t be possible and safe to keep them on for so long. Ensuring less humidity and a higher temperature along with good ventilation should be enough.
Can You Shower With Unsealed Grout
You should not shower without applying a sealant to your grout and without waiting for the grout to fully cure which can take up to 72 hours. Taking a shower before this will end up damaging the floor or the surface on which the grout has been applied and can trap moisture within the internal surfaces.
This can ruin your walls or floors. It can also ruin the look of your flooring or tiles as well.
How Long Before You Can Use Shower After Sealing?
Upon applying the sealant, it will take around 72 hours for the grout to fully cure. It is recommended that you wait for at least this much time before taking a shower. But in case you have an emergency, you can also use the shower after 48 hours as well.
Conclusion
You will have to wait for about 4 days after grouting to let it completely dry and then apply a sealant to protect it from any moisture in the atmosphere. The sealant can take a couple of days to cure as well.
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