Is Painting Grout or Grout Stain Right for You?
If you want to freshen up the look of a room, or if you’re tired of dealing with stubborn stains, painting or staining grout joints can be a fast and cost-efficient solution. There are many grout stain colors to choose from, and a grout expert can usually complete the process in less than a day. But before you pull the trigger, you’ll want to answer a few quick questions to see if staining your grout joints is right for you.
What’s Cause Problems with Your Grout Joints?
Staining grout joints is a fast, inexpensive way to give your existing tile a fresh look — but grout stain won’t address underlying issues that can make grout joints unsightly to begin with. When grout joints turn black, or when they crack or break away completely in some areas, contact a grout and tile contractor to pinpoint the root of the problem. These common problems could be signs a larger issue that simply staining grout joints won’t address:
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Black Grout Joints.
Dirt that becomes embedded in porous grout joints can cause darkening or discoloration. But black grout joints — especially black splotches that reappear after cleaning — can be a sign of mold forming. This is especially true in high-moisture areas like kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. Unless a grout and tile contractor addresses the underlying issue, mold will reappear on your freshly stained grout joints. Professional grout cleaning is the surest way to address mold issues before they spread.
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Cracked or Missing Grout Joints.
There can be a number of reasons for cracked or deteriorating grout lines — improper installation, issues with the subfloor and water damage are common causes — and tackling the larger problem will prevent more expensive repairs down the road. Depending on the issue, re-grouting can be an affordable, fast solution.
In the end, stain only masks larger issues like moldy or deteriorating grout joints. Address larger issues now to avoid more expensive repairs down the road.
Do Your Grout Joints Need a Thorough Cleaning?
It’s not uncommon for grout joints to become stained or discolored over time from normal wear and tear. Just like carpet, tile and grout floors tend to develop high-traffic patterns. In fact, it’s not uncommon to forget how grout joints originally looked — find an old picture of your bathroom or kitchen to jar your memory. Why is this important? Because grout joints need to be thoroughly cleaned before stain is applied.
As a first step, consider contacting a professional tile and grout cleaning service. Even without staining, professional cleaning can help restore the original shine of grout joints. It’s a multi-step process that uses an environmentally safe cleaning solution to lift stains from porous grout joints. Then, an advanced steam cleaning process to lift stubborn traffic patterns. And, if you still want to stain your grout after moving years of accumulated dirt, a penetrating stain with an added sealer can be applied to give the entire room a new look. Stain costs a fraction of regrouting, and a lifetime warranty is available for the work.
So, staining grout can be an excellent, cost-effective way to transform the look of a new room. But it’s important that any underlying issues are addressed first to prevent more expensive repairs down the road.
