As a professional tile and grout cleaning service located in Las Vegas, NV, I see a lot of grout in both residential homes and commercial settings. I will address the 10 most important. Color sealing (AKA "grout painting") is a way to change the color of grout by literally painting grout lines one by one to any color under the rainbow you desire.
Color Sealer is a specially made product/coating manufactured by a chemical producer, and it's growing rapidly. Color sealing, in almost every way, is a "topical coating." It can be done as a DIY job, or by hiring a professional service — this is where it gets tricky. Professional color sealers range from people who show up with a bucket, paintbrush, and acid, to licensed and insured companies with real machinery and experience. There are also "middlemen" — handymen or carpet cleaners who collect a commission on the sale.
Using a color sealer does not keep your grout cleaner than a clear sealer. With pets, bare feet, shoes, and improper cleaning chemicals in the home, grout gets dirtier regardless. Both need periodic maintenance.
For the color sealer to "potentially work," grout must first be etched with a safe, indoor-designed acid-based chemical.
The grout color sealer will peel or uplift in all or some parts over time — especially in heavier-traveled areas like walkways, kitchens, and front entrances.
What's the actual product? Most companies won't tell you. It may be something other than true "color sealer" — like paint. Either way, it's topical, meaning it lays on top of the grout rather than absorbing into it.
The best place color sealer makes sense is decorative areas people don't walk on, or spaces above 3-4 floors where professional cleaning equipment can't reach — or permanently discolored grout with no other option.
If you choose color sealer, pick the color closest to the original. Going from white to burgundy is a mistake — a different shade of white is far safer, since the underlying color can show through.
The resale home you're about to buy may already be color-sealed without disclosure. Have a professional tile and grout cleaning service evaluate it, and always have floors cleaned and sealed (clear) before moving in — no matter how clean they look.
Damaged, uplifting color-sealed floors aren't easy to fix. Even with the exact brand, the color is likely a different shade or won't adhere properly. Digging out and re-grouting is time-consuming and labor-intensive.
Is one color-sealing product better than another? Maybe. Try cleaning and clear-sealing the floor first, then talk to a professional tile and grout cleaning service — not the guy at the hardware store or a tile setter. Nine times out of ten, your grout was just filthy from pre-existing buildup, grease, and grime.
Grout comes in two common types: sanded and unsanded. Sanded grout is the only type with a real chance of holding color sealer, since it's somewhat porous. Unsanded grout — found in shower stalls, kitchen counters, and natural stone grout lines like travertine — simply doesn't work.
Two things are certain: grout will get dirty, and color sealer is a topical product, not something absorbed into the grout. There's always more to learn on this topic — for an experienced, owner-operated professional tile and grout cleaning plus sealing service in Las Vegas, NV, give me a call. I love earning your business respectfully.
Grout Recoloring and Sealing
When a grout recoloring and sealing project begins, keep in mind your grout will be layered with one grout color that already has sealer included — essentially a "clear sealer" with color mixed in. It's painted on with special brushes, applied evenly with no overlap onto tiled surfaces.
The Cost of Color Grout
Professional service is recommended when choosing color sealing — experience in selecting the right products and tools determines the outcome. The process is done grout line by grout line and is hard on the back, hands, and knees. Expect to pay $1 to $2.50 per square foot.
Try a Professional Cleaning First
A professional tile and grout cleaning service will probably solve your discoloring grout problem before color sealing is ever needed. Owner-operated. 10,000+ jobs completed since 2000.
Call 702-595-8178