Grout and caulk are household materials most commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms. Not only are they key for the visual appeal of tiles and fixtures, but they also are instrumental in keeping your house held together and mold-free.
Caulk should match the grout, rather than the tile. If the caulk matches the tile, the difference in color between the grout and caulk will look sloppy and careless. If your house has a bad caulking job, the job can be re-done and perfected.
Once you’ve decided on the tile for your house, you’ll need to decide on the colors of caulk and grout with which to install the tile. Let’s talk about the things to consider for each product, as well as what each product is.
Grout
Grout is the material that you can see in between your tiles. Grout is applied after the tile is glued down. It fills in the tiles and acts to keep them in place and protected. It’s the base of tile installation.
Grout comes in two varieties of texture: Sanded and un-sanded. This difference is not difficult to determine: Sanded grout has finely ground sand in it, while un-sanded does not.
Sanded grout is cheaper and makes for a tight seal. It is more generic and works best for most kinds of tile. It requires sealing after installation.
An un-sanded grout is ideal for thinner grout lines and smaller, more delicate tiles, like tiles of the subway and glass variation. It does not always require sealing after installation, but it is often sealed for security and a finer appearance.
There are many colors and shades of grout available for purchase. You’ll want to get a grout that matches or complements the tile you’ve chosen. The good news is, many grout manufacturers also make caulk in similar shades, and vice versa.
Caulk
Caulk is the material that goes around your sink or bathtub and the corners of a tiled room. It is the sealant between fixtures and other tiles that keeps moisture from out of your walls.
The two kinds of caulk that you’re most likely to use are silicone and spectrum tile & grout-caulk because they’re water, mold, and mildew resistant. They’ll keep your stuff good for years. Other kinds of caulk include acrylic/latex and vinyl latex. Each kind of caulk has different strengths and weaknesses, so assess the needs of your home and the goal of your project before you buy your caulk.
Caulk should match the grout, rather than the tile. If you know the kind of grout you have, you can certainly find a caulk that matches. It is important that know the manufacturer and the color name.
Even if you buy the caulk and grout separately, there are still many colors for you to choose from. But if you find you need a specific shade that you can’t find to match your grout, there are color kits you can buy to customize the shade of caulk perfect for your liking.
On a basic spectrum, you can buy beige, white, gray, and clear caulks. Each brand has variations of each of those four colors, and you can pick the one that works best for you. Clear caulk is a great option if you have a glassy tile or want a result that isn’t likely to be botched.
Why Should They Match?
The most important reason why your grout and caulk should match is for the visual appeal.
Matching grout and caulk might not seem like a big deal, but it can be an annoying consequence of a half-hearted decision. Your eye will alert your brain of the discrepancy and not be as subtle as you might hope.
Another reason to match your caulk and grout is so that your tile and fixtures are justly accented. If you have metallic accents, or opposite colors, like black and white, the matching grout and caulk will create a visual unity between the designs and fixtures of your home.
What To Do If You Want To Fix The Stuff
If your installer made the mistake of mismatching or incorrectly applying the caulk to your grout, all is not lost. In fact, the fix is fairly simple.
Grout is more difficult to fix because it’s a thin layer surrounding the tile. But unless you really want to change it, you only have to change the caulk in your kitchen or bathroom.
Regarding a poor caulking job, whether messy or mismatched, a straight-edged putty scraper will have the best result in removing the caulk. If you have a non-acrylic caulk, you can easily remove it with water.
When reapplying the caulk, you can easily use a caulk gun to re-do the job yourself. A caulk gun will help keep your lines smooth and your aim steady. Silicone caulk is more difficult to work with, and if that is the option you choose, consider hiring someone to assist you with the process.
Basic Installation
If this is a project you are attempting yourself, consult a more comprehensive, step-by-step guide, but this is a brief summary of what you can expect of the process.
When installing your new caulk, first try a patch test with a scrap piece of tile. This will help you gauge the power of your gun and the consistency of the caulk. If you’d like, you can even leave it to set before you complete your project so you can assess the color and result of the caulk.
Next, start with a smooth bead of caulk and pipe along for about two feet at a time. Taking it a little at a time will help keep your lines smooth and even. You can keep your edges clean with a sharp putty scraper or damp sponge. Be sure to clean your tool frequently so the drying build-up does not infringe upon the cleanliness of the job.
If you’re hoping to achieve the clean, concave look, as opposed to a thick beaded look, use your finger to gently trace over your line of caulk. Press it into the corner of your walls or your wall and the counter soon after applying it to your desired surface.
