How To Grout Tile Wall Corners

Why does grout crack in the corners of showers backsplashes and against abutting surfaces.

How to grout tile wall corners.

Apply the grout diagonally across the tile joints to squish the grout into the joints photo 5. Work in a small area at a time roughly a 3 x 3 foot section. Use whichever side or corner of the float is necessary to fully compress grout into the entire. Don t grout the corner line.

Tom meehan a second generation tile installer and co author of working with tile who lives and works in harwich mass responds. Spread the material in sweeping arcs pressing it into the joints to fill them completely. Press the grout into the lines between the tiles while scraping it off the surface then wipe up the excess with a damp sponge. Use a hard edged rubber grout float and hold it at a 45 degree angle.

Use this method for both pre mixed and powdered grout. According to the tile council of north america anywhere a tile surface changes plane like an interior corner or meets an abutting surface against a wall or hardwood floor for example should be considered a movement joint. That ll keep you from messing up a finished floor. With gaps that large what you can do it install a bead of silicone against one side about 1 8 thick leaving the rest of the gap open then once cured grout between the tile and silicone.

Placing caulk over grout in the corners will just lead to cracked grout in the corners that can not fall out but it ll still be cracked. My tile installer recently told me that he wanted to use caulk in the corners of a tiled shower instead of grout is that necessary. Always grout the walls first for this how to grout tile project and after they re finished the floor. Pour a quart to half gallon of grout on the tiles.

On the contrary if you have to install cut tiles you should spread the thinset to the back of the tiles and install it with the cut edge pointing towards the inside corner. Grout both walls spreading the grout over the tiles with a grout float.