If you’re like most homeowners, you don’t think much about the grout between your tiles until it becomes an eyesore. Over time, grout can become grimy, stained, or just plain unattractive. While a full regrouting job may seem like the only option for refreshingly dirty grout, it also means a lot of messy, labor-intensive work.
Fortunately, there’s a simple and budget-friendly solution for reviving tired grout without needing to tear it all out and start over: grout paint.
Supplies You’ll Need
One reason grout paint has become so popular is that you likely already have most or all the supplies you’ll need. At a bare minimum, you’ll want:
- Grout paint – We recommend GroutRenew for its great coverage and color options
- Small paint brushes – A toothbrush and angled trim brush work perfectly
- Painter’s tape
- Microfiber cloths
You may also want to have on hand a mild grout cleaner if you have stain buildup, along with a sealing product to protect your freshly painted grout lines.
Cleaning & Prep Work
While grout paint can hide some surface-level stains and discoloration, you’ll still want to start with a clean base. Give your grout lines a thorough wipe down using a gentle grout cleaner, warm water, and a toothbrush to dislodge grime.
Once clean and dry, you’ll want to use painter’s tape to mask off the surrounding tiles. This prevents paint splatters and drips during application. Carefully press the tape edges down along the grout lines to seal them off.
Choosing Your Color
One fun bonus of grout paint is getting to pick a totally new color for your grout lines instead of just refreshing your existing hue. You can match the current color or go bold with a darker shade that plays up the tile pattern.
Keep in mind darker colors tend to better hide stains over time. Contrasting shades help the grout lines stand out as a design detail instead of fading into the background.
Paint Application Tips
With your surface prepped and color selected, you’re ready to start repainting the grout lines. Use a toothbrush or small angled paintbrush to apply the grout paint.
Carefully brush the paint straight into the grout lines, keeping it off the tile faces. Let the paint sit for 3-5 minutes, then take a damp microfiber cloth and gently wipe perpendicular across the tiles to remove excess paint.
Don’t worry about getting every last speck at this point, since that may pull still-wet paint out of the lines. You can easily wipe stray spots after drying instead of risking holes in coverage.
Cure Time & Further Cleaning
Now comes the hardest part: waiting for your freshly painted grout to cure! It’s crucial to avoid getting the painted grout lines wet for at least 72 hours. This allows the paint to fully set and achieve maximum durability.
After a few days of curing time has passed, you can do a final wipe with a slightly damp microfiber cloth to remove any lingering dried flecks on tile faces. Avoid harsh scrubbing and use minimal moisture here.
Before & After Photos
Now comes the fun reveal – seeing just how dramatic a difference your grout paint made! Check out these real before and after pics from a recent grout paint project:
[insert photo 1 showing dingy, grimy grout lines]
Yuck! Those grout lines had seen better days.
[insert photo 2 showing same area with fresh, clean white grout paint]
What a huge improvement from just paint! The tiles look brand new.
Cost & Hassle Comparison
Not only does grout paint completely transform worn-out grout, it also saves a ton of money over a traditional regrouting job. Considering most tiles cost $5-$15 per square foot for materials and professional installation, redoing the grout could run into serious cash.
Grout paint provides similar revitalizing benefits at a fraction of the price – usually only $20-40 to paint an average size bathroom.
It’s also way less labor intensive with no scraping out old grout or prepping for new install. Just grab a brush and some paint for an easy weekend project!
Maintenance & Durability
While painted grout provides an almost-instant facelift, it’s not indestructible. The paint may wear down more quickly in high-traffic locations. However, occasional touch ups let you easily maintain the pristine look.
Expect to redo the paint every 2-5 years for best results. Use a gentle grout cleaner regularly to prevent heavy soil buildup. Reapply fresh paint when you notice fading, cracks, or chips reappearing.
Proper prep work, adhesion, and protective sealing can all help maximize durability so your paint job lasts as long as possible.
Reviving tired, unsightly grout has never been easier thanks to handy grout paint. Just a few basic supplies and some careful application lets you overhaul dingy grout lines with dramatic results.
Grout paint outperforms regrouting for affordability and convenience without sacrificing beautiful, like-new tile appearances. We recommend giving it a try the next time your existing grout seems past saving – you’ll love the fast, foolproof facelift!
