Applying the Grout

Let the grout set 20 minutes or so. Then clean off any excess grout with a damp towel, rinsing the towel frequently. Keep the towel clean. Then go over the joints with the rounded end of an ice cream stick or an eraser on a lead pencil. This tool will smooth and help compact the grout even more.

After you have smoothed the grout in the joints, go back over the tile once again with a damp, clean towel, removing as much of the grout film as possible. Even after you have wiped the tile several times, you will probably find that a haze still remains on the face of the tile. If that is the case, the one-time use of a tile cleaner will remove the haze. Simply follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Replace the trim. You may not be able to fasten trim such as quarterround or shoe to the floor or baseboard. If this is a problem, use a subfloor or construction adhesive to stick it in place. Or use a baseshoe that can be fastened to baseboard with 4d finishing nails. The molding will hide any imperfections along the border of the room.

Three weeks after the installation, seal the grout with a sealer made especially for ceramic tile. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.

MOSAIC CERAMIC FLOOR TILE:
These tiles are small and generally measure 1x1 inch square. They may be mounted on a 1x2 or 2x2-ft. paper or net material. The paper or net goes face down into the adhesive. The paper/net serves as a pre-spacer of the tiles and keeps the tile unit together until it is set.

Mosaic floor tile is estimated and laid-out the same way as regular tile, detailed above.

Because of the backing, the tiles are sort of "unfolded" down into the adhesive, Avoid any sliding of the material into the mastic. You should keep the grout spaces clean and free from as much mastic as possible.

Also work in a small area. Make sure the joints between tile squares match the spacing between individual tiles on the backing. Use spacers for this, or use thin molding as mentioned above. With a flat piece of wood or a small piece of ply wood (2x2 ft. or so) firm the tile into the mastic by pressing down on the wood with your hands. Or use a rubber mallet. Do not stand on the wood. Too much pressure pushes adhesive up through the grout joints. It's a mess.

Set all field tile. Fill in the border tiles. You can score or break the paper or net backing with a sharp utility knife. Keep the knife blade clean. And don't forget the grout joint spacing between the border and fill-in tiles.

Since the mosaic is small, it's best to use tile nippers - not a tile cutter - to fracture the tile to the size that you want. Just nibble along the edges until you get a proper ft. Smooth the edges by dragging them along a concrete block or brick. The grout will hide minor imperfections because it will spread over the imperfections at the joints.

Wait about 36 hours before grouting. Mix the grout to a paste consistency and spread it over the tiles and into the joints with a rubber float or squeegee. Do a small area. Then wipe the area with a damp sponge. Continue on until the joints are grouted and the tiles faces are fairly clean and free from grout.

Go back to the spot you started. With an ice cream stick or eraser, smooth the grout lines. Don't press down hard. You want to "trowel" the joints lightly for a slight rounded effect. Do a small area, then wipe the tiles as clean as you can with a damp sponge. The sponge, in effect, will also help trowel the joints, so don't put too much pressure on the sponge as you wipe the tiles.

Again, go back to the spot where you started and very carefully inspect the grout lines. You may have to add a tad more grout to some areas. If so, wait again until these patches are dry and then go over the tiles once more with a damp sponge. Let the job set a week-or even more if you can. When you're satisfied with the job and the grout is hard, clean the tile with tile cleaner and seal it with a tile sealer. Follow the directions on the containers.

CERAMIC TILE GROUT:
Grout is available in powder from. You mix it with water or latex additive, which is the recommended method due to its greater stability. The grouts listed below may be used with ceramic mosaics, quarry, paver and packing house tile in dry and intermittently wet areas, areas subject to prolonged wetting, and exteriors: Portland cement; sand-Portland cement; dry-set; latex Portland; epoxy; silicone.

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