The plastering of the walls is absolutely an important process as it gives the house a solid protection layer and a more aesthetic beauty than the rudimentary brick walls. Before we finish this challenging task, grouting is an important step that we must not overlook. But do you know “How long does it take for grout to dry? What factors will affect its drying time? Let’s scroll down to find the answers now!
How Long Does It Take For Grout To Dry?
Grout contains water, sand, and cement. It has the advantage of filling the gaps in the tile’s surface during the construction process.
Even after the grout is mixed with cement in accordance with the prescribed ratio, it will not be possible to achieve the perfect dryness if you don’t comply with some technical standards.
In reality, the grout makes the gaps between tiles stick together. Thus, you should allow the grout to dry for a necessary amount of time. Otherwise, all grout paint will be ruined for working.
On average, 24-72 hours is a reasonable time for grout to dry. However, there are still other factors affecting “How long does it take for grout to dry?”. Let’s continue reading to find out what they are.
What Are The Factors Affecting The Time Of The Grout Taking To Dry?
Here are the top determining factors to answer “How long does it take for grout to dry?”
Types of Grout
Grout is now quite various in the market today, but let’s see whether different types will have different dry times or not.
Cement-based Grout
Regarding composition, cement-based grout includes many ingredients such as cement, polymer, and some other special additives. Simple common types of grout will have a longer drying time. For products that incorporate additives to support curing and fast evaporation, the drying time of the grout will be shortened.
Therefore, grout contains additives that are water repellent in order to prevent it from absorbing too much humidity. So, how long does it take for grout to dry? Our answer is 72 hours – the best time for grout to dry completely.
Epoxy Grout
Epoxy grout is a mixture of materials such as epoxy resin, solvents, binders, minerals, fillers, and some additives in certain quantities.
So, how long does it take for grout to dry? Since epoxy is resistant to outside factors such as grease, stains, and weather changes outdoors, it takes approximately 24 hours, quicker than cementitious grout.
Furan Grout
Fura Grout is a grout based on furan resin for anti-corrosion in industries. It also can be resistant to hydrofluoric acid or fluoride salt environments.
In terms of resistance and durability, Furan grout is quite similar to Epoxy one. Again, how long does it take for grout to dry? The best time for this furan group to dry is typically 24 hours.
The Room’s Humidity Level
Besides the grout types, the humidity’s room is also a factor that affects the drying time of the grout. Why say that? In the grouting process, the humidity in each room of the house is different, which means it will take a distinct amount of time to dry, too. That’s the reason why the bathroom is always wetter than in another room due to its moisture. As a result, the grout here will dry longer to walk on the tiles.
Indoor And Outdoor Conditions
In general, grout takes time to dry longer outdoors than indoors. Especially in bad weather conditions (such as wet, rainy, cold outside, etc.), the time it takes to dry will be longer.
Normally, it takes seven days to work effectively outside, good weather is no exception. If the weather in the next few days is poor, you should ensure the area is shaded with a tent and leave a gap of space for airflow.
How To Make Sure A Effective Grout Application
The grouting process requires you to have enough knowledge and technique to be able to do it successfully. However, don’t worry too much! Here we have some tips for you.
Let The Tiles Dry Properly.
For your grout to look well, you must give it enough time to release the moisture because when it doesn’t dry properly, the grout can fade the color.
You can experience slightly loose tiles because they haven’t dried properly, which can ruin a perfect grout process. It can take 2-5 days which is determined by the tile job before they are completely dry.
A Good Plan To Work With Grout
So, what should you pay attention to when you want to do the grouting process outdoors? Our advice is to consider the weather forecast! In case of rain or bad weather, you should prepare a tent to cover the grouted surface.
Remember to make a careful decision in choosing the grout for which room before. For example, if you need the bedroom’s dry time to be quicker to stay than other rooms, the first place to put grout should definitely be the bedroom.
Let The Grout Dry Properly
If you’re planning on greasing after installation, you’ll take longer to wait than the usual wait time. This is to ensure that almost all moisture in the grout has had enough time to escape. In most situations, this process can take approximately 24 hours to complete.
Use Additional Drying Services
You can use the air-conditioner, fans, or dehumidifier to dry the grout quicker.
Cleaning The Excess Grout
It is necessary to clean up excess grout when grout is not still drying. You should do it after grouting the tile floor for 15-A30 minutes. Of course, grout is durable, so removing excess grout from the tile once it has dried can be difficult.
Conclusion
If someone walks on your floor before the grout is completely dry, it will definitely damage the grout process and the maximum effectiveness of the flooring. That’s why you should understand “how long does it take for grout to dry?”.
After this article, we hope you can know more about dry time and other factors that can disrupt your grout. See you in the next blog!
