Once you have chosen the new tiles for a room, you have to choose the grout. This seems like an unimportant item, but the color of the grout you choose will make a difference in how the tile floor looks. Deciding upon the spacing will also be important to the look of the floor. Make sure you follow these five rules of tiling a floor and you won't go wrong:



Rule #1. Pick the right grout color

Grout comes in very many colors, so you have a real choice about the look. The grout shows between the tiles, so if you pick a color that contrasts with your tiles, you can end up with an almost checkerboard pattern. If you want the look to be monochromatic, pick a grout closet to the color of the tile. Remember, however that light grout will show dirt easily, so if your tiles AR light, you may want to have a slightly darker grout.

Rule #2. Use the right tools and materials

Get good quality grout and sealer, use a palette knife to spread the grout thinly and evenly and have a sponge and bucket nearby to wipe up excess.

Rule #3. Decide on the spacing

Most tiles have a built in spacers so you may not have a choice unless you want to make the space between the tiles larger. You may want a wider look, and if so you will have to buy spacers at a home improvement store. When you are laying the tiles, it is very important to have all the spaces the same size and so you should lay out the tiles on the floor with the spacers before you apply grout. If you use spacers, the only reason you would have different grout widths is if the tiles are crooked, so laying the tiles out evenly and carefully gluing them down in place is essential.

Rule #4. Use a grout sealer

Make sure you protect the grout with a sealer that will protect the grout from stains and damage. This is a time consuming job since you have to carefully apply it to the grout without getting it on the tile, but it is well worth it because your grout will last longer and retain its color longer.

Rule #5. Maintain the grout

You are going to be cleaning your tiles, of course, but care must be taken to clean the grout properly as well. Grout will attract dirt more readily than tile because of its texture and it may be slightly lower than the tile, so the mop will not reach it as well. Therefore you should occasionally use a small sponge to clean the grout separately by hand. You should also reseal the grout after a while since the sealer may become worn down.