The length of time it takes for grout to dry is a valid concern when you are working on walls and tiles.
If the grout is not allowed to properly dry, there are a lot of issues that might arise ranging from weak joints in tiles to mold growth when water begins to seep through it.
In this article, we will be looking at the length of time it takes for grout to dry and the factors that are to be considered in the drying process.
Here Is How Long Tile Grout Take To Dry:
Averagely, it is considered that grouts get dried between 24 to 72 hours depending on other external factors. These factors include the type of grout used, the climate of the area, and the humidity level of the room.
Owing to the above-mentioned factors, the time taken for grouts to get dried might vary.
Drying Time Of Tile Grouts:
Grout is simply a bonding material usually formed from cement or any other binding material that can be used in fixing tiles and filling the space between tiles.
The space between tiles, commonly known as grout joints, is usually porous and permits fluids into the settings of the tiles. It is not good enough for the grout joints to be left open when you want to fix your tiles hence, the need to apply grouts.
The grout applied in the grout joints protects the tile, prevents damage from moisture, and in general, makes it easier to clean your tiles.
Grouts also make it easier to effectively remove stains without the fear of causing lasting damage to the fixed tiles.
Not only do you need to apply grout, but you also need to ensure that the grout is given enough time to get dried. When you do not allow your grout to get dried, you are still at the risk of all the possible damages that you were trying to avoid.
Your tiles can get cracked in the long run if the grout applied on them is not properly dried before stepping on it or placing heavy furniture in the newly tiled room. The tiles can also end up being somewhat loose, discolored, and rugged-looking when the grout is not allowed to properly dry.
Also, it is important you note that there are various types of grout that you can apply with each having a different drying time.
The table below highlights the three basic types of grout and the different drying times it takes.
| Type of grout | Peculiarity | Drying time |
| Cementitious grout | Water retentive additive | 72 hours |
| Furan grout | Thermosetting resin | 24 hours |
| Epoxy grout | Highly durable | 24 hours |
What’s Affected The Drying Process?
There are quite a number of factors that affect the drying process of a grout. You might need to get familiar with these factors so that you can make the best choice of grout to use for your tiles and home renovations.
These factors include:
- Type of grout
- The humidity of the room
- The climate of the area
- Indoor or outdoor
- Type of grout
There are various types of grout that you can make use of for your tiling job and each of the types has its peculiarities and the estimated time it takes for it to get dried.
The types of grouts that are commonly used include:
- Cementitious grout – This takes approximately 72 hours to get dried. It takes a longer period to get dried compared to other types of grout because of its water-retentive feature. This is meant to achieve the maximum hardness possible and as a result, slow down the drying process. It is commonly used in residential buildings.
- Epoxy grout – This takes an average of 24 hours to get dried. Compared to the Cementitious grout, this type takes less time to dry and does not need to go through any special process. It is commonly used in laboratories for tiling because it is suitable for environments that are commonly exposed to acids and chemicals. It is also an expensive type of grout.
- Furan grout – This type of grout is made essentially for industrial buildings where there are strong chemicals and high temperatures. The average drying time for the Furan grout is 24 hours.
- The humidity of the room
The level of the room in the building is another factor that can either increase or decrease the drying time of a grout.
The more humid places will require more time to dry a grout compared to the less humid place. For instance, grout in the living room will most likely dry faster than grout in the bathroom.
- Indoor or Outdoor
Whether your grout is done inside or outside is also a factor that determines the drying period of the grout.
Technically, it is expected that an outdoor grout dries faster than an indoor grout.
- The climate of the area
The general climate of the area also has a reasonable effect on the rate of grout drying.
Grout takes a lesser period to get dried in dry climates like Las Vegas and a longer time in tropical climates like Florida
How Long Does Tile Grout Take?
On average, it is expected that your tile grout should get dried between 24 and 72 hours across all types and considering various factors.
You should not attempt to step on or place heavy furniture on tiles that are not yet dried. In less than 24 hours, you should avoid the newly tiled areas, and after 72 hours, you can be confident that your tile grout is well dried and habitable. However, you can reduce the amount of time it takes for grout to get dried.
The presence of moisture is known to slow down the process of drying. So, to improve the drying process, you help to reduce the amount of moisture in the room.
You can do this by putting on the air conditioner or circulating air across the room with a fan. These can help to speed up the drying process.
Can You Tile And Grout On The Same Day?
Yes, it is possible for you to tile and grout on the same day.
Tiling and grouting can be done the same day provided that the tile you are using has a rapid thin-set.
If this is not the case with your tiles, you need to be patient for the tiles to be well cured before applying grouts.
There is no point hurrying the process of tiling and grouting only to later deal with a bad tile. It is not enjoyable to redo the tiling process, so you should take your time with the process and get the best out of it.
Summary
The drying process of your grout is as important as the application of the grout itself. You have to be patient enough for the grout to get dried to get the best out of it.
There are different factors that affect the time taken for grouts to dry, these include climate, type of grout, humidity, etc. However, the average time is between 24 to 72 hours.
You can speed up the process of drying your grout by using an air conditioner or a fan to reduce the moisture in the room.
References
https://groutmagnificent.com/how-long-does-grout-take-to-dry/
