The right amount of moisture is necessary for grout to dry properly.
Grout is made of a mixture of cement, sand and water. If you use a grout mix that contains old cement or you do not mix it correctly, your grout will not harden properly. Grout needs to cure or dry properly, or it will remain soft and may develop cracks. Following some simple guidelines will help you apply grout that will harden without cracking.
Mixing Grout
Grouts are usually made with portland cement that becomes stable when it comes into contact with water or moist air. That is why grout mixes are packaged in bags with plastic liners. If your grout mix has been exposed to air or you mix it improperly, it may not harden. Mix the grout at low speeds, and add enough water to make it about the consistency of thick cake batter and it sticks to the end of your putty knife. If it pours like a milkshake, you have added too much water. Excess water can cause cracks in grout as it evaporates. Mix only enough grout that you can apply in 20 minutes.
Surface Problems
If you apply grout on warm, porous tile or dry concrete, it can lose moisture rapidly, creating soft, cracked joints. Moisten surfaces that may absorb water before you apply grout. Dust from gypsum or a work site can absorb water that the grout needs to harden. To prevent that, clean joints before you grout them.
Applying Grout
Applying grout in extremely hot or cold weather can cause it to remain soft. When you clean your grout, make sure your sponge is not soaked. A soaked cleaning sponge can add water to the grout, making it crack. If you live in an area with low humidity, cover the fresh grout with damp paper towels. The towels will stick to tiles on a wall. Mist the paper towels hourly to keep them damp. If you have a humidifier, run it for two days in the area of your drying grout while it hardens
Treatment
If you dampen soft grout, the hardening process may begin again, giving you a properly hard, dense grout. Mist it the joint with plain water for three days. If you have cracked grout you should remove and replace it. Dampen the surrounding grout before you add new grout.
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