The TOP 10 Things Other Companies Claim, But Are

The TOP 10 Things Other Companies Claim, But Are Not True
This Top 10 is from a decade of experience and a culmination of thousands of customer interviews
1. You CAN NOT grout over old grout!
Grout is not designed to adhere to other grout. Therefore, the new grout floated or placed over the old grout
will eventually flake or peel off.
2. You don’t need to seal grout.
Not true. The molecules that are in penetrating sealers soak into the pours of the grout and fill in the
microscopic holes creating a barrier against oil & water based stains. The sealers allow time to clean a
spill before they soak into the grout. Cleaning & resealing your grout should occur at least once per year.
Most tile installers try to avoid sealing your grout because this means they need to come back one extra
day just to seal it for you. It’s better for them to just tell you it’s not necessary, then to waste another day.
Much like if a car dealer told you to never wax your vehicles finish. Inevitably, if you don’t wax the finish
the shine will become dull. Just like how grout will accumulate so much dirt, the stains may be permanent
and or harder to remove.
3. You can buy stain proof grout.
There is nothing that will prevent grout from accumulating dirt and oil from the floor. Remember this is a
joint that will collect anything that gets caught in it. The best defense against is sealing or staining grout is
using proper cleaning products that break down the oils & dirt from your floor. From our experience when
the “Stain Proof” becomes dirty, it’s more difficult to clean.
4. They can guarantee clean grout for 10 years!
This is probably one of the best ways to fool customers. There is NOTHING anyone can put on your grout that
will keep it from getting dirty. This is simply a sales tactic to lure you in. Don’t get caught! The ONLY way to
keep the grout clean is with proper maintenance. Trust me when I say, if you call them in 10 years….if they’re
still open, WILL NOT come back to repair or clean anything.
5. You can use acrylic sealers on porcelain & ceramic tiled floors.
Using anything to coat over ceramic & porcelain tile should be avoided at all costs. Acrylic sealers are used
for Mexican Tile (Saltillo) or a brick paver type of floor. These floors are a clay substance and can absorb the
sealer. If you mop any acrylic sealer on to your floor, eventually the sealer with begin to break down and
flake of in the traffic areas. The sealer will also embed itself into your grout and it’s almost impossible to
remove it completely without regrouting the floor.
6. You always need to regrout.
This is only true when it comes to nonsanded grout for (1/8” or smaller joints) in a shower or tub stall.
Otherwise, when dealing with sanded grout for (1/8 or larger joints) and when the grout is in a solid smooth
condition, you can stain the grout to renew it to its original condition. Regrouting sanded grout should
always be your last option.
7. You can stain nonsanded grout
Unfortunately, nonsanded grout can not be colored or stained. Some companies try to do this but it will end
up being a mess. Nonsanded grout does not have pours, therefore the stain has nothing to soak into. The
color will just leave a thick coating on your grout that will soon begin to peel away.
8. Steam cleaning your grout will no affect or damage the grout
This is not the case. With most steam cleaning companies, carpet cleaning is likely their bread & butter. They
have simply changed the nozzle on their hose and are offering grout & tile cleaning. The problem is, the heat
& pressure that steam cleaning creates can be too extreme for grout. Grout is held together by bonding
agents and using pressure & heat can cause the grout to become brittle and fall apart, releasing the bond.
9. If you have cracked or missing grout lines, just fill them in with new grout.
When your floor begins to show signs of missing or cracked grout lines, there is an underline problem. In
some cases the house has settled and the foundation gave way to a sediment crack. With most cases it’s
Hydrostatic pressure (water) being released from the foundation causing the tile to lift. If regrouted, these
cracks will occur again. The way to find out if it’s a hallow tile is to tap on the surface of the tile. If the sound
is hallow and now solid, the only way to fix this problem is to remove the tile and reset or replace it.
10. You can just use water & vinegar to clean you grout.
Today there are cleaners such as Neutral Floor cleaners. These cleaners are low on the PH scale and aren’t
too acidic and won’t break down your sealers too quickly. They also contain degreasing agents and since dirt
and grease are the main causes of grout discoloration, it makes sense to use a product that helps break
those things down. You can find these cleaners at janitorial supply stores and other outlets.