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Grout is a crucial ingredient for your mosaic – it can either make it or break it, as they say. So it is important to learn how to grout, when to grout, how to choose the right grout colors, how to mix it, and how to clean it up. Once you learn about these, you are on your way to enjoying mosaics even more. Here’s some insights:

How to grout – there are lots of tools you can use to help you spread and layout your grout. A float, your gloved hands, flat spatulas, and more can all be used. Just be sure you get the grout spread evenly across all surfaces, and most importantly, in all the nooks and crannies.

When to grout – after you are finished with your mosaic and everything is dry, it is time to grout. However, there are times when you won’t want to grout a mosaic. If you have an indoor piece that you determine doesn’t need to be grouted, then don’t grout it. If you are using the “groutless technique” then you won’t be grouting. But if you choose to grout your piece, make sure everything is absolutely dry and that you have plenty of grout on hand before you start.

Choosing the right grout color is a monumental task to many and can be very daunting. The main school of thought is: white grout fractures; gray grout neutralizes; black grout pops vibrant colors. A great tip is to test different colors first on a sample mosaic using the dry powdered grout.

How to mix grout the right way is very important in order to avoid cracking and shrinkage of the grout. Too much water and the grout lines may shrink and crack, too little water, can be powdery and too hard to spread. I recommend you use a sanded grout with polymers and mix to a peanut butter consistency. There are 2 different techniques for small and large batches.

Cleaning off the grout is the last step. After you finish grouting, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe off the tops of the tiles gently. I use dry rags. Then you will want to wipe again, wait, and wipe again until it is clean. There are tricks to the wiping method, too!

For all the tips, tricks and in-depth “know how” here are 6 videos that delve into all the details.