Can I use my shower while grout is curing? [solved]
I just recaulked my front bath and accidentally popped loose a tile in the process. I reinstalled the tile and allowed that to set before grouting. I just finished grouting the tile, and I read on the interwebs you should allow grout to cure for at least a week before sealing, but was wondering if it was okay to use the shower stall in the meantime.
If I allow the grout to set for a day, is it ok to use that shower while the grout cures? I know you're supposed to keep the grout from drying out...
The new grout only extends a few tiles from the corner and is on the side with the shower head, so it doesn't get very wet either. Hoping someone could relate their experience(s) - I am definitely a tiling noob.
All you need to do is leave the grout to dry before getting it wet. The instructions should tell you for how long. As you and others have pointed out drying and curing are separate things.
While you can use the shower after the grout is dried you may need to leave it for a day or two after it's cured before sealing. You don't want to seal any moisture in.
Yes. Use the shower, but give it 24 hours to dry/harden/set.
In fact, as with all portland cement products, it's a good idea to keep it moist while it cures, as the curing process is all about hydrating the cement molecules (i.e. binding with water.)
Avoid high pressure sprays, and any abrasion, but water running down the tile wall will be fine.
Let it dry thoroughly before sealing.
What's all this about sealing water in with a sealant? Quality solvent based penetrating sealers are vapor permeable, which means water will evaporate out of the grout as it cures/drys/hardens. Sealing it after initial set (24 hours) will act like Gore-Tex; moisture evaporates out, but won't soak back in.
After putting new Grout, you need to wait for 16 hours before you disturb it. The curing take a long time (one month or longer). For full strength, you need to keep the grout wet at least for 3 days. To leave the grout to dry in 3 days, is not a good idea. Usually, you need to mist it for 3 days. Therefore it is ok to use the shower since it will give it needed moisture without any harm.
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