The timing of when you can walk on newly grouted tile is a common concern for anyone undertaking a tile installation project.
Grouting is a crucial step in the process, as it not only fills the gaps between the tiles but also helps secure them in place. There is one very important question to ask regarding your new floor: When are you able to walk on it?
At the end of the day, there is no perfect answer. You can avoid damaging your floor by following the following information when walking on new tile.
Walking on the tile would be safe if it had already fully set for at least 24 hours after grouting. If you walk on uncured grout, you will only deform it.
Laying down the grout should take about a day. A couple of days are needed for the grout to cure. It usually takes 48 to 72 hours for that to happen. I would suggest avoiding walking on your floor for that length of time.
How Long After Grouting Can You Walk On Tile?
When you install new floor tiles, you must wait for the grout to cure before you walk on them. First, the grout type you choose determines how long it takes for the grout to cure.
You’ll usually find the recommended drying time and time when you can walk on tile on the back of grout packages. For example, 12 hours is a common recommendation.
You must wait for the necessary time after laying tile and grouting before walking on your newly tiled floor in your new bathroom or kitchen.
For the best results, leave the tiles for at least 24 hours before walking on them. The grout is likely to disturb the tiles more if you walk on them before it is fully cured. After two or three hours, you can walk on the tiles again.
In high traffic areas, especially, try to avoid it as much as possible. In order for the grout to last for a few years, these areas will need to be allowed to fully cure. Curing times should be checked in the manufacturer’s guide.
Adhesive and Mortar Need to Take Hold
There are generally three steps involved in laying tile. A new tile floor requires three steps: cutting, mortaring, and grouting. A correct pattern must be followed when cutting and laying it out.
For ceramic tiles to adhere to floors, mortar is usually necessary. During the grouting process, once the mortar has set and cured, the spaces between the tile pieces are filled with uniform grout.
It is not until the mortar sets and holds the tile firmly in place that it becomes firmly fixed. Before walking on an unfinished tile floor, let the mortar sit for a day after placing the initial tile.
Grout Must Set and Cure
To complete your tile flooring project, grout needs to be applied after the mortar is set. Typically, grouting takes about a day. A couple of days are required for the grout to cure.
In most cases, it takes between 48 and 72 hours. That would be ideal if you were able to avoid walking on your floor for that amount of time.
In the event that the grout is fully cured, you will not need to worry about damaging or shifting the tile pieces on your brand-new tile flooring.
There is a possibility that you can walk on it sooner. When walking on newly grouted tile floors, it is best to wait at least a day and preferably two.
Plywood Enables Earlier Walking on New Tile Flooring
If you plan to walk on the tile floor, you should minimize the amount of time you wait before doing so. Ideally, you should lay down plywood walkways as soon as possible so that you can walk on it.
A narrow strip could serve as a pedestrian bridge. Alternatively, you could cover the new tiles completely with plywood.
If you are going to walk over plywood, you should wait at least 24 hours before doing so. In this way, you can ensure that your newly tiled floor will have the best results and the mortar and grout will cure fully.
How Long Before You Can Put Appliances On Tile?
Whenever you move a refrigerator across a newly tiled floor, wait until the mortar and grout have cured.
In this situation, USA Tile and Marble suggests not walking on the tile for at least 24 hours, ideally 48 hours, since temperature alters curing time.
How Long Do You Have To Stay Off Grout?
In order to prevent moving tiles from shifting and disturbing the grout, you should allow it to completely dry before stepping on it.
It is recommended that you contact the manufacturer of the grout if the container does not specify a drying time. It is recommended that you wait at least 24 hours before walking on the floor.
Grout sets up at different speeds depending on humidity and temperature. In a highly humid room, for example, water vapor has been evaporating from the air.
You should allow extra time for the grout to dry, since moisture slows down the process.
With an air conditioner running and a small fan moving across the floor, you can increase the drying time by reducing indoor humidity.
Can I Tile And Grout Same Day?
It is possible for grouting the same day or the next day if an appropriate rapid set thinset is used by the installer.
Do not grout the tiles until 24 hours have passed, even if you see the thinset edges or thinset in the grout lines look dry.
After a thinset has been applied, it is generally recommended not to walk on or apply pressure to the tile for at least 48 hours.
There is a common recommendation from manufacturers that curing time be given between 24 and 48 hours. In this case, the longer the cure time, the better.
How Soon After Grouting Can I Shower?
You will need to consider the grout you use in your shower, as well as whether you plan to seal it.
To ensure that the grout has cured properly and won’t be compromised when exposed to water, you should leave it for at least 72 hours after installation.
It is only necessary to leave epoxy grout for 24 hours if you are using it. To seal cement-based grout, you will need to wait for it to cure fully, again for 72 hours is best.
Leave the sealer on for another 24 hours after it has cured. To make your shower watertight, you will also need to caulk it.
How Long Does Tile Grout Take To Dry?
Can you walk over un-grouted tiles? No matter how rectified the tiles are, it is not recommended to place them without grout. Tiles are protected against movement when the home shifts, and grout makes it easier to clean wet spots on the tiles.
If you walk barefoot, you may feel those un-grooved edges. It is recommended that you wait at least 24 hours before grouting the tiles. A dry appearance may occur in the thinset margins or thinset that shows through the grout lines.
Should Grout Dry To Walk On Tile?
Even though tiles are renowned for being quite durable, a newly tiled floor might be brittle and susceptible to damage. It is crucial to be patient, since one wrong move might undo hours of hard work.
You should wait at least 24 hours after grouting to walk on the tile, but 48-72 hours is optimal. Tiles can shift and even break when mortar, grout, or grout sealer has not fully cured.
Place a piece of plywood across the top of a newly tiled room before you begin tiling a high-traffic room. In spite of this, it’s still best to avoid walking on the tile if possible.
Can I Grout In Sections?
Be sure to make sweeping arcs and ensure that all tile joints are completely absorbed with grout. Any extra grout can also be wiped away with your grout float as you go. Instead of grouting the entire wall or floor at once, work in sections.
Do You Have To Seal Grout?
There are some types of grout that do not require sealing. Before applying epoxy grout to unsealed tiles, such as natural stone surfaces, they must first be sealed. Ceramic tiles that are not porcelain may not require sealing.
The Bottom Line
After grouting, you can walk on tile 24 hours later. You must allow the thin-set or mortar to cure for 24-72 hours before you grout your tile.
The drying time of freshly grouted tiles is affected by environmental conditions, so you should always wait at least 72 hours before applying pressure.
