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Grout can be painted! Such an amazing thing! Why oh why didn’t I know this? You would think I would have found this out long ago, whilst scouring the internet for ways to make my tile pretty.
Nope, I just discovered it. Kind of by accident really. I was wondering if there was a product to paint the grout. And, the guy at Home Depot suggested a grout pen. Okay, but first he asked why would I ever need to paint the grout when I could just change it?!?! Yeah, I let that slide in one ear and out the other!
Initially, when we bought this house, I envisioned a new beautiful tile kitchen floor with white grout. That is why we selected the tile we laid in the laundry room. Then, all the other work started turning into bigger and bigger; more and more expensive jobs that I just gave up hope of having a new tile floor.
Thus, this is part 5 of my “Downsizing Series”. You can click on the links below to check out parts 1-4.
- Downsizing – Our Latest Adventure
- Downsizing – Part 2
- Redesigning the Master Closet – Downsizing Part 3
- Pantry Makeover – How to Create the Ideal Pantry
The more I looked at the floor, the more I hated it! The grout made it look so dingy. I mean, geeze, we changed everything in the kitchen except for the stovetop, countertops, lights and the tile floor. So, I started to really look at the floor to try to figure out what I could do to make it somewhat presentable.
I knew I had to do a lot of cleanup work from where the painters had dripped the cabinet paint. Yes, they were very messy! And, I was already crawling around the floor redoing the caulk. So, I figured I would have to be down there working on the tile.
What is the Problem, Exactly
What I soon realized was that the grout was really the main problem. The actual tiles were in pretty great shape, with a few scratches and dings here and there. But overall, the grout was what made me feel like it was always dirty.
And, to tell the truth, it was dirty! But, when I cleaned the grout before we moved the refrigerator into its space, it started coming out! That would not be cool! Of course, now I was kinda scared to touch it!
Getting Back to the Home Depot Trip
I ended up getting a white grout pen and decided to test it in the pantry. Just in case it didn’t look that great. And, I am so glad I tested it because the bright white looked awful with the antique white of the tiles. Garish, in fact!
Looking through my paint pile (it is pretty large) I found that I had grabbed this little bottle of Polyblend’s Grout Renew. Maybe it was when I was trying to find a non-sanded grout to patch the holes. Home Depot only had giant bags of these! And, I just needed a little.
Focus, Focus, Focus!
In addition to that bottle, I had picked up a small tub of a premixed antique white, which did not work, because it was sanded! Getting in my own way is kind of how I roll. With that said, I was so focused on filling in the scratches. Folks, there are like three long scratches in the entire kitchen. But, the grout is everywhere!
Finally, I gave up worrying about the scratches and decided to give this little bottle a try. Again, I headed into the pantry to do a test area. The first place I started was to paint over the bright white.
Amazingly Simple and So Pretty
It looked so good, that I continued on and did the whole pantry. I vacuumed, mopped and wiped the tiles down and let them dry before painting on the grout. Then, I used a paintbrush that was cut short and stubby. I also have a bucket full of random paintbrushes. So surprising, I know… haha!
The stubby paint brush uses the same concept as the grout pen, except it is much easier. The grout pen is a lot more expensive and works by pushing on the tip which allows the paint to flow. Such a tedious process, that I could not – or would not put myself into that conundrum.
I even made a short You-Tube video! Check it out!
Way Cheaper than Replacing the Tile!
A little bottle of Grout Renew will run you about $15 and it goes a long way! There is still have more than half of the bottle leftover! To make my paintbrushes stubby, I simply took some of the pointed paintbrushes and cut them short. In addition, I used my razor scraper and Clorox wipes to clean the tile and grout, as I had done in the pantry.
Using a foam cushion or something to support your knees is an absolute must. A pad for my supporting had was also very much needed – so I used two thickly cushioned potholders.
Be Prepared to Work in Shifts
Plan on taking at least three or four days to do the floor. This way you can work on a section at a time and your body can recover more easily.
I hope you try this at your house! If you do, let me know! Happy painting!
Enjoy!
