Grouting Wall Tiles for a Kitchen Backsplash

Put on protective goggles and latex gloves before beginning the project. Grout contains cement that will burn any skin it comes into contact with.

Mix the grout powder with water following the manufacturer’s instructions. If your grout powder lacks instructions, mix it with just enough water to make a thick paste.

Scoop up a small amount of grout with your grout float. Spread the grout across the tiles, holding the float at a slight upward angle. This ensures that the grout properly fills the joints between tiles.

Return the float to your starting position. Move it back across the tiles at a steeper angle, almost 90 degrees. This removes excess grout from the surface of the tiles. Let the grout sit until it reaches a hardened, gummy consistency. This can take 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the type of grout you use and the space between the tile joints.

Clean the tiles with a damp sponge. This removes the grout haze from the tiles while leaving behind the grout within the joints. Rinse your sponge off periodically in a bucket of clean water while washing the tile.