How Long for Ceramic Tile to Dry?

Temperature

• The temperature of the surrounding environment as well as the installation surface itself both affect the drying time of thinset mortar and grout. The hotter it is, the faster the concrete will dry, while the direct opposite is true of cold surface temperatures. A minimum temperature of 50 degrees F is recommended for thinset and grout to cure within the estimated time frame of 24 to 72 hours.

Humidity

• Humidity is another factor that must be taken into consideration for the curing time of concrete. In normal climates, concrete will cure within the 24- to 72-hour time frame estimated by most manufacturers. Excessive humidity will cause the concrete to take longer to cure, in some cases taking between four and seven days depending on the level of humidity.

Dry Mix Versus Premixed

• The estimated drying time for all dry mix thinset mortars and grouts is between 24 and 72 hours. Premixed thinset mortars and grouts are double that at the very least, and in cold and humid climates they can take upwards of two weeks to dry in the most extreme cases. This is because premixed mortars and grouts contain organic and polymer-modified compounds rather than simply sand and cement.

Underlayment

• The type of underlayment you use will also directly affect the drying time of your thinset mortar and grout. Wood-based underlayments suck moisture out of the cement, which forces the cement to cure quicker. Cementboard and fiberboard, on the other hand, are designed to keep the moisture where it needs to be: within the concrete itself. Wet concrete due to humidity or groundwater, on the other hand, will cause the thinset and grout to take longer to cure.