Grout Spreading Tools

Grouting can be a laborious or easy process, depending on the size of the project and the type of grout spreading tool you use. Some harder grout spreaders are more suited to grouting bathroom tiles, while other softer spreaders work better for mosaics. Soft tools can be used quickly, while you will need to take more care when using harder grout spreading tools. You can purchase grout spreaders at any hardware or home improvement store.

Grout floats are used for spreading grout. They consist of a spongy rubber pad attached to a plastic U-shaped handle. The tool absorbs some grout, but it mostly pushes the grout in between tiles or pieces of mosaic. The rubber pad prevents the float from catching the edge of a tile and cracking it.

If you don’t have a lot of home improvement tools in your home, you can use a kitchen tool instead. Plastic spatulas are useful for moving the grout from a mixing bucket and onto the tiles. Choose a spatula that is bendable and wide. You can also use the spatula to spread the grout just like you would spread frosting on a cake. A spatula is flexible and soft enough that it will not catch on the edge of a tile while you are grouting.

Some handymen choose to use squeegees to spread grout. The squeegee is very spongy and soft, so there is little chance of the plastic handle splitting a tile. Some squeegees also have a notched adhesive spreader that you can use to lay tile. The squeegee is particularly useful when you are grouting mosaics because mosaics generally have more sharp edges for a grout spreader to get caught on.

Some grout spreaders have a thin band of rubber that is similar to the band on the other end of a window squeegee. This type of spreader is nonporous and pushes the grout without absorbing any of it. It also pushes the grout over the surface of the tiles so that there is less residue on them. This makes it easier to clean up after the grout has set.