Reasons Why Your Grout Color Has Changed & How To Avoid Future Damage

While it may seem like your grout color has changed for no reason, typically there is an issue behind the discoloration. Over time, certain things, like grout color may change and many homeowners will feel this cheapens the appearance of the tile. While sometimes, the color changes or fades due to age, other times it’s indicative of a bigger problem. If there is a lingering issue, it’s important that you identify and address the problem quickly so it doesn’t cause bigger problems down the road.

We recommend contacting a professional tile and grout company to assist you in identifying the issue, however, the following is some good information Huntington and other Long Island homeowners should be aware of when it comes to tile in their homes.

What Causes Grout Discoloration?

Grout is the material that used to fill the joints of the masonry when doing tilework. It is predominantly composed of cement, sand, and water. Grout color can be affected by many factors including:

Sunlight

Sunlight can affect and cause the color of grout to change over time primarily due to the quality of grout used. The sun’s rays can be damaging to many surfaces in your home, including tile grout.

The sun’s UV rays contain a strong physical charge that may cause gout to discolor over time, which is why it’s important to take care of them properly.

Improper Installation

In some cases, damage to grout can be caused by inappropriate improper installation. Grout is an essential part of any new tile installation and like anything, needs to be done correctly. Tile requires grout joints around the tiles to solidify the installation. If you believe improper installation is the cause of your grout discoloration contact Titanium Grout Lines immediately, so we can assist you in diagnosing the issue. When tile grout is applied incorrectly, discoloration can happen faster than expected.

Using Inappropriate Cleaning Methods

It’s important to avoid cleaning your tile and grout with harsh chemicals such as chlorine bleach, ammonia, and other acids since they can cause permanent damage to the color properties of the grout.

Using harsh cleaners can change the color of your grout and can be extremely damaging,to both the grout and the tile in your home. When cleaning your tile and grout it’s important that you use a high-quality and neutral cleaning product for grout or contact a professional to perform deep cleaning.

Mold & Stains

Another common reason for changed in grout color is mold. If there are damp or moist areas in your house such as a bathroom or kitchen, mold can easily develop behind the tiles which will dye the grout. This is why it’s important to have your grout sealed properly when you have your tile installed.

Another cause of grout discoloration is allowing water to sit on the tile for any length of time. This allows the liquid to seep into the grout. Over time, a regular cleaning won’t remove the stain, so your grout will remain discolored.

Avoiding Future Damage

If you don’t want to worsen the damage, it’s important to be proactive when it comes to the tile and grout in your home. Tile and grout that sits in heavy traffic areas is prone to wearing down quicker than other areas of the home. For this reason, you want to be sure your grout is properly sealed when it is installed, and cleaned regularly with mild cleaners by you, with professional cleanings yearly as well.

It is also best to have tile and grout installed by a professional to ensure it is done correctly and less prone to damage.

Restore Your Grout in Your Huntington Home

If you think your tile and grout need a restoration, contact Titanium Grout Lines today for help. We are a Long Island-based company that specializes in offering top-quality tile and grout cleaning services to home and business owners throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Contact us through our website or by phone to get started.