Any Grouting Experts Out There? (bathtub, paint, bathroom, interior)

[cokatie]

The condition of the grout in my master bathroom around the tub finally got to me! After much trial and error, I managed to remove the old, dirty, cracked grout around the tub surround. This involved the use of a flat knife, a straight blade, a reciprociating saw (), and just some general elbow grease!

This morning I started to regrout - but my question is this: How thick do you have to make the grout? I have no interest in the sloppy way in which it was previously done (on the tile above it and on the bathtub itself). I squeezed the grout as far back as it would go into the interior of the wall, but externally, it looks like only a nice, clean, thin line. Is that enough?

Also, once I let this dry and set, I then have to seal, is that correct? Do you have any specific recommendations for the sealer?

Thanks so much!

[Streamer1212]

If you spread and compacted the joints with the proper grout float held on edge at a 45* angle, and actually compressed the edge of the float, you have forced the grout into the joint as deep as it will go. And that's the way to do it, so you should be good to go.

I like Sealers Choice Gold, made by Aqua Mix. Heavy solids composition, holds up well, and does not stink up the joint! (Pun intended). Paint it over the joints (2 coats / 1 hour apart). Do not seal the tile. It wil not penetrate the glaze of a glazed tile, nor the unglazed body of a porcelain tile. The sealer works by penetrating into the joint, not laying on top of the joint.
You can seal with the Sealers Choice Gold 48 hours after completion of the grout clean-up.
Regards,
Streamer1212

EDIT: Use a silicon caulk for the joint where the tub meets the tile.