When renovating a house, it is important to pay attention to the order of operations. For instance, should you install the cabinets first or do the grouting first? Which comes before and which comes after?
I. Should you install cabinets first or do grouting first?
Generally speaking, you should do the grouting before installing the cabinets. If this order is reversed and you install the cabinets first, you will need to move furniture later, and areas covered by furniture won't be able to be grouted properly. This can affect the quality of the grouting, leading to issues with the surrounding areas. Additionally, there’s a risk of accidentally getting grout on the furniture, requiring extra time for cleanup later. Therefore, the correct approach is to complete the grouting first, and once the grout has dried, proceed to install the cabinets. This way, you can protect the results of the grouting and avoid any impact on the cabinets.
II. When is the best time to do grouting?
1. Once the tiles are laid, many homeowners choose to do the grouting. When to grout? In the bathroom, it is generally advisable to complete the grouting before installing sanitary fixtures, such as toilets and washbasins. You should also ensure that waterproofing is done and the water-tightness test is passed before putting in the tiles. Make sure the bathroom is dry; otherwise, moisture can seep into the gaps, affecting the quality of the grouting.
2. For other areas, grouting is usually done after the tiles are laid but before the furniture is brought in. This timing is optimal because there are no obstructions on the floor, and there are no difficult-to-reach areas. Most importantly, the floor is dry at this stage. Once other construction processes are in progress, water usage may increase the humidity indoors, ultimately affecting the grouting.
3. In the kitchen, you should wait until all floor and wall tiles are completely installed and dried before doing the grouting. The grouting should also be done before the cabinets are installed to avoid leaving any hidden corners.
4. For the living room, grouting should be done before the furniture is moved in to prevent being unable to grout certain areas due to being obstructed. Additionally, the grouting should be done after wall decorations are completed.
In summary, grouting has become a popular method for finishing tile installation. However, it is crucial to choose the right timing for grouting so that it doesn't affect other construction processes. This way, the entire renovation process can proceed more smoothly without causing delays.
