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Important Colored Caulking Tips to Match Your Caulk With Your Tile and Grout

Posted by Sunnai Ricasata on

Colored Caulk Tips to Match Your Caulk With Your Tile and Grout

In the next 12 months, 25% of homeowners will remodel their bathroom, spending around $10,000 in the process. 15% will remodel their kitchens, at a cost of around $23,000.

If you're one of them, you've thought about your countertops, flooring, cabinets, and every other major installation. But have you thought about the finer details that will bring your dream kitchen or bath from the pages of a magazine into your home?

Beyond fixtures and accessories, which always makes your room pop, have you thought about using colored caulk as your sealant or gap-filler? There are hundreds of colors to choose from, so matching it with your tile and grout can get challenging.

We're going to tell you everything you need to know about matching your caulk to your grout so you can add the perfect finishing touch to your project.

Why Colored Caulk?

You may be thinking, "Wait, does caulk come in specific colors?" and you're in luck because it does. You know white, beige, and clear are available everywhere, so there's a chance you never gave it much thought until you started your project.

Before we go any further, let's talk about your caulk options. It's important to use the right caulk for your application.

Acrylic/Latex (Painter's caulk) - Most common type. It covers small holes and cracks and you can paint it. Acrylic caulk is great for wood, drywall, masonry and other porous materials.

Vinyl Latex - More durable than acrylic and you can use it in some applications outdoors. It's not flexible like other caulks, so be mindful if you use it where there is contraction/expansion.

Silicone - 100% silicone caulk used for "specific" uses." Mold and mildew resistant and long-lasting, it's very flexible and won't crack. Has a waterproof quality great for showers and tubs. It is not paintable and does have a slight sheen to it.

Spectrum Tile & Grout caulk - This is a silionized acrylic latex caulk. Some silicone is added to secure extra adhesion. This type of caulk can be matched to all the different grout colors so there is a perfect match to your grout. Used for decades on tile and grout areas, there is also a mold and mildew resistant property added.

The two types of colored caulk are acrylic and silicone. There are tons of colors to choose from that will match your grout, tile, tub, countertop, backsplashes, and anything else you can think of.

How to Pick the Perfect Color

With so many colors of caulk to choose from, how do you know you're picking the perfect color for your project? You can buy the exact matching color of the grout if you know the specific grout color name and manufacturer, or just pick the color you think works best!

Some people use clear for granite countertops but if you pick a color from the granite itself, this will complement the backsplash and blend more.

It's a tiny detail that can net you extra cash when selling your home. But it's also a show-stopper that will make your bathroom or kitchen pop.

Keep in mind that if you're caulking underneath a window sill or around a door, you don't need to over think caulking colors because these acrylic caulks are paintable and the wall paint will cover these spots.

Tips for Matching Your Caulk to Your Grout

If you can't find a caulk to match your grout and your grout is old and ugly, one way to upgrade your grout and tile caulk and make them similar is using a grout colorant kit and buying colored caulk to match. It's not as expensive as it sounds, and it's quite easy to change your grout color.

If you want a customized look, this is a great way to get it. There are hundreds of colorant kits available to match the many colored caulks. You'll spend some time deciding on the colors, but in the end, all that work is worth it.

The final way is the good ol' fashioned eye test. Search through the available colored caulks and see if one catches your attention. A reputable company will even help you match your grout by mixing a custom caulk color for you.

Tips for Caulking the Right Way

With standard caulk colors, you clean up the excess and you're done. With colored caulk, practicing your technique will help give you the finished look you want.

Once you find your caulk, test a small amount on an extra tile. Make sure you cut a small amount off the tip. You don't want your bead too big and if you don't cut enough, you can always trim more.

Use a piece of drywall to practice the amount of pressure you need to apply. Too much or too little can give your caulk an uneven effect but you will be wiping to a nice bead anyway.

When you're ready to caulk your project, use a gun that cradles the caulk.

Now that you're starting your caulking, use a smooth motion to push the caulk out and run your bead. If you have to stop, just slowly continue with light pressure on the trigger.

This reduces globs that form from adding new caulk at that junction point. But don't worry, if you are using a tile and grout caulk, you will be running your finger down the bead to smooth it and using a moist sponge or rag will wipe it to the perfect finish.

It's important to clean all the messes as soon as they happen. Read the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning that particular caulk. Have the materials you need for cleaning and you're ready to go!

Get the Caulk Color You Desire

Finishing a DIY project is always satisfying. When you finish your DIY project and it mimics a professional, it's exhilarating. You need the best products and advice when working on a DIY project, so you've come to the right place.

At Grout Getter, we're the online authority on colored caulk. We have dozens of colored caulk to complement any project.

We even have discontinued caulk color to match your existing installation. Specify the grout manufacturer and color on the order form and we'll do the rest!

We also have a complete line of grout colorant kits for your tile. Visit our blog for tips and advice on your DIY project or contact us with any questions.