The process of sealing tumble stone backsplash

by Martha Rivera
(Cedar Park, Tx)

I just recently had tumbled stone installed as a backsplash on my kitchen walls, when my granite was installed. The company that installed the backsplash only waited approx 24 hours after the backsplash was grouted to seal it. Was this the correct manner it should have been handled?



Hi Martha,

Thank you for your question. The grout cure time depends on the manufacturer and type of grout used. Most cement based grouts (99% of all grout used) cures fully after 28 days. But most grouts can be sealed after 14 days with no problems.

24 hours is rather soon to seal the grout. I would not recommend sealing any sooner than 3 days, at a minimum, with 28 days being the optimal time before sealing.

I suspect the company who installed your stone did not want to came back a later time. Or was worried about the possibility of staining before they could seal it properly. I'm sure your grout will be fine but the time between grouting and sealing should have been a little longer.

Of course this depends on what grout was used and the manufactures recommendations on both the grout and the sealer.


Thanks again for your question,
Toby