6. Grout and clean. After your tile has been installed for 16 to 24 hours (or whatever the adhesive container specifies), you can go back and begin grouting. Remove all the spacers and clean off any dried adhesive on the face of the tile. Work the grout in at an angle. In this picture, grout is being applied with a standard-margin grout trowel. Apply it with the trowel angled toward the wall, moving in a diagonal pattern. Clean off the excess grout with a sponge and work a 3- to 5-foot area at a time. Once you’ve finished grouting, run a clear bead of silicone along the bottom edge of the tile. Let all of this dry for 24 hours before you go back and replace your electrical outlets, switches and covers. If you are using a penetrating sealer, make sure to check the container for the time frame for applying.