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Even with rectified tiles, it is not recommended to lay tiles without grout. Grout helps to protect the tiles against movement in case of the house shifting, it also helps make the tiles easier to care for in wet areas. Whenever possible, use rectified tiles with a 1/16-inch grout joint instead.
What is the smallest grout line for tile?
Grout lines need to be at least 1/16” for the grout to even fit, and often larger than that depending on a variety of other factors. For some grouts, like sanded cement grout, 1/8” is the minimum line size.
What flooring does not need grout?
Vinyl floor tiles don’t require grout and make a good utility-grade floor. You can buy self-stick tiles, or you can spread mastic on the subfloor with a trowel and lay tiles without pre-applied adhesive. Any subfloor is suitable, as long as it’s clean, dry and level.
Is there Groutless tile?
Groutless tiles are a great option for other areas of your house since they’re so low maintenance! If you fell in love with the look of a feature wall or want to add a dazzling fireplace surround, grout-free (or in this case, minimal grout) tiles are a stunning option that won’t add to your household chores!.
How long can you leave tile without grout?
24 hours is the minimum amount of time you should wait before grouting tilework. This amount of time allows the thinset mortar to fully cure and fuse to both the tiles and the floor. Waiting longer than 24 hours is advisable in cool and/or humid weather.
How much grout do I need between tiles?
TCNA recommends a minimum 1/8″ grout joint for rectified tile and minimum 3/16″ grout joint for calibrated tile. They also suggest adding to this width the amount of edge warping on the longest edge. For example, if the edge warping of a rectified tile is 1/32″, the minimum grout joint is 1/8″ + 1/32″ = 5/32″.
What grout do I use for porcelain tile?
Epoxy grout can be used on porcelain tile. By using epoxy grout you’ll be sure to use the highest quality grout in the market that will last a lifetime.
What happens if you don’t grout tile?
There are three main downsides to skipping the grout when installing tiles: If the tiles are not identical, they will appear unaligned; Dirt can get beneath them and damage them in the long run; Movement can lead to breakage.
Can I use silicone instead of grout?
Silicone is advantageous to fill gaps over grout because it ensures watertight sealing. The sealing is so secure that it’s airtight as well! As a result, no bacteria can enter between the tile gaps. Grouts mixed with latex are waterproof.
Do you have to grout tile that looks like wood?
Most wood look floor tile requires a 1/8 or 3/16” grout joint. That’s a pretty narrow grout joint. And it’s very important. Without that joint, the tile won’t be able to adjust to minuscule movements in the subfloor and you’ll end up with breakage, lippage, or an uneven surface.
Does grout help secure tiles?
A common misconception about tile and grout is that grout will somehow assist in stabilizing a tile installation. It does not. Unless you use epoxy grout it will add no significant structural elements at all.
How can I tell if my tile is ceramic or porcelain?
The easiest and fastest way to tell a ceramic tile from a porcelain tile is to take a look at its edge. A ceramic tile, whether for floor or wall use, has a glaze on top of the surface, giving it its color and finish. Porcelain tiles may be glazed but are frequently not.
What is the purpose of grout between tiles?
The Purpose of Grout “Not only does grout fill the voids, it makes the floor, wall, or countertop stronger by bonding the tiles together and preventing the edges of a tile from chipping and cracking,” says David Goodman, the tile contractor for This Old House’s Nantucket project.
Can you tile and grout in the same day?
Unfortunately, you cannot apply tile and grout in the same day. The mortar takes at least a day to dry. Moreover, many inexperienced tile setters see a dry edge and mistakenly believe that means the whole thing is dry. Sadly, this can lead to grouting too soon.
What can I use instead of grout?
Caulk is silicone, acrylic, or latex based, which is flexible and can help absorb movement, whereas grout can crack. Caulk is used to waterproof joints for space like bath tubs, showers, windows etc. Caulk is strong enough to adhere to tile surfaces without crevices.
Do they make clear grout?
Answer: Crystal Glass Grout is a translucent grout comprised of tiny hollow glass beads, which allow it to reflect and refract light. This eliminates the need for colored grout and is much easier to maintain.
Can you put new grout over old grout?
The short answer is, “no.” You cannot put new grout over old grout. With regard to filling in holes and cracks on the surfaces in our homes, we might compare grout repair to drywall repair. For holes in drywall, we would simply purchase spackle, and fill the hole in.
Should grout lines be flush with tile?
You want it close to being flush with the tile edges; otherwise, you’ll be able to both see and feel the corners of your tile when you walk over it. A higher-level of grout is also much easier to keep clean than grout lines that fall halfway down the tile.
Do tile sizes include grout?
Base the size of the grout joints on the area where the tile will be installed. Wall tiles can have smaller grout joints and smaller spacers than floor tiles. Wall tiles with clean edges can use a grout joint 1/16 inch in size, while floor tiles with clean edges may need a spacer 1/8 inch in size, says The Floor Elf.
Can you lay porcelain tile without grout lines?
Even with rectified tiles, it is not recommended to lay tiles without grout. Grout helps to protect the tiles against movement in case of the house shifting, it also helps make the tiles easier to care for in wet areas.
Does porcelain tile need to be sealed?
The surface of most ceramic and porcelain tile does not need to be sealed, although some require a light application of a penetrating sealer to fill the micro pores on the surface of the tile. However, the grout joint between the tiles is usually very porous and generally made of a cement-based material.
Which is better silicone or grout?
Grout is porous, which makes it more likely to develop mildew and stains than silicone caulk (the waterproof type, suitable for wet areas). For example, if you apply silicone caulk to seal around the drain in the tile shower floor, you can wipe it clean with a damp rag and it will look as good as new.
Why does my floor tile grout keep cracking?
When you see grout cracking only or primarily in joints, the root cause is usually movement between two surfaces. For example, if the grout is improperly mixed with too much water or additives, it could leave air pockets after the grout has fully dried. These make the grout weak and brittle, leading to cracks.
Should I grout or silicone first?
Caulking should come after the often-messy grouting process. Although tile caulking manufacturers do not require caulking installation to be done before or after grouting is performed in a shower, caulking before grouting a shower has significant downsides.
