Tile Tips- How to Determine Which Grout you Should use

photo credit todayshomeowner.com

We get a lot of questions regarding grout, their differences and when to use one over the other.

Cement Grouts:

Traditional cement grouts are available in sanded and unsanded formulas.Today’s grouts use polymer additives which ensure color quality and increased flexibility, offering a solid performance in virtually any environment, including high traffic or wet conditions.

Unsanded: Typically unsanded is used in narrower joints of 1/8 inch or less, as it tends to shrink more as it cures.If your gap is too wide the grout may start pulling away from the tile as it dries. Unsanded is also used more frequently in wall applications because it tends to be a bit“gummier” than sanded and will stay where you put it.

Sanded: Joints wider than 1/8 inch get sanded grout — it’s the same material, but with a fine sand added. The sand helps bulk up the grout and keep it from shrinking in the joints as it cures. It is used for the majority of tile installations and should be used for larger grout lines and flooring applications.

What is Grout Boost? Despite their improved performance, all cementitious grouts are porous and subject to staining.Grout Boost is a stain resistant grout additive mix to be used with 8 - 10 lbs of unsanded grout. It is a liquid additive used in place of water when grout is mixed to provide resistance to water and oil-based stains. Grout Boost is stain proof to most common household, residential stains when cleaned immediately.

What is PowerGrout? Ultimate Performance TEC® Power Grout® is a breakthrough in grout technology, it combines many of the benefits of epoxy and urethane grouts with easy application. It maximizes performance while providing ease of use. Its unique formulation creates a highly stain resistant grout and provides strong, color consistent joints by resisting efflorescence, cracking and shrinking. It offers excellent performance in residential and commercial applications and in virtually any environment, including high traffic and wet conditions.

When using polished stone such as granite, marble, and limestone, you should take care as some sanded grout could actually scratch the surface depending on the polish. You should always perform a test area when using these materials or use an epoxy or PowerGrout, as it may be the better choice for these applications.