Deciding between sanded and unsanded grout for backsplash tile september 21 2018.
What kind of grout do you use for vinyl tile.
Whether the tile is traditional ceramic porcelain or a quarry tile or natural stone it is critical that the seams between the tiles be adequately filled with a material that prevents moisture from seeping down to the underlayment to maintain this water proof quality all grout will need to be.
If you use grout with the cheap tiles it ll just crack and pop right out.
Is sensitive to both cold and hot temperatures during installation.
There are four basic types of grout.
Costs more than.
When you re reading the instructions for grouting tile the first item on the list will be choosing the type of grout you plan to use with your backsplash tile choosing between the two types of tile grout sanded vs.
The super cheap ones that are thin will not hold grout and in fact are not designed to be used with it.
Types of grout for ceramic tile.
Grout options when installing tiles in a shower the grout is an ordinary portland cement mixed.
Not for use with irregularly shaped tile such as pebble type tile.
Hold the float at nearly vertical as you drag it across the joints.
Unsanded fine sanded quarry type and epoxy.
All forms of ceramic tile use some type of grout to fill and seal the seams between the tiles.
Unsanded is more than just a matter of personal preference.
Easier to work with than epoxy grout.
Easily cleaned best choice for light colored grouts.
Be sure to purchase tiles labeled as groutable plus the type of grout recommended by the manufacturer and follow up with a coat of sealant for the sake of the grout.
If you d like to create a higher end look you can grout some vinyl tile varieties to increase their resemblance to natural stone or ceramic tile.
Vinyl tile grout is a ready to use premixed sanded acrylic grout that is highly stain resistant for use with vinyl tile.
If you miss a couple spots this can also be done once the grout has dried but it is easier to do it while it is still wet.
Do not spread the grout across the entire surface of the vinyl tile as you would a hard tile.
The grout you choose for the tile joints depends on the width of the joints you are working with.
This is used for floor tiles where the joints are 1 8 to 3 8 wide.
Much of the grout will overflow onto the tile when evening it out with a putty knife so use the flat edge of the knife to go right along the edge of the grout line to clean up these areas.
Not for use in steam showers or submerged conditions like pools fountains.
Only apply grout to between six and eight tiles at a time.
Premixed vinyl tile grout is formulated to be used in grout joints from 1 8 inch to 1 4 inch.
2 the only vinyl tiles that are groutable are the thicker variety sometimes called luxury or more often resilient.