Wall Tile Grout Lines

Grout is a necessary and integral part of many tile jobs for several reasons.

Wall tile grout lines.

There are some guidelines that need to be followed but the actual size is more of a personal choice than it is a set width. Traditional grout is a mixture of sand and cement though more modern options include latex and other polymers to help boost their stain resistance. Grout joint size for large and heavy tile a sufficient grout joint gives the tile room to breathe so to speak for building movement and thermal expansion. A tight 1 8 grout space will allow the pattern to flow nicely from one tile to the next.

Sanded grout is best for joints over 1 8 inch wide. Where the floor or wall is not level the grout will slope from one tile to another. As a result it won t fall off as you try to fit it into the grout lines. A rectified edge allows for smaller grout lines because the tile has been more precisely cut unlike our other handmade tiles.

When tiling over a hump the grout joint opens up. And when tiling across a depression the top of the grout joint narrows. It also allows for variation in the manufactured tile different types of application and warpage that may be present in large tile. Grout lines for wall tiles small tiles such as the 4 inch by 4 inch style commonly used on bathroom and kitchen walls often are self spacing.

The secret no professional will tell you is there is really no set or absolute proper size for your grout lines. Premixed grout comes in tubs and is convenient for small jobs. They have small protrusions called lugs that fit against adjoining tiles and create an automatic space for grout normally 1 32 to 1 16 inch wide. There is less irregularity with rectified tiles so less spacing is needed between each piece.

The size of grout lines for tile is something that comes up on almost every tile installation. A non sanded grout is suitable for grout joints up to 1 8 inch wide. If you re working on vertical surfaces you ll find that it s a lot easier to use unsanded grout for wall installations given that it is a lot stickier than other materials. Vacuum the grout lines then scrape any protruding grout using a stiff putty knife and vacuum again.

How grimy the grout gets may come down to what it s made of. Apply tape to trim tiles. Sanded grout is a little more difficult to work with than non sanded but it s stronger and helps prevent cracking in wide joints. It keeps moisture out of the substrate helps keep tile lines straight and prevents tiles from rubbing against one.