sand or sandless grout? (tiling, flooring, Home Depot, Lowes)

[twinmma]

Just got back from Lowes and confused.

We are putting in tile in the half bath. Do I want sand grout or grout without sand? The kid didn't explain it very well. Thoughts?

Also, it is a very neutral tile. Off white with some beige and not sure what kind of grout color...want something neutral. Don't want dark grout. Ideas? Hubby likes Almond by Laticrete.

[rubytue]

What is your grout line going to be? I'm fairly certain 1/4" (pretty standard on ceramic) is going to require a sanded grout. If you are 1/8" or less, you should use sandless. The main advantage of sandless is that it doesn't scratch things like glass tile and polished stone. If you are using a ceramic, it shouldn't matter.

I want to say there are other differences, too. But when I was researching it, it seemed to basically come down to the grout line and type of tile.

[ladybug07]

If I remember from when I attended a laticrete class years ago, use sanded grout on anything 1/8"+ and anything smaller 1/8 you used the un sanded. You will still have to use a grout sealer on it and treat it every other year or so. They also make an epoxy grout that should be much better because you dont have to treat your grout lines.
As for the color grout, I would go with an off white. Just remember that your grout color is going to vary from the card a bit. Also check the back of the box and if the recommended area is a little bit smaller than the recommended, buy a little extra (and like paint) mix the two together to avoid color variance.
If you go back to Lowes, speak to the flooring specialist. When I worked there, they were the ones I learned the most from (other than training classes).
Tiling a floor is not hard. Just make sure you put down hardybacker board if you do not have a concrete slab foundation.

[HEATHER72]

I have a laticrete brochure right here and what the other posters have said is correct: unsanded - for grout lines 1/8" or less, sanded - for grout lines 1/16" - 1/2".

If you are putting tile on the floor use the 1/4" spacers with sanded grout. Don't let the sanded caulk confuse you either... it's suppose to be sanded even if you use unsanded grout.

Ladybug is spot on about the grout not looking like the samples on the brochure. I picked Marble Beige as my grout for our backsplash and it didn't come out as dark as the sample. I'd go for a darker grout that matched the darkest color in your tile, maybe even a bit darker since 1) it's going to be lighter than the sample 2) any grout is going to get dirty and dark.

[desertsun41]

The advice above is correct.

Do not ever listen to the minimum wage clerk at Home Depot or Lowes. They know less then you. Sometimes they like to feel smart and give poor advice that ends up costing the consumer even more in the end.

[crazyma]

Not a pro here, but the tile guy used sanded on the floor and non sanded around the shower...in the bath we finished in Dec.

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by twinmma

Do I want sand grout or grout without sand? The kid didn't explain it very well. Thoughts?

HA HA HA HA HA!!! That sounds about right.

Unfortunately, I think that most of the information received from Home Depot and Lowe's employees these days is pulled straight out of the keyster...

[twinmma]

thanks everyone!
I went and bought the sanded and I got it in Marble Beige. (I also bought Almond, but fear it is too light)
Thanks again!

[Streamer1212]

A quick grout seminar:

Grout is basically Portland Cement, colorant, and polymer modifiers of some sort. Most now also are made with a mildewcide or retardant (i.e; Microban)

It has no structural integrity. It is a space filler. So, if you put it into a larger joint, like bigger than 1/8", it will slump and probably develop hairline cracks. Adding sand to grout adds the structural mass that grout needs to minimize those two things (slump/crack).

You can't use a sanded grout in a joint less than 1/8", because the grout has to be compressed deeply into the joint, and the aggregate(sand) will not fit into that small a space.

Although sealers are not required for grout joints they are strongly recommended.

Laticrete does make a great epoxy-type grout called Spectralock. It is nearly bomb-proof. It cannot be sealed, but it doesn't need a sealer anyway. It is expensive compared to cement-based grouts, but there is a substantial value in the epoxy that makes it worth the extra dough. Mapei makes a similar product with similar properties.

When you finish taking a shower, you've dried off, and are about to hang your towel up, (or, in my case, leave it on the floor or the bed), take your towel and wipe down the walls of the shower. Doing this removes the excess moisture, which reduces the medium in which molds and mildew grow, and also removes the soap film before it hardens on the tile. This will eliminate A LOT of scrubby-type maintenance, and you won't have to post that "What do I use to clean my tile and grout?" question on this forum.

Carry on,
Streamer1212