All about grout
1. Do I need to use grout?
2. What sort of grout should I use?
3. Which colour should I use?
4. Can I do it myself?
5. What brand of grout do you recommend?
1. Do I need to use grout?
Yes, you do. Why? Well, for one thing it keeps the wall behind the tiles dry and so makes the surface waterproof. Grout also connects the tiles to each other, making the installation more robust and stable. Finally, if you don’t use grout, over time grease and dust will build up in the spaces between the tiles. Heads up: sometimes we show photos of tiles that are not grouted, like this one. This is because we need to reuse the tiles!
2. What sort of grout should I use?
Your tile installer will be able to advise you on this. There are various types of grout that are suited to different situations: sanded, unsanded, epoxy, etc. We personally prefer the sanded look but this is not suitable for all situations and in particular shouldn’t be used for showers and backsplashes where it will get wet. For these situations epoxy grout is a better option.
3. Which colour should I use?
Our advice is to choose a shade of grout that is slightly darker than the base glaze of the tile. For our screen printed tiles, the base glazes are soft white or cream. If using a strong colour, be sure to wax the tiles first to stop the grout discolouring any (entirely harmless) hairline cracks in the glaze.
4. Can I do it yourself?
It’s definitely possible if you’re good at this kind of thing, but we recommend getting a tile installer to do it for you. If you choose to do it yourself, remember these rules: 1. Allow the wall behind the tiles and the tile cement to dry before grouting. 2. Mix the grout, wait two minutes, then mix again. 3. Wash off excess grout with a damp sponge (not too wet). Don’t wait till the grout is dry!
5. Which brand of grout do you recommend?
Your tile installer may have a brand they always use so talk to them first. We often recommend Mapei because they have a good colour range and someone from Mapei once came to visit us with grout samples and he was very nice. However we’re not paid by them in any way and other brands are, we’re sure, also good.