How thick can grout be?

There is no standard for grout joints. According to the TCNA, the grout width can vary depending upon the size of the tile. Many stone and tile manufacturers suggest that grout joints be no less than 1/8″ to 3/16″.

What happens if grout is too thick?

Grout that is too thick won't fully seal the tile because it'll be too thick to reach the bottom of the cracks. Overly thick grout can also stick to the surface of the tiles and is difficult to remove when the job is done.

How thick can a grout line be?

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. Grout lines on walls usually do not exceed 1/16 inch because the tiles need to be stacked to help support them during installation.

How big is too big for grout?

As you can see there is really no absolute answer. If you like smaller grout lines, as long as the tile will allow it, use them. If you prefer larger, use larger. As a general rule do not go larger than 3/16″ although under certain circumstances such as some slates and quarry tiles, 1/4″ is acceptable.

How big a gap can you grout?

For cementitious grout, joints smaller than 1/8" generally should only be grouted with unsanded grout, and joints of 1/8" and larger should only be grouted with sanded grout. Joints larger that 3/8" usually need a more heavily sanded grout to accommodate the large joint.

How To Mix Grout

How do I choose grout thickness?

Finished grout lines will vary from 1/16" to 3/16". Note that using the smallest grout possible will increase installation time. 3/16": We recommend a 3/16" grout size for our Ceramic Tile line. This thickness leaves room for the natural variation in size, and the perfectly imperfect edges of handmade tile.

How do you fill large gaps in tile?

If you have tile on the wall adjoining the tub, select a caulk that matches the color of the grout. If your gap is smaller than 1/8 inch in width, use regular caulk; fill gaps larger than 1/8 inch with a sanded caulk. Make sure the gap is clean and dry, then squeeze a thin, even bead of caulk into the space.

How thick is grout under tile?

Most tile installations require a 3/16-inch layer of mortar beneath the tile. A mortar layer 3/16 an inch thick is accomplished by spreading mortar with a 3/8-inch by 3/8-inch square-notched trowel. This thickness is ideal for most tile installations.

How big should grout lines be for 12x12 tile?

The manufacture specifies 3/16 of an inch for grout spacing. The tiles are not exact in size. They can be off as much as 3/32 of an inch. If I go smaller than 3/16 of an inch on my grout spacing would this cause the grout to crack.

What's the smallest grout line for tile?

Smallest size grout lines should not be less than 1/16″. This is an acceptable space that can be properly grouted. When the space between tiles is so little like 1/32″ which is often referred to as “credit card lines” or “penny lines”, it's not possible to fill that space all the way through the bottom of the tile.

What size tile spacers for shower walls?

Taking British Standards into consideration (as well as common practice) it is recommended that wall spacers are 2-3mm (with 2mm covering the majority of requirements) and floor spacers 3-5mm.

What determines grout size?

The actual grout joint size should be equal to three times the variance in actual tile facial dimensions. This means that if the variance in facial dimensions of the tile is 1/8", the actual grout joint will need to be 3/16". The wider spacing will help to accommodate placement of tile and maintaining straight lines.

How thick should grout lines be for subway tile?

Most subway tile has grooves on the sides so you don't need to use spacers at all because it's an automatic 1/16″ grout line.

Can I do a second coat of grout?

Typically, you should be fine with adding a second layer of grout within 24-hours of completing the first run at your tiles. Mix up some grout and use the new batch to fix any holes or trouble areas in the original work.

Should grout be thick or thin?

Check the grout's consistency. Chavoustie says grout mixed for floors should be “smooth peanut butter consistency” while grout for walls should be a bit thicker.

Can you fix grout after it dries?

Definitely. However, grout lines usually need to be 'fixed' before the grout dries up. Once dried, the best option you have at your disposal is to extract the grout entirely and apply new grout in its place.

What size spacers should I use for 12x24 tiles?

Installing 12×24 Tile: Grouting

We used 1/4 inch spacers to achieve the perfect grout lines that you see here and I would definitely recommend using them, even if you think you're pretty comfortable with tiling.

How big should grout lines be in shower?

Grout Joint Width for Corner Tile

Shower tiles should have a 1/8″ joint between their edge and backer boards or adjacent tiles. For example, if tile is being set on the main shower wall, then leave a 1/8″ expansion joint between the tile edge and adjacent backer board.

What is tile Lippage?

Tile lippage is the vertical displacement between the edges of two adjoining tiles. Simply put, the tiles are set at different levels, meaning that they are spaced evenly in width, but not in height.

How thick can you build up mortar?

Mortar Thickness

The building code for weight-bearing brick walls calls for mortar to be no more than 3/8 inch thick. The thickness of the mortar can vary in other types of structures from 1/8 inch to ¾ inch, according to the MC2 Estimator's Reference website.

How thick can a mortar bed be?

With a standard thinset the maximum bonding thickness should never exceed 3/8 inch. If something is classified a medium bed mortar it is typically good for a maximum bonding thickness of ¾ inch.

Can I use grout as thinset?

Can you use grout as Thinset? No- it's not advisable to use grout in place of thinset- as these two don't boast the same structural strength. As such, grout isn't able to effectively stick tiles to the concrete subfloor as well as thinset does.

How wide of a gap can you caulk?

A single bead of caulk can fill gaps up to 1/4 inch. If the gap is slightly larger than this, fill it with a bead of caulk deeper into the gap, but not flush with the surface. Wait until the caulk is completely cured before coming back to put a surface bead on.

Should you grout between tile and wall?

When you install ceramic tile on the floor, you must take care to create an expansion joint between the walls and the tiled floor. The Tile Council of North America recommends at least a quarter-inch gap between the tile floor and the walls. Never fill this gap with grout, because tile grout is not flexible.