Grout Gap For Wall Tiles

I ve just grouted 6sq m of hand made wall tiles with roughtly about 10mm grout gaps.

Grout gap for wall tiles.

Let s talk about grout size options. Had an absolute nightmare with mapei s large gap grout i found it too creamy and it was just slipping down the wall had to have it almost at a powder before i could keep it in the gaps. 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. Actual finished grout spaces will vary from 1 8 to 1 4 if 3 16 spacers are used.

This is especially true if sanded grout is used in joints narrower than 1 8. All ceramic and stone large format tile greater than 15 requires a minimum 1 16 grout joint according to ansi. If insufficient force is used while grouting wall tile it is easy to bridge the joint where the grout does not penetrate to the back of the joint. Daltile recommends that large tiles have a 1 8 or 3 16 minimum grout joint for the most successful installation.

If smaller spacers like 1 8 are used it will accentuate the size difference of handmade tile. Note that using the smallest grout possible will increase installation time. Finished grout lines will vary from 1 16 to 3 16. For example if the edge warping of a rectified tile is 1 32 the minimum grout joint is 1 8 1 32 5 32.

The tile council of north america and accompanying tile organizations recommend an average grout joint width of 3 16 inch for every 1 16 inch variation in the size of the tiles. Caulking is the best choice for this application. This joint was required not only to help seal out moisture but to prevent damage from tiles rubbing against one another and to make up for uneven tile sizes. Until very recently tiles needed to be installed with a minimum of a 1 16 inch grout joint.

Grout that is insufficiently packed into the joint. Never fill this gap with grout because tile grout is not flexible. Instead fill it with an elastic material capable of sustaining the movement of the floor and the movement of the wall. Tcna recommends a minimum 1 8 grout joint for rectified tile and minimum 3 16 grout joint for calibrated tile.

The tile council of north america recommends at least a quarter inch gap between the tile floor and the walls.