It can chip become stained and create a grid effect on an otherwise smooth tile installation.
Install ceramic tile without grout lines.
The tiles can be installed over concrete hardwood ceramic tile natural stone vinyl and linoleum.
Because the tiles don t require mortar or grouting there s no drying time.
How to lay tile without grout lines.
Very few homeowners like the look of grout.
If you want the job to last then you need to use grout.
Minimal or zero grout lines will also accentuate any lippage between adjacent tiles.
Rectified tile has very exact edges.
Groutless tile has a higher chance of breaking meaning that you would need to resume the work.
But here s the thing.
If your tile project is in a dry area you can install a specific kind of ceramic tile without grout.
The best thing to do is use the smallest grout line your particular tile will allow and get a grout that closely matches the tile.
You ll also need a 25 pound bag of thinset mortar and a 5 pound bag of unsanded grout for the tile joints.
Grout is a necessary and integral part of many tile jobs for several reasons.
In a zero grout layout or even with a 1 16 grout joint any deviations in tile size will throw your pattern off as you move across the floor.
It keeps moisture out of the substrate helps keep tile lines straight and.
Grout can become dingy looking quickly making a tile installation look old.
In most other tile i will use 1 16 or 1 8 inch lines.
I try to use the smallest grout lines the tile will allow.
Your best bet for minimal grout joints will be by using a rectified tile.
Without these precise edges much more grout is needed to even things out across the floor.
How to lay ceramic tile without grout.
They are smooth and uniform edges that let you get the smallest joint possible usually 1 8 or 3 16.
Fiberglass mesh tape a 1 4 inch notched trowel a putty knife margin trowel and grout float round out the long list.
The unsanded type of grout is best for the small grout lines that will be less than 1 8 inch.
For most granite and marble tile i install i use either 1 32 or 1 16 inch grout lines.
They help keep your tiles in straight lines and prevent damage from the tiles rubbing against one another.