The Best Grout for Porcelain Tiles
- Rated for joints from 1/8 inch up to 3/8 inch, normal sanded grout is a cement based, latex-modified grout with a number of polymers and additives that create a superior level of strength. The elasticity counteracts seasonal movements and impacts from foot traffic. Latex-modified sanded grout is the standard grout used in most porcelain tile installations.
- Epoxy grout is the hardest type of grout available on the market, and is used only in cases where stains or germs are considered to be a constant threat, such as with commercial kitchens or hospital bathrooms. Rather than cement based, it is a resin and epoxy mixture that creates an impenetrable grout joint that will last a lifetime. It can be used with any type of porcelain tile.
- Pre-mixed grouts are useful for residential projects where you only need to grout a small section of porcelain tile, such as with a kitchen or a laundry room backsplash where a single row of tiles are used. They are sold in a variety of colors and come in sanded and non-sanded types, although the non-sanded should only be used for porcelain tile installations with joints less than 1/8-inch wide, as it tends to shrink in larger joints.
- If you are dealing with large porcelain tiles with grout joints between 1/8 and 1/2-inch, you cannot use regular sanded grout. The wider the joint, the more sand is required to counteract shrinkage in the grout, and for wide-joint installations you must use special rough sand grouts.