The Types Of Grouting Available For Your Project

Tile is tough enough and retains its looks for years or even decades. It needs grout to hold its place. However, grout doesn’t perform like tile. It can erode, stain, crack, and get discoloured. Grout requires maintenance and the frequency of it depends on the type of grout you have.

There are different types of grouts, including Epoxy Grout, Cementitious Grout, Sanded/Unsanded Grout, and Polymer Grout. So which one should you choose? We at Budget Seal bring you this guide to help make the right choice of grout for you tiling application. 

Epoxy Grout

Epoxy grout is made of epoxy resins mixed with filler powder. It is waterproof and has high resistance to stains. It is durable and perfect for the following applications:

• Shower sealing
• Splashbacks
• High-traffic surfaces
• Showers

It is perfect for wet areas because it doesn’t shrink, crack, or discolour. Epoxy grout also offers high resistance to harsh chemicals in cleaning solutions. It is non-porous and doesn’t need sealing. It is suited for white floor tiles or other light coloured tiles.

Cementitious Grout

Cementitious grout involves pumping the fluid grout under pressure to fill:

• Cracks
• Voids
• Forms

It is more affordable and is recommended for applications where large volumes are required. This type of grout is also used in areas where high service temperatures are involved.  It is especially used to bond and secure rock anchors in rock or concrete. It is so effective against moisture that it is used in dams, bridges, and marine structures. 

Cementitious grout is not only durable, it is also available in different colour options. So, it is easy to create a mixture that matches or contrasts the tile.

Sanded/Unsanded Grout

Sanded and unsanded grout are mostly different in terms of their silica content. Some of the key features of both are as follows:

Sanded Grout

Sanded tile grout is a preferred material for most tiling projects. It is made of the following ingredients:

• Portland cement
• Inorganic aggregates
• Silica sand
• Chemicals

Sanded tile grout is cheaper than its unsanded counterpart, as it uses a cheaper filler, sand. You can expect a cleaner finish and tighter lock.

Some of its key features include:

• Perfect of sealing and preventing water from entering tiles
• Prevents destruction of substrate 
• Applications include bathroom, shower, kitchen floors, and entryway
• Creates denser joints
• Available in a wide range of colours

It requires pH-neutral and water-based sealers. It is not recommended if it is required to force the grout into narrow joints.

Unsanded Tile Grout

Also known as non-sanded grout, unsanded grout is free of silica aggregate filler. This makes it more suited for surfaces that can get scratched, including:

• Ceramic
• Glass
• Metal
• Natural stone tiles
• Marble

It is perfect for applications involving bathroom walls, shower walls, rectified tiles, and polished stone.

Polymer Grout

Polymer tile grout is a cement-based grout that contains polymers. The polymer content becomes active when the material comes in contact with water. It also offers better colour quality compared to epoxy grout. Some of the key advantages of polymer grout are as follows:

• Helps disguise irregularities in tiles
• Bridges joint thickness, if any
• High-performance grout for more demanding applications
• Highly resistant to abrasion, water, and chemicals
• Offers exceptional strength

Polymer grout is also stain proof. It is perfectly suited for high-traffic areas, commercial spaces, kitchen backsplashes, counters, and entryways.

So, now that you know about the features and benefits of different types of grouts, make sure to choose the right one for your application. If you need more information about choosing the right type of grout, contact us at Budget Seal by calling 1300 907 104.