Sanded vs. Unsanded Grout The 4 Biggest Differences That Matter. Most flooring specialists have an intimate knowledge about the difference between sanded vs. But even some experienced general contractors are still unsure about the differences between the two most common grouting materials. So, to help you take a side in the sanded vs. Whether your next project is a residential shower installation, an outdoor patio, or a kitchen renovation, youre sure to benefit from the knowledge youll gain from our guide. Read on, and learn about the ideal applications for both sanded and unsanded grout and the biggest differences between the two. Sanded Grout Is Thicker Than Unsanded Grout And Its More Durable Sanded grout is exactly what it says at the box when you pick it up at your local hardware store. Its a standard grouting material with aggregate sand material added. It is disappointing, to say the least, when you see your carefully applied grout begin to crack or even start to chip off and fall to the ground. What causes cracked. The added aggregate material makes sanded grout much more durable than unsanded grout, for one simple reason. Shrinkage. When cement based, unsanded grout dries, it shrinks and it can pull away from tiles. Adding sand to the grouting mix ensures that the material doesnt shrink as much. This is because the ratio of aggregate material to cement is much higher. For pure durability, sanded grout always wins in the contest between sanded vs. As the grout cures, the sand becomes locked in place and it wont move. This is true even when the grout is completely dry. This ensures proper adhesion of tiles that must be placed more than 18 of an inch apart, and for tiles that are going to have heavy foot traffic on them such as in the bathroom. Sanded grout also resists cracking, making it more durable. Unsanded grout can be prone to severe cracking when it has pressure applied to it, making it unsuitable for most flooring applications. Sanded grout is the go to choice for most interior flooring installations. This is because it is more durable than unsanded grout, can handle foot traffic, and is usable for larger tile joints. Next time you take on a big project for a customer and are going to be renovating a tile kitchen or a bathroom, youll definitely want to grab some high quality sanded grout. A final note is that you wont be able to use just any sanded grout if youre working on extremely large tile joints. For projects with a 38 of an inch or larger tile joint, youll need whats known as wide joint mixture grout, which is readily available at most flooring and hardware stores. Wide joint mixture has a higher volume of large aggregate material to further reduce shrinkage issues. This makes it perfect for tile projects with large grout joints. Unsanded Grout Provides A Better Hold On Vertical Surfaces If youve ever installed a shower before, chances are that you used unsanded grout. Unsanded grout is extremely sticky, because it has no additional sand or aggregate added to it. You can easily spread it onto a vertical surface, and will stick there with no issue as you work to force it into grout lines. What Causes Floor Grout To Crack' title='What Causes Floor Grout To Crack' />July 14, 2009 How To Repair Cracked Grout. Here is a little guide I made on repairing SMALL areas of cracked grout Sanded Caulking a type of caulking caulking is. Maker of chemicals and aggragates for the concrete industry. Free quarterly newsletter in PDF Adobe Acrobat form. Industrial Coatings. Mack Contracting industrial concrete coatings offers and wide range of specialized floor coatings with many performance options to meet specific. People who dont have hand towels in your bathrooms What do you think your guests dry their hands on Common Tile, Stone Grout Problems hints and tips for White residue, stains on tiles, Mouldy Shower, Leaking Shower, Hairline cracks in tiles, Loose Tiles. Resources include AIA contract documents, handbooks, guidelines, and MasterSpec. And even though unsanded grout shrinks, this isnt much of an issue on a vertical surface. Tiles are typically fairly close together usually between 18 of an inch and 11. This means that the shrinkage that will occur after the grout dries and cures, wont have an effect on the durability of the tile. Durability is also not much of a concern for vertical tiles. Though unsanded grout is not ideal for applications where tile has a lot of foot traffic on it, you will have no problem with great hold on vertical surfaces. In addition, it wont crack, because there is little to no pressure applied to it. There is an additional benefit to using unsanded grout for more tricky vertical surfaces. Its easier to work with than sanded grout, and you can get a totally even spread when working with unsanded grout. This allows you to focus only on placing your tiles in the right spot and delivering a great project. Sanded Grout Can Damage Smooth Tiles Another consideration when choosing between sanded vs. The harsh aggregate material present in sanded grout can damage delicate materials such as granite, marble, limestone, and other soft stones. Sanded grout can work a lot like sandpaper. The materials used to create the sand are often much harder than soft stones. Spreading sanded grout over soft tiles can cause damage, especially on soft limestones and marbles. This is a huge determining factor when choosing between sanded vs. Unsanded grout is often the best choice for smooth, polished tiles like marble, even if the joint width is 18 or larger. Usually, most contractors use an epoxy based unsanded grout in these situations not traditional sanded or unsanded grout. Both sanded grout and unsanded grout can be purchased in an epoxy based form and theyre essentially the same as their portland cement based relatives. However, instead of being using the reaction between cement and water, these grouting options use advanced chemical compounds, consisting of a base and an activator. When you add the activator to the base, the grout begins to cure in a non reversible chemical reaction that results in an extremely strong hold. The primary drawback of epoxy based unsanded grout is that its quite expensive. Its over twice the cost of traditional unsanded grout. It can also can be difficult to work with, due to short cure times. If you dont manage to coat your entire work area in your epoxy based unsanded grout before it cures, its going to become totally stiff and unworkable you wont be able to spread it at all. Using an advanced mixer like the RUBIMIX 9 N Mortar Mixer to get your grout mixed quickly can help, but its still a challenge if youre working on a large area. Interested in mixing mortar like a pro You better get the right toolsGET THE RUBIMIX NOWStill, if youre working on highly polished tiles that have a joint of more than of an inch, epoxy unsanded grout is going to be the best choice. Its more durable than traditional grout, and doesnt pose the risk of scratching, that sanded grout does. When it comes to preserving softer, more delicate tiling materials, the contest between sanded vs. Sanded Grout Should Never Be Used For Joints Smaller Than 18 Of An Inch If you try to use sanded grout for a tiling project using joints that are smaller than 18 of an inch, youre going to have some serious problems. Its a bad idea to use sanded grout for precision joints that are smaller than 18 of an inch. For precision work, unsanded grout is almost always a better choice. Heres why. First, its harder for you to work with sanded grout in tight spaces. The aggregate sand material used to create it can be quite bulky, and preclude you from being able to squeeze it into small tile joints, making it unsuitable for precision work. Sanded grout is durable, but that doesnt really matter if you cant even manage to squeeze it in between your tile applications correctly. Another problem that sanded grout causes in small joints is pinholing. Using sanded grout for small joints can require contractors to use more water in the base. This makes spreading the grout easier but excess water can often cause pinholes. RELATED Learn pro tips to prevent the most common tile installations problemsPinholes occur when grouting traps large amounts of water, which then evaporates over a long period of time. When this happens, the grout that sits above the now empty air cavity collapses, causing a small, pin like hole hence, the name. Sql Update Query From Another Database. Customers dont like pin holes theyre a sign of shoddy workmanship. So if youre doing a project with joints that are smaller than 18 inch, you run the risk of having trouble installing your tiles correctly. In addition, you could be leaving behind, pinholes that tell customers that you used the wrong grouting material neither of which is ideal. Understand The Difference Between Sanded Vs.