Need some advice on sanded or unsanded grout

[Stainless169]

I am a diy'er. I did some tile in my bathroom about five years and did my homework. The job turned out very well. Due to a leaky washing machine a few weeks ago, I'm doing it again in my son's room. I finally got the tile done and I'm about to grout it. The grout that my wife picked up from Home Depot, which is what they said we would need when using the LASH 1/16" tile leveling system, is sanded grout. I'm looking at my grout lines and they're anywhere from 3/16" to just slightly over 1/8". Some areas have a greater width due to me getting off a little. I am trying to do my homework prior to starting the grout and I'm confused on which way to go. I currently have sanded but according to everything I'm seeing, I may need to use unsanded. I'm kind of right in the middle of either or. I would prefer just to use what I already have but I don't want to have to come back later and repair if I don't do a good enough job getting it between the tile.

What would you do?

 

[rsanter]

For that width I think you need sanded

 

[The Cobbler]

floors typically use sanded, you can do a blend of the sanded & unsanded too.
sanded makes for a rougher finish, unsanded a smoother finish. sanded is more prone to mold in shower areas

 

[Dakota00]

Those joints are pretty tight for sanded grout, it could lead to cracking as time goes on. You can do a mix of sanded and unsanded, I've done this many times in the past.
Or return what you bought and get Mapei Ultracolor Plus, it's a fine-aggregate grout which replaces the need to use sanded or unsanded. It works in joints as fine as 1/16" all the way up to 3/4".

 

[Stainless169]

Those joints are pretty tight for sanded grout, it could lead to cracking as time goes on. You can do a mix of sanded and unsanded, I've done this many times in the past.
Or return what you bought and get Mapei Ultracolor Plus, it's a fine-aggregate grout which replaces the need to use sanded or unsanded. It works in joints as fine as 1/16" all the way up to 3/4".

This sounds good. This is the route I'm going to go. Thanks

 

[Toomanytools?]

Usual practice is 1/8" and smaller go unsanded, also better on smooth ceramic tiles and vertical tile. Sanded is stronger and will shrink less best suited for larger grout lines 1/4" and up, also better for floors as it is stronger.

 

[Stainless169]

Finally got it done. That mapei dries really fast. Wasted some of my first batch because of it. Second batch I stated making smaller 4:1 batches and that worked out a lot better.


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[ddawg16]

Usual practice is 1/8" and smaller go unsanded, also better on smooth ceramic tiles and vertical tile. Sanded is stronger and will shrink less best suited for larger grout lines 1/4" and up, also better for floors as it is stronger.

^^ Ditto ^^

But it looks like you already used the sanded grout

 

[Zippercat]

Did you use the Mapei Ultracolor Plus? I’ve done several bathroom and kitchen projects with it. Fortunately, the friend who recommended it told me that it sets quicker and usually once it starts to set up in the bucket you can’t squeeze any extra time by remixing, like you can with many others. But, the Mapei Ultracolor Plus gives a smoother finish than regular sanded grout and, according to Mapei, does not require sealing.

 

[Stainless169]

Did you use the Mapei Ultracolor Plus? I’ve done several bathroom and kitchen projects with it. Fortunately, the friend who recommended it told me that it sets quicker and usually once it starts to set up in the bucket you can’t squeeze any extra time by remixing, like you can with many others. But, the Mapei Ultracolor Plus gives a smoother finish than regular sanded grout and, according to Mapei, does not require sealing.

Yes. That’s what I used. Wasted about a third of the first bag. I mixed in smaller batches after that and it actually worked out pretty good since I had to go back and clean up.


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