Install Ceramic Tile Without Grout Lines

Fiberglass mesh tape a 1 4 inch notched trowel a putty knife margin trowel and grout float round out the long list.

Install ceramic tile without grout lines.

How to lay tile without grout lines. The tiles can be installed over concrete hardwood ceramic tile natural stone vinyl and linoleum. They are smooth and uniform edges that let you get the smallest joint possible usually 1 8 or 3 16. Groutless tile has a higher chance of breaking meaning that you would need to resume the work.

It keeps moisture out of the substrate helps keep tile lines straight and. Your best bet for minimal grout joints will be by using a rectified tile. Grout is a necessary and integral part of many tile jobs for several reasons. 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.

But here s the thing. Grout lines however are important for a few reasons. It can chip become stained and create a grid effect on an otherwise smooth tile installation. If you want the job to last then you need to use grout.

How to lay ceramic tile without grout. There are cases when laying tile without grout will probably leave the job looking a lot better. 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. The unsanded type of grout is best for the small grout lines that will be less than 1 8 inch.

I try to use the smallest grout lines the tile will allow. Grout is necessary. Rectified tile has very exact edges. Without these precise edges much more grout is needed to even things out across the floor.

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. Because the tiles don t require mortar or grouting there s no drying time. Very few homeowners like the look of grout.

You ll also need a 25 pound bag of thinset mortar and a 5 pound bag of unsanded grout for the tile joints. In most other tile i will use 1 16 or 1 8 inch lines.