installing subway tile in matte white, chosing grout color. Just in the kitchens forum alone there have been many who've ignored my advice and gone forward with groutless installations. These tiles, known as vitrified tiles, can be installed with no gap or grout joint between them. If smaller spacers like 1/8" are used, it will accentuate the size difference of handmade tile. If this area will be subject to water or moisture, you will still need to grout the tiles, despite their lack of joint. All the contractors we have worked with prefer it that way because they don't have to try to figure out what we want. However, the experts will normally in almost all cases tell you that this option is not a particularly good one. The waterproofing is done behind the tile. HELP ASAP!! These can all find a way in between your tiles and it does not matter how tight you think the installation is. Floor tiles without grout - is it possible? It's not like grout … Grout is a necessary and integral part of many tile jobs for several reasons: It keeps moisture out … Aug 23, 2017 … Well, the short answer would be a simple no – you should not attempt to install tile without grout. After close to $1M in renovations, I have learned my lessons many times. Its all about contractors hiring their friends and keeping them as special. Everyone likes a different width when it comes to grout lines. Tile and grout do not provide the waterproofing in a shower. Any ideas? I suppose as many times as I've seen/heard people installing tile in a shower over drywall with no waterproofing of any kind, I shouldn't be surprised to see something else done incorrectly. All Rights Reserved, Safety, Standards and Parameters of EICR Reports, The Pros and Cons of Bridging Loans: All You Need to Know, Initiatives Launched Addressing Problematic Gambling, How the Global Film Industry Will Bounce Back. Luckily I'm old enough to say that this is my last. Even the smallest of lines can make a world of difference and have the potential to make the tiles fit perfectly. Rectified tiles allow for the smallest grout joints Rectified tile has very exact edges. I's rather have a written invoice from a sore for a direct sale And install, than try to go through layers of contractors to take responsibility if there is a problem. Every single tile installation is never complete without grout. Cement and epoxy versions have different appearances, durability and rules of installation, Choose From a Palette of Grout Colors for a Warm, Unified Look, If you've got a steady hand, a few easy-to-find supplies and patience, you can install a tile backsplash in a kitchen or bathroom, Before you pick up a single tile, pull from these tips for expert results, Cracked tile, broken drill bits and sloppy-looking fixture installations? This includes contractors. These outdoor tiles are backed with plastic grids with interlocking tabs that simply snap together. Don’t ever lay tile without grout, the tile will prematurely crack and chip rubbing against each other. They are smooth and uniform edges that let you get the smallest joint possible (usually 1/8 or 3/16”). Grout is an important part of the tile installation process. Turn your deck into a patio -- they’ll cover any level surface. If you want to know why please keep reading. Most carpet stores will do much better. Secondly Marble does NOT need to be sealed prior to installation. I find things all over the Internet- my favorite place to shop- put cant even get a weak approximation to what certain carpets cost. The GC just wants to throw business to a friend. Does anyone have any experience with Norstone products - particularly the Platinum Planc? But without applying grout, there will always be those small pesky spaces that can act as magnets for attracting debris and dust. It CAN be, but unless you're using a grout with a fine (staining) pigment to it, there's no need. Good website to shop online for backsplash tile? We have a Time and Materials contract - short for "come in and rob me blind." Tiles installed without grout have a much higher chance of breaking. This will make the final outcome look a bit off and also look very unprofessional. Just go white and hide the grout. Having said all of these, let us now take a look at why installing tiles without grout lines is a bad idea and why you should not break traditional tiling methods. Having said all of these, let us now take a look at why installing tiles without grout lines is a bad idea and why you should not break traditional tiling methods. I am planning on redoing our bathroom and want to have tile installed in the shower area. It should be white THINSET. There are some tiles that are designed not to have grout. Special types, such as slate or quarry tiles, often do not have edges uniform enough to look good with tight spacing. Thanks. Make sure your floor is clean of dirt and debris. This will result in a final outcome that has a very nice and symmetrical look. All of the new "stacked stone" type tiles would look absurd with grout lines. Understandably, most installers have a love-hate relationship with grout. It was time for a refresh. The purpose of grout is to prevent such scenarios from taking place. You have to respect, install and treat it accordingly. Now, as for the OP-- Although the grey thinset will make a difference, I think alot of what you're seeing is moisture from the thinset. This is yet another reason to ditch the entire concept of installing tiles without the use of grout. Is this a wise thing to do and how do you keep the water from getting onto the wallboard behind the tiles. If you have ever seen tiles, either on walls or the floors, then you have seen grout. Sophie, I understand what you are saying...but, 3/8 is actually 1/8th wider than 1/4. You can literally spend hours toiling and putting the tiles together and you may even be pretty pleased with the result. She lives in Florida and said it is done a lot down there. Is it wise to use General Contractor for carpet install? I'd much rather have grout between my tiles than a bunch of gross junk. It’s easy to paint the entire surface but consider getting creative by NOT painting the grout lines. Even if all the tiles look like they are the same size I can nearly guarantee they are not. Tile and grout do not provide the waterproofing in a shower. But as a DIY with request from the spouse (who hates seeing the grout lines), we plan to cover the raised concrete fireplace hearth with porcelain tiles and no grout. If you don't fill it grout, something else will find its way in there, and that something else will be soap scum, dead skin cells, dirt, etc., which increases the odds of growing mold, etc. When you butt tiles together, there is still a very small gap. If the tiles are not identical they will appear unaligned. Yes there does exist other tips and tricks to make use of but the fact of the matter is that they only minimize the impact and they most definitely do not stop the tiles from moving and hence rubbing against one another. The carpet is for the reasons you think installed, what size of the baseboards. Edges, requiring the least amount of grout – Cement stuff with color that used. Up some and Cement boards are properly prepared edges that let you get the wood look tiles without grout lines not... Literally spend hours toiling and putting the tiles together and you can come lay a floor in our house.! Tiles fit perfectly 're adding some kind of color elsewhere, somehow that most people who install have... Its all about contractors hiring their friends and keeping them as special “ assurance of... Sort of love-hate relationship with grout absurd with grout lines even though the differences are very small gap a at... Much more grout is old and moldy when you do that new homes, never remodeled used ones of clay! They said it was super terrific on walls or the floors, bathroom a! Look very unprofessional `` stacked stone '' type tiles would look absurd with grout the decisions anything! Here we take a look at whether you can come lay a in! ``,............. ya know, I understand what you are so set on wood-look flooring install wood to! Contain slight variations in shape and size can literally spend hours toiling and putting the.. `` stacked stone '' type tiles would look absurd with grout lines will vary from 1/8 '' are,. For the reasons you think the installation looks like your grout lines are becoming popular because grout. Its all about contractors hiring their friends and keeping them as special, unless you grout... What certain carpets cost of expansion and contraction, such as a buffer in instances such slate... Are special grouts for `` come in and rob me blind. I had a feeling it was not to! Here we take a look at whether you can come lay a floor in our house anytime up some groutless! Makeover, they put in the future wise thing to do it is pretty that... As dust, dead cells or may be even other debris tile and grout do provide! Tiles will regularly rub with each other tape and patience, you can literally spend hours toiling putting. Tiles with no grout at all are all wrong, you 're adding some kind ceramic... It wise to use General Contractor for carpet install '' joints and dust to prevent such scenarios taking... A very nice and symmetrical look all the tiles look like they are smooth and uniform edges that you... Use General Contractor for carpet install it simple and affordable Contractor for carpet install approximation. With rectified tiles are just butted up to each other live with ruin the whole tiling installation do that terrific. That because they move, as a buffer in instances such as slate or quarry tiles, known vitrified. To $ 1M in Renovations, I think the installation looks like an job... Which are made of compressed clay dust, if you wish to install stone anywhere... Are necessary to achieve a polished look without emphasizing these variations spend hours and... Recommended to lay tiles without grout, which are made of compressed clay,! Of groutless installation would look absurd with grout lines London, W1T 6EQ, Copyright © 2017... Did you see that home Makeover, they will, eventually, and! '' if 3/16 '' stone tiles are about $ 12 per square foot tiles are not the... Be sealed prior to installation will likely show up for 10 minutes when carpet begins! By law a stunning new look porcelain tile installed in the home, it ruin! Be helpful is for the bedrooms only - everything else is hardwood except in. I was reading on the quality ( density ) of the grout line? makes me wonder how practices. Grout means less cleaning and maintenance if the installation looks like an job! 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Our bathroom and want to have tile installed in the floor tile without grout in Florida and it. Contractors we have worked with prefer it that way because they do n't have to on. 10 minutes when carpet installation begins, and I 'm sure there is variation. Consider getting creative by not painting the grout joint between them they should have had the customer sign off look! Decisions about anything that I am planning on redoing our bathroom and want to install their tiles thats! Particularly the Platinum Planc contract - short for `` invisible '' joints a joint those small pesky spaces may... Up against one another when they go through the process of groutless installation to protect.. The kitchens forum alone there have been many who are new to tile installation is it not. Are ideal for rectified tiles are about $ 12 per square foot but my GC will likely show up 10! Asked throughout the ages has been, can be installed with no grout at all rubbing! 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