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Choosing The Right Grout For Your Tile Project

Fri 01 Dec 2006 - 15:31

Choosing The Right Grout For Your Tile Project
By L. David Thomas

The color that you use for your home improvement tile project can drastically alter the appearance of the finished project. Using a contrasting color of grout will emphasize the tiles shape creating a geometric effect. If the grout nearly matches the tile's color, the floor will look more like a uniform whole. Some tile stores and home centers offer grout samples that you can take home and see which grout looks best with your tile.

If you choose a contrasting grout and you want a neat appearance, your grouting job must be nearly perfect.If your tiles are at all irregular it will be almost impossible to get your lines consistent and the corners crisp. However, if you want a rustic appearance, imperfect grout lines are not a problem.

Grout lines may be as wide as 1/2 inch or as narrow as 1/16 inch. Before planning your layout, place loose tiles on a surface that is nearly the same color as the grout, and experiment with the different widths to see which looks best. Use unsanded grout for lines less than 1/8 inch wide and sanded grout for lines that are wider than 1/8 inch.

Grout should be sealed within a week or two of installation, or it will be easily stained. Use a special grout sealer.

Unless the grout is polymer or latex-reinforced, mix it with liquid latex rather than water. For a countertop or other area that needs to be very resistant to stains, consider using epoxy grout. Latex fortified grout is fairly resistant to staining, but a grout sealer will improve its moisture resistance.

Whether you are interested in laying your own tile or having someone else do the job for you, do your homework. If you are having someone else do the project, you still need to know if you are using the right tile for the job. There are tons of options for each situation, so find out what is available. If you want to learn to lay your own tile, there is some great information available to you. http://installyourowntile.smmsite.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=L._David_Thomas


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