How thin can grout lines be on a laid tile floor

11 years ago

We're going to redo the flooring on our entire first floor and master bathroom.

For the bathroom I'm thinking 12" tiles but I don't like grout lines. So how thin can you go? Does it matter if you float the tiles for a more cushioned feel?

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Comments (5)

bahacca
11 years ago
It will depend on what exact tile you choose, material it is made of, etc. You should be able to go online or ask at the store what the minimum groutline needs to be for a good install.
ginny20
11 years ago
bahacca is correct. Rectified tile or stone can take thinner grout, for instance. But you can make the grout less of a problem if it starts out darker. It's probably going to end up dark eventually, unless you plan to reseal it periodically and clean it well. Me, I opted for "dirt colored" French Gray grout to match the medium gray tile floor and I don't even notice it. The so-called "white" grout in my bathroom, however, BIG mistake. (I chose that before I found gardenweb and learned better.)
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DH and I both prefer the look of minimal, blending-in, grout lines. We have natural stone (travertine) flooring in our FR with 1/32" grout lines, slightly larger in other rooms (we learn more about our options as we work on each room in the house!). The only tiles that have wider grout lines, are the mesh mounted mosaic tiles, because those by nature have pre-set spacing. Our split faced mosaic border tile in the hall bathroom have no grout lines of which to speak. I think it's a matter of the look you like and what will work in your space and with your "vision."
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Thanks to all of you for your personal experiences! Chispa, Your point about the ka-chunk is valid, since I may use a wheelchair someday, and will be using a wheeled walker and a wheeled stool. While the wheelchair's tires may not do that, the stool's wheels will, and moving around on the uneven floor will be difficult for that stool. I think that I was not letting myself see that the tile really would leave an uneven floor surface. I was thinking that the slippery surface was not an issue because of all of the grout, so your experience is helpful there, too. The tiles are only 2" x 2.25" and I was imagining the foot having contact with lots of grout with each step. If the recessed grout really does not do this, though, it is good to know! A Sawenz, this is supposed to be a floor tile, and it is porcelain, but I see your point about the PEI number. I will keep that in mind as I look at other floor tiles. I have been looking for porcelain, rather than ceramic, for the harder material.
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User
11 years ago
IF you do rigorous preparation for a perfectly flat substrate over a very well supported base, and the tile is rectified, then 1/8 grout lines are a possibility. If you on crawlspace though, you'd better be sure that your floor is stiff enough and without any swales in it to create problems. The same with a slab foundation. If you have low spots, they will need to be filled and the high spots will need to be ground down. There is no substitute for good (read lots of expensive labor) preparation when the tolerances are so tight.
tubeman
11 years ago
I agree with Holleyspringds. Thin grout lines are much more difficult to install and will be more expensive. The wider the grout joint the more room there is for error and variation. We had a "zero" grout marble shower installed and the craftsmanship was extraordinary and expensive.
pricklypearcactus
11 years ago
What do you mean by "Does it matter if you float the tiles for a more cushioned feel?"?

I have 12x12 porcelain tiles with 1/8" grout joints and 16x16 slate/quartzite stone tiles with 3/16" grout joints. These were the minimum grout joints recommended by the manufacturers for these stones. As others have stated, wider grout joints allow for some margin of error on installation or with the tile itself. Some tiles may have irregularity in their shape while others may be more perfect. The perfection of the subfloor beneath also makes a difference. I used Ditra under the floors, and had a few difficult high spots from not quite getting a 100% perfectly flat subfloor beneath the Ditra.

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How thin can grout lines be on a laid tile floor

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bahacca

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