Subway tile lovers - What size is your grout line? Photos please
Comments (27)
Circus Peanut
15 years agoThis is white subway with 1/16th grout lines, silver grout, in my bathroom:
mmme
15 years agoRelated Discussions
White subway tile backsplash. What color grout? Black? White?
Comments (27)I have the Subway Ceramics Avalon / Minas with a medium gray grout. And a Shaw's white sink, if anyone is considering that, by the way. (My contractor could have ordered it directly, but at his request, I went through a tile store, and by the time everyone had put their sugar onto it, it was OBSCENELY expensive.) I'm not an installation expert, but at least with the Subway Ceramics, the installers use little plastic spacers between the tiles (I think some others have their own spacers?) when they put them up, they don't do it freehand, so how much grout you get is a function of 1) the limits set by the curvature of the tile and 2) what size spacers they use. So you might be willing to go a little darker with a smaller grout line, or with a handmade tile that refuses to go close together, you might want to stay light. The traditional color is close to concrete. But most modern people don't seem to like that, so do what pleases you!...See Morewhat size grout line for subway tile? and recs for white grout?
Comments (14)If you have tight grout lines, you would be using unsanded grout, which looks whiter than the sanded version of the same color. We recently used TEX XT grout in Bright White--#910 in our bathrooms, and it looks very white. The large format Porcelanosa tile we used in our MB is a very white, very glossy tile, so we wanted a white grout that matched well. The XT is supposed to be more stain resistant (than other grouts?), so hopefully our white grout will be less likely to discolor (since it looks so pretty right now!). It's not necessary to seal it, but you can (with a solvent-based sealer). We sealed ours for added protection/peace-of-mind....See MoreGrout line size? Self-spacing tile?
Comments (1)Some self-spacing tiles have little nubs on the sides, but others can have bottoms that are slightly larger than the surface. Even though yours have the slightly larger bottoms, they have a rough, hand-made looking egde that will look better with a larger grout joint. Even if tiles are self-spacing by design, that doesn't preclude you from using larger spacing if desired. I'd start with 1/8 and see how that looks. Personally, I'm not fond of the darker grout lines that are shown in your sample picture and would go with something closer in match to the tile. Opinions will differ on that, of course, so you will ultimately have to decide on the look that suits YOU. This post was edited by jellytoast on Tue, Dec 16, 14 at 19:03...See More1/16 inch grout lines on subway tiles?
Comments (7)Agree with Mongo that you should consider a more rectified tile. Any variation of facial dimension or wedging will impact how closely the tiles can be aligned and yes, must be compensated for by a larger grout joint. We like Adex Neri tile for this purpose (as ONE example), and while not available at big box stores, it is not an expensive tile AND (very important for us and our clients), it has many finishing pieces available for a very tailored and custom look. Here's a link to Adex: http://adexusa.com/portfolio-item/adnz836-neri-field-tile/ Second point, the grout selection must meet the specifications for the tile and the installation. It is true that sanded grout requires thicker grout joints, however there are newer high performance grouts specified for wet areas AND can be used with 1/16th grout joints. There are several but we prefer Laticrete PermaColor and they also have a Laticrete Select specified for this application. Here's a link: https://laticrete.com/~/media/marketing_information/permacolorsellsheet.ashx Obviously the surface prep is important for any installation to obtain a flat and even tiled surface. Keep in mind that professionals will have different products they are comfortable with. Specifying a 1/16th" grout joint is not unreasonable for your installation as long as the tile you choose is appropriate (flat and rectified with minimal facial dimension and uniform size), the appropriate grout is used, and the installer is qualified (as Mongo stated). That being said, we have never installed a subway tile with more than a 1/16th" grout joint. Our clients, like you, would never accept the appearance (nor the excessive maintenance). Here's a tub surround we just completed with Adex subway tile, 3x6. Good luck with your project....See MoreCircus Peanut
15 years agoThanks so much mmme! This was my first DIY tile job ever, so I'm glad it doesn't look too horribly clunky. I used Laticrete's Spectralock Epoxy grout in Silver Shadow. Love it, gives just the effect I wanted for my bungalow bath. Here's a closeup if it helps:
OP, for what it's worth, I'm also doing 3x6 subway in my kitchen and also planning on uing 1/16th grout lines. 1/4" might be just a tad too wide for 3x6 tiles? I'd try to minimize those lines in a backsplash particularly for scrubbing reasons. But I'm sure you'll be getting lots more input from others with more exerience. Good luck!
amsunshine
15 years agobluekitobsessed
15 years agoRedroze, mine were either 1/8 or 1/16. I think the 1/4" line was one of those 1980s fads best left unrevived :) Here's a pic:
The grout was light gray, as recommended by GW'rs (edlakin in particular IIRC). I don't remember its name -- it was on a chart of commonly available grout colors at HD.pharaoh
15 years ago
debo_2006
15 years agomalhgold
15 years agoredroze
15 years agoedlakin
15 years agoreceived a comment from another Garden Webber that since Heath tiles are handmade then I have to go with a 1/4" grout line.
that's wrong, imo. it would be way to big and clunky looking. we did 1/16th with handmade tiles in our last kitchen and it turned out great.
redroze
15 years agogglks
15 years agoredroze
15 years agoKelly Thompson
6 years agoContractors will do whatever is easiest or "standard"- thicker grout lines. Insist on the look you want. Contractors are not designers. I can't emphasize this enough. The photo below is our new shower. The subway grout was supposed to be white and the grout lines are way too thick. I'm sure the shower is water tight, but it
looks like a 1985 bathroom. Also notice the half tile above the shelf is not symmetrical with the bottom. We were very disappointed when we saw the work completed. They are redoing the work. Triple check your communication with your contractors even on the littlest of things.Chessie
6 years agoChessie
6 years ago
cpartist
6 years agomarcusanderson
6 years ago
Linda Tran
6 years ago
abbycat9990
6 years agoI know this is an old thread... Here's a pre grout pic of 4x10 tile with 1/8 space between tiles.
Astrid C
5 years ago
Tara Horvath
5 years agoabbycat9990
5 years agoTara Horvath We used a TEC brand DeLorean Gray, and a matching caulk at the countertop. I like the contrast, but I think we would have been happy with a lighter gray too.
tracynz
3 years ago
Melissa Hamley
3 years agotheresa21
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
Kelly Thompson