It is important to know the difference between sanded versus unsanded grout. Both of these types of grout joint compounds are derived from Portland cement. One type is called sanded or “rough” grout, and the next type is called unsanded or “smooth” grout.

Now the type of grout you should use does not depend on how you want the tiles to look, and it does not even depend on the type of stone or tile you are installing. It only depends on the width of the grout lines. If you are installing tile that has joints that are 1/8 inch or larger, then you should use sanded grout. If they are under 1/8th inch, you should definitely use unsanded grout.

The reason why you should use sanded grout when you have larger joints, is that over time, the compound with the sand in it will not shrink. If you try and use unsanded grout, you end up with your grout shrinking, and it will no longer work as efficiently as it should to hold your tiles in place and to prevent them from getting damaged. If you ended up using unsanded grout for quarter inch grout lines, you will definitely have to re-grout, and you may even have to replace the tiles entirely.

Likewise, if you try and use  sanded grout with a very narrow joint space of less than 1/8 of an inch, you are not going to be able to get enough of the actual compound into the joint to hold it together ( a lot of times, the grains of sand will just fall out.)

Most professional tile installers understand the difference between sanded versus unsanded grout. If they don’t, they probably have not been installing tile very long. Or, it is possible that they specialize in either installing exclusively large tiles or installing small ones. Either way, I would suggest that if you want to hire a professional installer, it should be someone who obviously knows what he is doing, and someone who has a lot of experience in installing both large and small types of tile and grout.

Epoxy Grout Versus Sanded And Unsanded Grout

An epoxy grout is a very high quality grout that is very resistant to water. It is not porous like most types of grout, and will not even absorb stains or pet odors very easily. It is like having sanded grout for thin grout joints, only it uses very miniscule grains as fillers rather than sand. This keeps the grout joints from shrinking after they are installed. Epoxy grout is expensive and a lot of times, it isn’t justified by the cost. 90% of the time, it is probably not even needed, because regular grout compound works perfectly fine. However, if you find that you are constantly being attacked by mold and mildew, and you decide to redo your grout, it may be a good idea to use epoxy grout. Also, it may be a good idea to use epoxy grout on your counter tops since you probably don’t want to have counter tops that are absorbing stuff all the time.

If you have any other questions related to sanded versus unsanded grout, please be sure to ask us in the comment section of this article. We will try and answer your questions as soon as we can and get back to you with accurate and authoritative answers every time.

This site is a good  reference, and we suggest that you also check it out: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg100743484245.html

More suggested readings: How To Grout Ceramic Tile and How To Grout Bathroom Tile

When you clean your own tiles, you quickly realize that cleaning grout between tiles is very important to maintaining your grout. If you clean your tiles, but neglect to clean your grout, you will start to notice that the grout becomes discolored. This discoloration can be the accumulation of dirt and grime, which will eventually cause mold, bacteria, and mildew to grow in the tile. Most of the time, when people talk about cleaning the tile, they are often referring primarily to cleaning the grout layer in between their tiles. Many tile cleaners are designed specifically for this purpose, in order to get rid of the gunky buildup that is in the grout between the tiles.

Cleaning Grout Between Tiles to Get Rid of Grout Stains

If you find that cleaning grout between tiles is difficult, you probably need to take more time to get rid of the grout stains, because most likely, you have not cleaned your tile and grout for a long time. Possibly the easiest way to get rid of grout stains is to just use a bleach pen. This pen has a tip or an end that allows you to color the stained areas. The bleach will eat its way through the discoloration and restore your grout back to its original color. Just be careful when using bleach on grout. Do not allow it to sit there for too long, and do not use it on colored grout. Always follow the directions on the label to make sure you are using it the right way.

Another good option for you is to buy a steam cleaner, or else have your grout professionally cleaned. It will probably cost you less to buy a steam cleaner than it will to hire a professional, and when you’re done with the cleaning job, you will own a steam cleaner that you can use for several different cleaning purposes around your house.

The Damage Can Become Permanent

Cleaning grout between tiles on a regular basis is the best way to prevent permanent damage. If you don’t clean the grout for a long time, the damage caused by the stains as well as the build-up of mold and mildew, can become permanent. The result is that they will eat through the grout and once grout starts to fall out, then your tiles will fall out as well, which means they will all have to be replaced. On top of that, once you get cracks in your tile grout, you can also get water damage behind or underneath your tiles. Water damage can become severe very quickly, and soon you will not only have to replace the tiles, but you may also have to replace the walls or the flooring.

If you have any more questions about cleaning grout or tiles, please feel free to search for answers on this site. If you can’t find your questions answered, be sure to leave us a comment and we will try to answer your question as soon as possible.

Tired of cleaning grout and tile? Learn more about How To Make Grout Cleaning Easy And Fun. You may also be interested in different Tile And Grout Cleaning Tools.

The best tile and grout cleaning equipment you can use around your home is a grout steam cleaner. This is an excellent piece of tile and grout cleaning equipment, because it allows you to do a professional job and saves a lot of money. Even if you have pet odors trapped in your grout, you can get rid of odors with a steam cleaner. There are several reasons why I think a steam cleaner is awesome and why I think you should try one.

Steam Cleaners Are Very Easy to Use

With a steam cleaner, all you have to do is to fill up the canister and then point and shoot. It is one of the easiest types of tile and grout cleaning equipment you will probably ever use. When you pull the trigger on the steam cleaner, it releases water with a temperature of 275°F. Since water will boil at 212°, the water is highly pressurized by the time it reaches 275°. This means that you will have a steaming spray that you can spray on to the surface of your tile and grout. This pressurized spray will disinfect everything that it comes in contact with. It will also push out the dirt and grime, and all that you need to do is to mop it up with a cleaning rag. You don’t even have to buy extra cleaning chemicals in order to use your steam grout cleaner.

Tile and Grout Cleaning Equipment Saves You Time

The last reason why it is important to have a steam cleaner as your tile and grout cleaning equipment, is that it will save you a lot of time. Having a steam cleaner in your possession cuts down on the amount of time it takes you to clean your tile grout by as much as 60%. Not only that, it is fun to use a steam cleaner. You can use it on your fridge and your oven as well. You can also use it on your walls and your counter tops, or even for cleaning your carpets. Not only will your tile and grout look great, but the rest of your house will look better once you have your own grout steam cleaner.

Steam Cleaners Are Affordable

In the past, tile and grout cleaning equipment such as a steam cleaner, may have been too expensive for you to justify buying one. Today however, steam cleaners are very affordable. You can buy multipurpose steam cleaners for under $100. You can spend less than $300 and get a floor steam cleaner, then you don’t even have to use an attachment when you are cleaning your tile floors. This means that they are pretty much affordable to everyone.

Below is a YouTube video on how steam cleaners work not only for cleaning tile and grout, but for other cleaning purposes within your home.

If you have any other questions on the best tile and grout cleaning equipment, please ask this in the comments section that follows this article. We will do our best to answer your questions.

Looking for a steam cleaner? This article may be able to help you out: Steam Cleaners For Sale. You can also learn more about Tile and Grout Cleaning Tools.