How to Buy Grout

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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A grout is a thin mortar you can use to fill cracks and crevices to give walls and ceilings a finished look, or as a cement to keep tile in place. When you lay tile yourself, you need to find a grout that is optimal for your project.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

Look for a grout with acid resistance. Acid resistant grouts let you clean your floor without damaging and or wearing away the grout over time. You can use normal household cleaners without worries.

Step2

Find a polymer fortified grout to ensure your grout is naturally stain resistant. If you use a polymer fortified grout, you don't have to use a sealant.

Step3

Purchase a grout with a chemically enhanced curing process to keep the color of your grout the same throughout the project. With this type of grout you won't have blotches or discoloration.

Step4

Make sure the grout has a stain warranty. Most manufacturers offer a 10 to 15 year warranty against stains as long as you used the product according to the manufacturer's directions.

Step5

Choose a color that complements the tile. Light colored grout, which is the easiest to clean, is best for light colored tile, while dark grout is best for dark colored tile unless you want to create a stark geometric checkerboard pattern--here, high contrast is best.

Step6

Decide whether to buy sanded or non-sanded grout. Use sanded grout, which has mixed-in sand for strength, for joints wider than 1/16 inch, such as on large floor tile. Use non-sanded grout, which uses a latex additive for strength, for joints smaller than 1/16 inch, such as on smaller wall or counter top tiles.