THE FLOOR-ONE-ONE: HOLDIN’ IT ALL TOGETHER
Miss Florine’s Shout Out for Grout!
Poor grout. It never gets credit for the role it plays in beautiful Southwest Colorado homes. “Grout.” Even the name sounds, well, at least boring.
I’m fixin’ to change that! Listen up and find out what a difference the right choice of grout can make in your building or remodeling plans.
First, the Basics
As you know, grout is the material that literally holds tile together. It fills the spaces between the tile you choose for your home, whether it’s ceramic, natural stone, glass or another type. In our changeable Durango weather, grout has another key job: it keeps tile from expanding and shifting with fluctuating temperatures and moisture levels.
Traditional grout comes in three formulas:
- Cement grout, with sanded types for joint spaces from 1/8” to 1/4″ wide, and unsanded formulas for 1/16” to 1/8” joints,
- Pre-mixed grout, often for more delicate surfaces and thin joints, and
- Epoxy grout, requiring no mixing or sealing.
A newer type of grout may also be a good choice for your project. Advances in technology have produced combination products that deliver lasting color and durability. As you choose tile for your home, be sure to research which types of grout will fit best.
Now for the Pretty
People are always surprised to learn how many choices of grout color there are; these days you can find metallic and glitter grout! Even assuming you don’t want to go hog wild with your grout, the decision can still seem tough. To get going in the right direction, consider the tile and the layout you’ve selected as well as the appearance of the entire room.
Many folks tend toward matching grout color to their tile, and in some cases this makes perfect sense. You might go with matching grout if you’re planning a large area of tile, if the layout is relatively simple or if there are busy features in the room.
A contrasting grout—often darker than the tile—can add a bit of drama to your installation. For smaller spaces or an area you want to highlight, an attention-getting grout may be perfect. Grout that’s lighter or darker than your tile can also highlight an interesting layout such as a herringbone or chevron pattern.
Protect Your Investment
Most tile and grout projects need to be sealed to protect the surface from contaminants and provide stain resistance. We recommend sealers from Custom Building Products for their track record of excellent performance and industry-leading guarantee. You can choose from formulas that darken and seal, products with a matte or gloss finish, formulas that are water- or solvent-based and more.
When it comes to cleaning tile and grout, you want a product that’s tough enough to get the job done without harming surfaces. That’s why we suggest Aqua Mix® PH-neutral cleaners, specially formulated for stone tile. Products for every type of application are available, including cleaner/sealers, haze removers and strippers. We also carry TileLab® cleaners, and we especially like NanoClean’s penetrating formula for those tough spots.
Let’s Get Going!
Whether you’re working with a contractor or planning a DIY tile project, we’re here to help. At the Tile & Carpet Store of Durango, tile, carpeting and wood flooring are our business, and yes, grout too! We can help guide you through your project, starting with an in-person or online consultation. Call us today: 970-385-1731.
THE FLOOR-ONE-ONE: HOLDIN’ IT ALL TOGETHER
Miss Florine’s Shout Out for Grout!
Poor grout. It never gets credit for the role it plays in beautiful Southwest Colorado homes. “Grout.” Even the name sounds, well, at least boring.
I’m fixin’ to change that! Listen up and find out what a difference the right choice of grout can make in your building or remodeling plans.
First, the Basics
As you know, grout is the material that literally holds tile together. It fills the spaces between the tile you choose for your home, whether it’s ceramic, natural stone, glass or another type. In our changeable Durango weather, grout has another key job: it keeps tile from expanding and shifting with fluctuating temperatures and moisture levels.
Traditional grout comes in three formulas:
- Cement grout, with sanded types for joint spaces from 1/8” to 1/4″ wide, and unsanded formulas for 1/16” to 1/8” joints,
- Pre-mixed grout, often for more delicate surfaces and thin joints, and
- Epoxy grout, requiring no mixing or sealing.
A newer type of grout may also be a good choice for your project. Advances in technology have produced combination products that deliver lasting color and durability. As you choose tile for your home, be sure to research which types of grout will fit best.
Now for the Pretty
People are always surprised to learn how many choices of grout color there are; these days you can find metallic and glitter grout! Even assuming you don’t want to go hog wild with your grout, the decision can still seem tough. To get going in the right direction, consider the tile and the layout you’ve selected as well as the appearance of the entire room.
Many folks tend toward matching grout color to their tile, and in some cases this makes perfect sense. You might go with matching grout if you’re planning a large area of tile, if the layout is relatively simple or if there are busy features in the room.
A contrasting grout—often darker than the tile—can add a bit of drama to your installation. For smaller spaces or an area you want to highlight, an attention-getting grout may be perfect. Grout that’s lighter or darker than your tile can also highlight an interesting layout such as a herringbone or chevron pattern.
Protect Your Investment
Most tile and grout projects need to be sealed to protect the surface from contaminants and provide stain resistance. We recommend sealers from Custom Building Products for their track record of excellent performance and industry-leading guarantee. You can choose from formulas that darken and seal, products with a matte or gloss finish, formulas that are water- or solvent-based and more.
When it comes to cleaning tile and grout, you want a product that’s tough enough to get the job done without harming surfaces. That’s why we suggest Aqua Mix® PH-neutral cleaners, specially formulated for stone tile. Products for every type of application are available, including cleaner/sealers, haze removers and strippers. We also carry TileLab® cleaners, and we especially like NanoClean’s penetrating formula for those tough spots.
Let’s Get Going!
Whether you’re working with a contractor or planning a DIY tile project, we’re here to help. At the Tile & Carpet Store of Durango, tile, carpeting and wood flooring are our business, and yes, grout too! We can help guide you through your project, starting with an in-person or online consultation. Call us today: 970-385-1731.
