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Do Kitchen Tiles Need Grout?

Do Kitchen Tiles Need Grout?

For many people, laying down tile is mind-numbing, and they would do anything to avoid it.

The worst part of tiling a floor is working with the grout. There’s no easy way to apply grout to tiles, and it’s often time-consuming.

Do you have to use grout? Is there another kind of adhesive that can keep titles in the exact position? Surely that can work, right?

Unless you use groutless tiles, there is no other substance that can replace grout. Grout is critical to the foundation of kitchen tiles in order to have them stay in place.

There are groutless tiles, but even they have their limits.

Tiles

Do Kitchen Tiles Need Grout?

Let me tell you the truth: absolutely no one enjoys working with grout.

Professional contractors, task rabbiters, DIY home enthusiasts, and your uncle that everyone in the family calls on when they need the kitchen sink or a stair fixed: they all hate grout.

Laying down kitchen tiles is easily one of the longest projects of the kitchen.

Not only do you have to center the tiles perfectly in the middle of the room, but you have to cut off the edges when they reach a wall or base.

And you have to do this while color coordinating them into a perfect pattern.

But do kitchen tiles really need grout?

Yes, kitchen tiles absolutely need grout. If you do not use grout, the kitchen will not look completed.

It will look like an amateur contractor used your kitchen floor as their first job.

Why is Grout Important?

There are two main reasons ‌grout is critical to the integrity of tile layout.

  1. Grout prevents the tiles from moving and scraping together. Even though kitchen tiles are hearty and heavy, they can still rub against each other and damage each other. Placing grout between the tile pieces keeps them in their place so they will not chip and scrape against each other as humans walk on them.
  2. Grout stops dust, food particles, oil, and tiny bits and pieces from sliding underneath the tile. Tiles do not fit together perfectly. Even if you lay them down as close as possible, there will still be tiny gaps where food and dust and liquid can fall between the cracks and underneath the tile. If there was no grout between the tiles, the smell of dust and food particles will build up in just a few weeks.

Once the grout is dried, the tiles will never move again. They will stay in their position until it’s time to demolish them and redo the floor with new tiles.

How to Keep Grout Clean

Keeping grout clean is tricky, but there are few ways to make the cleaning process easier for you.

  • Develop a cleaning routine. If you clean the grout in the kitchen once a week, then food, oil, and dust will not build up.
  • Use a scrubbing brush and apply a water/baking soda paste to it and scrub. You don’t have to use fancy cleaners. You can also use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Applying the mixture to the ground and let the hydrogen peroxide bubble. Start scrubbing when the bubbling is over.
  • After you lay down your new floor tiles and grout, wait 2 weeks and then apply a grout sealant. The sealant will show me tiny gaps on the surface of the ground, so it’ll be much easier to clean.

Why is Grout So Disliked?

Grout is not an easy substance to work with, and that is because it is made of sand, concrete, and water.

Not only is it hard to use when tiling your floor, it is also difficult to keep clean once it is dry. There are lots of DIY and home maintenance manuals dedicated to keeping grout dry and clean.

Some people do not like to see grout between the tiles. If you’re not fond of the way grout looks in the kitchen, use an applicator to control the thickness of the grout.

Groutless Tiles

The Invention of Groutless Tile

Man has been to the moon. We put a Rover on Mars, the Prius and other electric cars are clogging up the freeways along with the regular cars, and Tide Pods are the most convenient way to wash your laundry.

And now the world finally has groutless tiles. DIY home renovators can finally rejoice.

They no longer have to mix grout, apply it quickly before it dries, and remove any excess grout before it dries and needs a scraper to get it off.

Here is how groutless tile works:

  • First, there are several types of groutless tiles. They are made of cork, vinyl, as well as ceramic and porcelain. And these tiles are not just square. They come in diamond shapes, zig zag shapes, round shapes, and rectangular shapes.
  • If the tile is a peel and stick tile, then installation should be a breeze. Just peel the sticker off of the bottom of the tile and slowly place the tile down onto the floor in its right position. The adhesive will stick to the floor and keep the tile in its position.
  • If the tile does not come with an adhesive on it, then you have to apply adhesive to the floor and then lay the tile on top of it. You can use a silicone sealant, a latex adhesive, or any type of grout called epoxy grout.
  • After you’re done putting down the groutless tiles, you have the option of applying a seal over the kitchen tiles. You can even do this with grouted tiles‌!

Conclusion to Not Using Grout on Tiles

If you’re using regular tiles, then you have to use grout. It will look terrible if you do not use grout.

You can use groutless tiles to avoid using grout if you really need to.

But some tiles will require you to apply an adhesive to the tiles and then place it down on the floor.

Apply a sealant to prevent dirt and moisture buildup.

Lindsay Reed

Hi, I'm the founder of ProjectPerfectHome.com! I created this website to be a resource for everyone who wants to make the best home possible.