Grouting floor tiles?

[Agile]

I am going to fit about 20 sq. m. of 310mm lighter GREY floor tiles in my hall.

The tiles have a riven pattern and so are not plain faced and have a matt appearance. They are being laid over very old quarry tiles.


So my questions are:-


Is 4mm the best spacing?


Do I HAVE to use flexible grout?


What do you think is the best grout colour?


Thanks


Tony

 

[Burnerman]

As the tiles are riven, I think a flexible grout would be best, maybe in a darker grey? The spacing is up to you but I wouldn't go less than 4mm.
More importantly, nice to hear from you again!
John

 

[EddieM]

Not white!!

 

[Agile]

Thanks for replies folks.

Seems to be an over Christmas job!

I bought some more of the tiles to save wastage as can use them on the kitchen.

The first delivery was by the boss and tiles brought up to the front door porch in the dry.

The second came a day early and was left in the rain and beside the dustbins just 2m from the pavement looking as if they were being thrown away!


Now for laying the new tiles over the old red quarry tiles, is normal tile cement fine or should I use flexible? Wicks basic OK? The quarry tiles are on a solid floor with no signs of cracking.

 

[Burnerman]

Only my opinion Tony and I get my advice from CTD.....
Flexible grout mixed from powder is the way to go.....you need to get a move on though as it goes off pretty quickly.
John

 

[foxhole]

Light to mid grey grout, though with heavy traffic it will soon all be dark grey.

 

[Agile]

Does anyone know why they don't sell grout in dispenser tubes like almost everything else?

Would make grouting a pleasant job!

Anyone tried putting it into tubes?

 

[ktuludays]

Does anyone know why they don't sell grout in dispenser tubes like almost everything else?

Would make grouting a pleasant job!

Anyone tried putting it into tubes?

Recently tiled a large bathroom with non flat tiles. Bro in law had the same idea so purchased a mortar gun from screwfix. I thought it wouldn't work and told him so. We had a grouting race to see which method was better/quicker. We were using powder grout.

I got half more than him done in 1 hour due to the time it took him to dispense his mix into the tube and clean the gun after each mix. The application was very fast but the gun had to be thoroughly cleaned after every mix or it would set in the gun and block up. I would say that a third of every mix was wasted as it forced back past the plunger. Needless to say he took it back for a refund.

 

[Agile]

That's interesting and amusing.

I am sure there is a market for grout in dispenser tubes.

Christmas has gone and my tiles are still in their boxes!

But thanks for all the advice so far.

But still need comments on "Now for laying the new tiles over the old red quarry tiles, is normal tile cement fine or should I use flexible? Wicks basic OK? The quarry tiles are on a solid floor with no signs of cracking." ​

Tony

 

[foxhole]

Riven tiles are a pain to clean grout off, and even bigger pain to keep clean , they collect dirt very easily .