what tile is better to use in a shower sanded or not sanded?

Question

my family is redoing our bathroon and we need to know what tile is better to buy sanded or not sanded or does it not matter?

Answer 1

Sanded and/or unsanded have less to do with water resistence than with how well they last with regard to the width of a grout line. Non sanded is recommended for grout lines as wide as 1/2 inch, though in the thousands of sq. ft. of tile I've installed I've never had that experience.

Certainly sanded is the common. There are polymer based grouts designed more for the purpose of water resistence, and lower levels of absorbtion.

Most of my work has been in bathrooms and flooring, and no grout or mortar will hold up forever if flooding occurs or constant moisture and it's effects get behind any tile installed.

I no longer use plywood or green board for substrate. Only concrete backer board. I also do not recommend "sealers" as they degrade over time, and need maintenance, as well as any grout will in cleaning, mold issues, etc.

In a shower or tub area I also stopped doing the job shy of the ceiling. I take the tile all the way up now.

Steven Wolf
(The Rev.)

Answer 2

for the shower floor, use unglazed mosaic tile with an UNSANDED grout.

for walls you can use any kind of glazed tile. I don't know any reputable installer who give you grout lines inside the shower that are more than an 1/8", so be aware the more grout, the more likely water will escape and you don't want that.

For your floor outside the shower, any glazed tile will work fine and the larger the tile the wider the allowable grout lines. We used sanded grout with our 12 inch glazed tiles.

Seal your new shower tile and grout with a silicone suspension tile and grout sealer several times over the course of a day and you won't have to worry about mildew or mold or scrubbing for at least a few years. Ours still looks like new due to this extra step and our shower is two years old.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I'm presuming you are talking about GROUT, not about TILE.
As a tile designer and mosaic artist, non-sanded grout is for grout lines 1/8 inch or less, sanded for 1/8 inch or more.

If your grout lines are at least 1/8 inch, use sanded, it's much easier to work with. Most grouts are still porous, unless your grout is specifically made to be waterproof, you'll want to seal it with a grout sealer after it is completely cured and then again every year or two.

Answer 4

you must be talking about grout not the tile ...but there is a textured tile ..that might be what you are asking? slip resistant
as far as sanded or non sanded that depends on the grout line size eg: non sanded is for 1/8 inch or less I hope this helps and wear gloves when grouting ..grout is very caustic

Answer 5

Watch the Bath Fitter commercial, I believe the modern bath-fitter system is the best. The vineer are one piece and most less to mildew, absorb water...etc. Less cleaning is a future concern, and any thing with concrete is a head-ache to clean. My experience in construction since 1979.

Answer 6

TILE GROUT MAYBE????? SANDED FOR BIG JOINTS LARGER THAN 1/8"

NON- SANDED FOR THIN JOINTS

Answer 7

hard matter. browse on yahoo or google. that will might help!