Unsanded, sanded, or epoxy grout — chosen by joint width, surface, and how it is sold

Joint width picks the grout: unsanded for 1/16″–1/8″ (and glass/polished stone), sanded for 1/8″–1/2″, epoxy for wet or chemical areas. Cementitious grout is sold by weight and sealed; epoxy is sold by the kit and never sealed.

A guide to choosing grout type by joint width per ANSI A118.6. A joint-width scale from 1/16 to 1/2 inch maps each type to its rated window: unsanded is for narrow 1/16-to-1/8-inch joints only and shrink-cracks in anything wider; sanded covers 1/8 to 1/2 inch and is the floor-tile workhorse but its grit scratches polished marble and glass; epoxy per ANSI A118.3 spans the whole range, is stain- and chemical-proof, and never needs sealing. Cementitious grouts (sanded and unsanded) are sold by weight in 10-pound boxes or 25-pound bags and must be sealed after they cure; epoxy is sold by the kit or unit and is not sealed. — Source: ANSI A118.6 (sanded/unsanded) · ANSI A118.3 (epoxy)

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A guide to choosing grout type by joint width per ANSI A118.6. A joint-width scale from 1/16 to 1/2 inch maps each type to its rated window: unsanded is for narrow 1/16-to-1/8-inch joints only and shrink-cracks in anything wider; sanded covers 1/8 to 1/2 inch and is the floor-tile workhorse but its grit scratches polished marble and glass; epoxy per ANSI A118.3 spans the whole range, is stain- and chemical-proof, and never needs sealing. Cementitious grouts (sanded and unsanded) are sold by weight in 10-pound boxes or 25-pound bags and must be sealed after they cure; epoxy is sold by the kit or unit and is not sealed.

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