Tile grout is a cement-based joint filler for ceramic, porcelain and stone tiles, made as sanded grout for joints of 3 mm (1/8 in) and wider and as unsanded grout for narrower joints. High performance grades add redispersible polymer powder, and UK buyers know the same products as wall grout, floor grout and coloured grout.
Two class systems govern the product. ANSI A118.7-2019 requires a high performance cement grout to exceed 20.7 MPa (3,000 psi) compressive strength at 28 days, while EN 13888-1:2022 and ISO 13007-3:2010 sort cement grouts into classes CG1 and CG2, with A for high abrasion resistance and W for reduced water absorption. Tile grout sits beside adhesives, membranes and sealants in this reference to construction chemicals.
This page follows the order of a specification: identity and grades, hardening, uses, the six performance properties, the ANSI and EN class tables, selection, joint width, coverage and cure by temperature, failures, safety and VOC rules, dated installed cost, resin alternatives and sourcing.
Standards, codes and regulations are checked against their issuing bodies, product values against the named data sheet and prices against the dated source named in the sentence; see our methodology and fact-checking.
The summary table below lists the attributes a specifier checks first on a cement tile grout.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Binder | Portland cement with sand (sanded) or fine filler (unsanded); polymer in high performance grades |
| Forms | One-component powder mixed with water; powder mixed with a liquid admix |
| Grades by joint | Sanded for joints of 3 mm (1/8 in) and wider; unsanded for narrower joints (vendor guidance) |
| US standards | ANSI A118.6-2019 (standard cement grout), ANSI A118.7-2019 (high performance cement grout); installation to ANSI A108.10-2026 |
| EN and ISO standards | EN 13888-1:2022 and ISO 13007-3:2010: classes CG1, CG2 (with A and W) and F |
| Key requirement | ANSI A118.7-2019: compressive strength above 20.7 MPa (3,000 psi) at 28 days |
| VOC | SCAQMD Rule 1168, Grout category: 65 g/L (0.54 lb/gal), less water and exempt compounds |
| Hazards | Portland cement (see the product SDS); soluble Cr(VI) at most 2 mg/kg under REACH Annex XVII entry 47; respirable quartz (crystalline silica) dust |
What Is Tile Grout?#
Tile grout is a joint filler of portland cement, sand or fine filler and, in high performance grades, redispersible polymer powder, supplied as a powder mixed with water or with a liquid admix. The cement binds the filler into a hard joint once it hydrates, and the polymer modifies absorption and flexibility.
The single word "grout" also names structural grouts under baseplates and chemical grouts injected into soil, which the regional names table below separates from tile grout. Inside a tiled assembly, grout is the third layer after the adhesive that bonds the tile and the membrane that waterproofs wet areas, and the three layers are compared as tile installation systems.
Sanded, unsanded and polymer-modified grades: what separates them?#
Three grades of cement tile grout exist: sanded, unsanded and polymer-modified, and the sand content follows the joint width, not the strength class. A sanded grout carries sand as its filler, while an unsanded grout uses a fine filler, and wide joints are where cracking and shrinkage of cement grout appear. Polymer modification is a separate choice from the sand content: high performance grades carry redispersible polymer powder. The three grades are listed below.
- Sanded grout: for joints of 3 mm (1/8 in) and wider (vendor guidance; 1/8 in equals 3.175 mm).
- Unsanded grout: for joints narrower than 3 mm (1/8 in), on walls and polished surfaces.
- Polymer-modified grout: cement grout with redispersible polymer powders for lower water absorption and higher flexural strength.
Regional names: CG1, CG2, standard and high performance cement grout#
Cement tile grout carries four sets of names, by region and by standard, and the table below maps each name to its meaning.
| Name | Region or standard | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard cement grout | US, ANSI A118.6-2019 | Basic cement grout class |
| High performance cement grout | US, ANSI A118.7-2019 | Cement grout with set compressive, tensile, flexural, shrinkage and absorption limits |
| CG1, CG2 with A, W; F | EN 13888-1:2022, ISO 13007-3:2010 | Cementitious grout class 1 or 2; A high abrasion resistance, W reduced water absorption, F fast setting |
| Wall grout, floor grout | UK shop names | Unsanded and sanded products sold by use |
| Structural grout | ASTM C1107/C1107M-26 | Non-shrink grout under baseplates and anchors, covered under construction grouts; not tile grout |
| Chemical grout | Soil and water cut-off | Injected resin or silicate grout, covered under chemical grouting; not tile grout |
UK shops sell "wall grout" and "floor grout" by use, and the technical split behind both names is joint width and class.
How Does Cement Grout Harden in a Tile Joint?#
Cement tile grout hardens by hydration of its portland cement, and in polymer-modified grades the polymer lowers water absorption and raises flexural strength and stain resistance. Hydration binds the sand or filler into a rigid joint, and the polymer modifies that cement matrix rather than replacing it.
The hardened grout body stays porous, so its resistance to stains depends on sealing, which a resin grout does not need. The same portland binder is the source of the two visible defects of cement grout: shading, where one joint dries lighter or darker than the next, and efflorescence, where soluble salts carried to the surface leave a white deposit.
Where Is Cement Tile Grout Used?#
Cement tile grout fills tile joints on interior walls and floors, in showers and wet rooms over a membrane, and on exterior walls, balconies and terraces. The class rises from A118.6 or CG1 in dry rooms to A118.7 or CG2 outdoors and in wet areas. Commercial work is grouted by tile setters, while small residential rooms need no specialist. The four use areas are listed below, with the class each one takes.
- Interior dry walls and floors: A118.6 or CG1 grout, sanded or unsanded by joint width.
- Floors with traffic: A118.7 or CG2A grout, with A for high abrasion resistance under foot traffic.
- Showers and wet rooms: A118.7 or CG2W grout over tile waterproofing membranes; no grout is the waterproofing layer.
- Exterior walls, balconies and terraces: A118.7 or CG2 grout or better, over balcony and terrace waterproofing on decks.
Which Properties Define Tile Grout Performance?#
Six properties define a cement tile grout: compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, shrinkage, water absorption and, in EN and ISO classes, abrasion resistance. ANSI A118.7-2019 sets limits for the first five, and EN 13888-1:2022 adds abrasion as the A option. The table below names the test behind each property and why a specifier reads it.
| Property | Test | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Compressive strength | ANSI A118.7 section 3.5; EN 12808-3 (cited by EN 13888) | Resistance to crushing under point loads and traffic |
| Tensile strength | ANSI A118.7 section 3.6 | Resistance to pulling apart at the joint edges |
| Flexural strength | ANSI A118.7 section 3.7 | Resistance to cracking when the substrate deflects |
| Shrinkage | ANSI A118.7 section 3.3; EN 12808-4 (cited by EN 13888) | Fewer shrinkage cracks and edge gaps in wide joints |
| Water absorption | ANSI A118.7 section 3.4; EN 12808-5 (cited by EN 13888) | Lower staining and water uptake in wet areas |
| Abrasion resistance | EN 12808-2 (cited by EN 13888) | Wear resistance on floors with traffic |
Standard requirement or data-sheet value: how to read grout numbers#
A class limit is the minimum every grout of the class must reach in the named test; a data-sheet value is what one product reached, under that product's test conditions. The Custom Polyblend HP data sheet prints the ANSI A118.7 limit of more than 20.7 MPa (3,000 psi) at 28 days as the standard requirement, which is the class threshold and not a measured product result. Laticrete TDS 137EN (rev. July 2026) prints EN grout class values without stating the EN 13888 edition, so those numbers are read as one maker's statement of the class, not as the text of EN 13888-1:2022. A specification quotes the standard and its edition, and then asks for the product's own test result against it.
What Are the Tile Grout Classes in ANSI A118, EN 13888 and ISO 13007-3?#
Cement tile grouts are classed under ANSI A118.6-2019 and A118.7-2019 in the US, and under EN 13888-1:2022 with ISO 13007-3:2010 (CG1, CG2 with A and W, F) in Europe and internationally. The table below sets the ANSI A118.7 requirements beside the EN values that one manufacturer prints for the CG classes.
| Property (test) | ANSI A118.7-2019 requirement | EN/ISO CG value as printed on Laticrete TDS 137EN (rev. July 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Compressive strength, 28 days (A118.7 section 3.5; EN 12808-3) | More than 20.7 MPa (3,000 psi) | At least 15 MPa (2,176 psi) after dry storage and after freeze-thaw |
| Compressive strength, 1 day | More than 3.45 MPa (500 psi) | No value |
| Tensile and flexural strength, 28 days (sections 3.6, 3.7) | Tensile more than 3.45 MPa (500 psi); flexural more than 6.9 MPa (1,000 psi) | Not stated here |
| Shrinkage, 28 days (section 3.3) | Less than 0.20 % | Not stated here |
| Water absorption (section 3.4; EN 12808-5) | Less than 5 % | CG1 at most 5 g after 30 min and 10 g after 240 min; CG2W at most 2 g and 5 g |
| Abrasion (EN 12808-2) | No requirement | CG1 at most 2,000 mm³; CG2A at most 1,000 mm³ |
| Edition status | A118.6-2019 and A118.7-2019, both with an open revision (PINS); A118.6 values not stated here | EN 13888-1:2022 current since 2022-09-13; ISO 13007-3:2010 confirmed in 2025 |
EN values as printed by one manufacturer; edition not stated on the data sheet.
ANSI A118.6 and A118.7: standard and high performance cement grout#
ANSI A118.7-2019 requires a high performance cement grout to exceed 20.7 MPa (3,000 psi) at 28 days and 3.45 MPa (500 psi) at 1 day. The same high performance grout must exceed 3.45 MPa (500 psi) in tension and 6.9 MPa (1,000 psi) in flexure at 28 days, stay below 0.20 % shrinkage at 28 days and absorb less than 5 % water. ANSI A118.6-2019 covers standard cement grout as the basic class, and its values are not given on this page. Both grout documents belong to the family of ANSI A118 standards for tile grouts.
The Tile Council of North America (TCNA) status list of 2026-09-10 shows A118.6-2019 and A118.7-2019 with an open project initiation notice (PINS), so a revision of both is in progress. Installation of the grout follows ANSI A108.10-2026, and all three documents sit in the July 2026 compilation of ANSI A108, A118 and A136.1.
EN 13888-1:2022 and ISO 13007-3 classes CG1, CG2, A, W and F#
EN 13888-1:2022 replaced EN 13888:2009 on 2022-09-13 and keeps the cement grout classes CG1 and CG2, with A for high abrasion resistance, W for reduced water absorption and F for fast setting. EN 13888-2:2022 carries the test methods, and ISO 13007-3:2010, confirmed in 2025, uses the same CG1, CG2, A, W and F designations, so a product string such as CG2WA reads alike in both systems.
The EN values on this page are the ones printed on Laticrete TDS 137EN (rev. July 2026): abrasion of at most 2,000 mm³ for CG1 and 1,000 mm³ for CG2A, water absorption of at most 2 g after 30 minutes for CG2W, and compressive strength of at least 15 MPa (2,176 psi). Flexural, shrinkage and fast-setting values are left out until the 2022 text is checked, and the full class set is covered under EN 13888 classification of tile grouts.
Is an ANSI A118.7 grout the same as an EN CG2 grout?#
No: ANSI A118.7 and EN or ISO CG2 are separate test regimes with different properties, so one grout can carry one label without the other. ANSI tests tensile and flexural strength and shrinkage in percent, while the EN classes add abrasion and measure water absorption in grams. For exterior tile, an installation detail that cites Tile Council of North America (TCNA) guidance accepts either ANSI A118.7 or better or ISO 13007 CG2 or better as the minimum grout.
How do you check a grout class on a data sheet?#
Five checks confirm a grout class claim on a data sheet, and they are listed below.
- Name the standard and its edition: ANSI A118.7-2019, EN 13888-1:2022 or ISO 13007-3:2010.
- Read the full class code, such as CG2WA, or the ANSI number, not a "high performance" label alone.
- Match each value to its test method, such as A118.7 section 3.5 or EN 12808-5.
- Check the cure and test conditions, with the temperature at which each value was measured.
- Read the VOC content in g/L and the SDS, and the packing date and storage period printed on the bag.
How Do You Choose a Tile Grout?#
Choose a tile grout by joint width, wetness, traffic and stain exposure: sanded or unsanded by joint, A118.7 or CG2 where joints get wet or sit outdoors, CG2A on worn floors, and resin grout against stains. The selection table below pairs each situation with its ANSI and EN class and grade.
| Situation | ANSI | EN/ISO | Grade | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior dry walls, budget | A118.6 | CG1 | By joint width | Lowest-cost cement class |
| Floors with traffic | A118.7 | CG2A | Sanded for joints of 3 mm (1/8 in) and wider | A for high abrasion resistance |
| Showers and wet rooms | A118.7 | CG2W | By joint width | Membrane below the tile |
| Exterior walls, balconies, terraces | A118.7 or better | CG2 or better | By joint width | Minimum cited from TCNA guidance |
| Stain or chemical exposure | A118.3 | RG | epoxy tile grout | Reaction resin, no sealing |
| No mixing, no sealing | A118.19 | No EN class | premixed tile grouts | Polymer binder, no cement |
Budget is the second axis of the choice. The Construction Specifier (2025-06-05) ranks material cost from ANSI A118.6 standard cement grout as the lowest, through A118.7 high performance cement grout and A118.19 premixed grout, to A118.3 epoxy grout as the highest. Moving one class up buys lower absorption or stain resistance at a higher material cost, and that strength, stain and cost trade-off between resin and cement is set out in epoxy grout vs cementitious grout.
When is a cement grout the wrong product?#
Four situations call for another product class than cement grout, and they are listed below.
- Stain-proof or chemical-resistant joints: epoxy tile grout to ANSI A118.3-2021 (R2025), EN class RG.
- No mixing and no sealing on site: premixed tile grouts to ANSI A118.19-2023.
- Waterproofing of a shower or terrace: a bonded membrane under the tile, because no grout is the waterproofing layer.
- Baseplates, machinery and anchors: structural non-shrink grouts to ASTM C1107/C1107M-26, not tile grout.
How Is Tile Grout Applied? Preparation, Joint Width, Coverage and Cure#
A cement grout performs only as well as its joints, so a specification fixes three things: a cured setting bed with clean joints, the joint width that sets sanded or unsanded grout, and the temperature window during cure. ANSI A108.10-2026 governs the installation of grout in tilework, and the product data sheet sets the times.
Setting-bed cure and joint preparation#
Cement grout goes into joints only after the setting material has cured 24 to 48 hours, unless a rapid mortar is used (Custom Polyblend HP data sheet). The joints must be uniform in width and clean, with adhesive squeeze-out and dust removed to the joint depth, before any grout is placed. Commercial floors and walls are grouted by tile setters working to ANSI A108.10-2026.
Joint width and coverage per bag#
Coverage of cement grout depends on tile size, tile thickness and joint width, so data sheets print it per bag for named tile formats. In the first two table rows, doubling the joint width on the same tile halves the area one bag fills, and a thicker tile takes more grout per square meter because the joint is deeper. The two data-sheet values in the table below come from different grouts on different bases, and quantities for other tile formats come from the tile grout and adhesive calculator.
| Product (data sheet, edition) | Tile format | Joint | Coverage | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Polyblend HP (data sheet) | 25 x 25 x 6.4 mm (1 x 1 x 1/4 in) | 1.6 mm (1/16 in) | 10 m² (108 ft²) per 11.34 kg (25 lb) bag | Theoretical, maker's chart |
| Custom Polyblend HP (data sheet) | 25 x 25 x 6.4 mm (1 x 1 x 1/4 in) | 3 mm (1/8 in) | 5 m² (54 ft²) per 11.34 kg (25 lb) bag | Theoretical, maker's chart |
| Mapei Ultracolor Plus (data sheet) | 300 x 300 x 10 mm (11.8 x 11.8 x 0.39 in) | 3 mm (1/8 in) | 0.32 kg/m² (0.066 lb/ft²) | Theoretical, maker's consumption formula with that grout's density factor 1.6 |
Theoretical values of two different grouts; not comparable with each other.
Temperature window and cure times for cement grout#
One high performance grout (Custom Polyblend HP) is applied above 10 °C (50 °F) and kept above it for 72 hours, protected from rain for 7 days outdoors and from submersion for 14 days. Cold or fast drying during cure leads to powdering of the joint, which the temperature window guards against. The table below keys each window and time to its temperature and product, including the grouting time of one setting-bed adhesive.
| Temperature | Product (data sheet, edition) | Step | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Above 10 °C (50 °F) | Custom Polyblend HP (data sheet) | Application and early cure | Kept above 10 °C (50 °F) for 72 h |
| Not stated | Custom Polyblend HP (data sheet) | Exterior protection from rain; no submersion | 7 days; 14 days |
| 23 °C (73 °F), 50 % RH | Mapei Keraflex Maxi S1 (data sheet), a C2TE S1 setting bed under tile adhesive classes | Grouting of walls; grouting of floors | After 4 to 8 h; after 24 h |
Why Does Cement Tile Grout Fail, and How Is It Inspected?#
Cement tile grout fails in four ways: efflorescence and shading from the portland binder, cracking and shrinkage in wide joints, staining of the porous body, and powdering after cold or fast drying. Each failure leaves a visible sign, so inspection relies on two checks: a visual check of color uniformity across the floor or wall, and a scratch or hardness check of the joint surface. Powdering shows up as a joint that scratches out under a hard point, while efflorescence shows as a white deposit that returns after cleaning. The table below links each failure to its cause and its check.
| Failure | Cause | Check |
|---|---|---|
| efflorescence and shading | Portland cement binder | Visual color uniformity |
| Cracking or shrinkage | Wide joints | Visual; scratch hardness |
| Staining | Porous grout body without sealing | Visual |
| Powdering | Cold or fast drying during cure | Scratch hardness |
What Health, Safety and VOC Rules Apply to Cement Grout?#
Cement tile grouts contain portland cement, notified under ECHA C&L for skin irritation, skin sensitization, serious eye damage and respiratory irritation, and sanded grades add quartz (crystalline silica), whose respirable dust OSHA regulates under 29 CFR 1926.1153. The table below lists each rule with its instrument and date.
| Topic | Rule or classification | Instrument and date |
|---|---|---|
| Portland cement | No Annex VI entry; ECHA C&L notified classification: H315, H317, H318, H335; see the product SDS | ECHA C&L Inventory, checked 2026-10-22 |
| Soluble Cr(VI) in cement | At most 2 mg/kg (0.0002 %) of the total dry weight of the cement when hydrated; packing date, storage conditions and storage period on packs with reducing agents | REACH Annex XVII entry 47, Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 |
| Cr(VI) in US workplaces | The Cr(VI) standard (PEL 5 µg/m³) does not apply to portland cement | OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1126(a)(3) |
| Quartz (crystalline silica) | No Annex VI entry; no hazard statement in a majority of ECHA C&L notifications; see the product SDS | ECHA CHEM, checked 2026-10-20 |
| Respirable crystalline silica, US | PEL 50 µg/m³ 8-h TWA; action level 25 µg/m³ | OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153, effective 2016-06-23 |
| Respirable crystalline silica, EU | 0.1 mg/m³ respirable fraction, 8-h TWA, binding | Directive (EU) 2017/2398 |
| VOC, South Coast | Grout category 65 g/L (0.54 lb/gal); (j)(7) labeling exemption for polymer-free dry mixes | SCAQMD Rule 1168, amended 2022-11-04 |
| VOC, federal | No federal VOC content limit for adhesives or sealants | EPA AIM, 40 CFR 59 subpart D |
Portland cement hazards and chromium (VI)#
Portland cement (CAS 65997-15-1, EC 266-043-4) has no Annex VI entry; ECHA C&L notified classification: H315, H317, H318, H335; see the product SDS. REACH Annex XVII entry 47 limits soluble chromium (VI) to 2 mg/kg (0.0002 %) of the total dry weight of the cement when hydrated, and packs that rely on reducing agents carry the packing date, storage conditions and storage period. In the US, the Cr(VI) standard at 29 CFR 1926.1126 (PEL 5 µg/m³) does not apply to portland cement under paragraph (a)(3). The product SDS sets the gloves, eye protection and washing steps for each grout. Chromium (VI) reducing agents are cement additives, not covered here.
Respirable crystalline silica in grout dust#
Quartz (crystalline silica) has no Annex VI entry and no hazard statement in a majority of ECHA C&L notifications, so its classification is product-specific: see the product SDS. The exposure limits below apply to the respirable dust fraction, not to the mixed grout. OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153 sets a permissible exposure limit of 50 µg/m³ as an 8-hour time-weighted average and an action level of 25 µg/m³, effective 2016-06-23. In the EU, Directive (EU) 2017/2398 sets a binding limit of 0.1 mg/m³ for the respirable fraction over 8 hours.
VOC limits for tile grout#
SCAQMD Rule 1168 (amended 2022-11-04) sets 65 g/L (0.54 lb/gal), less water and exempt compounds, for its Grout category, a cement-based sealant that fills or seals gaps, including those of tile installations. Paragraph (j)(7) exempts dry mixes with no polymer that are mixed only with water from the container labeling of subdivision (g) only, and the VOC limit still applies to them. EPA AIM rules under 40 CFR 59 subpart D set no federal VOC content limit for adhesives or sealants, so the South Coast limit is the binding one in its district, and other categories are listed under VOC limits for construction chemicals.
How Much Does Tile Grouting Cost?#
Grouting tile costs USD 32.72 to 60.06 per m² (USD 3.04 to 5.58 per ft²) installed (labor plus job supplies, basic, all grout types), US national average, in the homewyse cost guide dated May 2026. The range covers labor and job supplies for all grout types together, so it does not separate cement from resin grouts. The relative ranking from The Construction Specifier (2025-06-05) fills that gap: A118.6 cement grout costs least, then A118.7, A118.19 premixed and A118.3 epoxy grout. Material prices per bag are not published here, so a bag budget comes from a supplier quote on the class, joint range and quantity. The table below sets the two cost references side by side.
| Item | Range | Region | Date | Source type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installed grouting (labor plus job supplies, basic, all grout types) | USD 32.72 to 60.06 per m² (USD 3.04 to 5.58 per ft²) | US national average | 2026-05 | Cost guide (homewyse) |
| Relative material cost ranking | A118.6 lowest, then A118.7, A118.19, A118.3 highest | US | 2025-06-05 | Trade magazine (The Construction Specifier) |
Installed prices from a US cost guide; material prices are not published here.
What Are the Alternatives to Cement Tile Grout?#
Two resin-based grout classes compete with cement grout, epoxy grout to ANSI A118.3 and premixed organic grout to ANSI A118.19, and each wins where stains, chemicals or the absence of mixing and sealing decide. ANSI A118.3-2021 (R2025) requires an epoxy grout to exceed 24.1 MPa (3,500 psi) in compression and stay below 0.25 % shrinkage, against 20.7 MPa (3,000 psi) and 0.20 % for an A118.7 cement grout. ANSI A118.19-2023 sets no compressive test for premixed grout and limits indentation to 1.14 mm (0.045 in) under at least 6.9 MPa (1,000 psi) after 28 days dry. The table below compares the alternatives.
| Alternative | Chemistry | When it wins | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| epoxy tile grout | Reaction resin (epoxy and amine hardener) | Stains, chemicals, no sealing | ANSI A118.3-2021 (R2025): compressive more than 24.1 MPa (3,500 psi), shrinkage less than 0.25 %; EN RG |
| premixed tile grouts | Urethane, acrylic or hybrid polymer, no cement | No mixing, no sealing | ANSI A118.19-2023: indentation at most 1.14 mm (0.045 in) at 6.9 MPa (1,000 psi) or more; no EN class |
| epoxy grout vs cementitious grout | Side-by-side comparison | Strength, stain and cost trade-off | A118.3 vs A118.7 |
| tile waterproofing membranes | Bonded membrane under the tile | Wet areas that need a waterproofing layer | ANSI A118.10-2023 |
Tile Grout Grades, Packaging and Sourcing#
Cement tile grout is sold as a one-component powder mixed with water or as a powder with a liquid admix, and buyers compare grades on class, joint range, color uniformity and the bag's packing date. The packing date matters because entry 47 ties the chromium (VI) limit to a storage period, and the class claim matters because only a named standard and edition make two products comparable. A buyer who compares grout data sheets across makers works from the guide to construction chemicals manufacturers and suppliers. The five buyer checks are listed below.
- Specify the class and edition: ANSI A118.6-2019 or A118.7-2019, or EN 13888-1:2022 CG1, CG2, CG2W, CG2A or CG2WA.
- State the grade, sanded or unsanded, from the joint width.
- State the color requirement, since shading is a failure mode of the portland binder.
- Give the quantity and bag size from the coverage basis of the chosen product.
- Request the data sheet and SDS, and check the packing date and storage period on delivery.
Where Does Grout Fit in a Tile Installation System?#
Grout is the last layer of a tile installation system: it fills joints over an adhesive bed and, in wet areas, over a bonded membrane, but it neither bonds the tile nor waterproofs the assembly. The adhesive carries the bond, and the membrane carries the water. Even epoxy grout "is not a replacement for a waterproofing membrane" (Laticrete DS-681), and the same holds for every cement grout.
Three grout families fill tile joints: cement grout to ANSI A118.6 or A118.7 and EN CG1 or CG2, epoxy grout to ANSI A118.3 and EN RG, and premixed grout to ANSI A118.19 with no EN class. The tile family overview compares the three families with the adhesives and membranes they sit on.
Tile grout FAQs#
Six questions about cement tile grout recur; short answers follow.
Is polymer-modified grout the same as epoxy grout?#
No: polymer-modified grout is a cement grout with redispersible polymer powder, while epoxy grout is a reaction-resin grout (EN RG, ANSI A118.3).
Strength, stain resistance and cost of the two are set side by side in the epoxy grout vs cement grout comparison.
Is wall grout different from floor grout?#
Wall grout and floor grout are UK shop names; the technical difference is joint width, sanded or unsanded, and class, such as CG2A for floors with wear.
The joint-width rule decides the grade: sanded grout for joints of 3 mm (1/8 in) and wider, unsanded grout below that.
Is sanded grout stronger than unsanded grout?#
Not as a rule: strength is declared per product against ANSI A118.6, A118.7 or EN CG1, CG2, and the sand follows the joint width.
An A118.7 grout exceeds 20.7 MPa (3,000 psi) at 28 days whether it is sanded or unsanded.
Is tile grout a non-shrink grout?#
No: tile grout fills tile joints under ANSI A118.6 or A118.7, while structural grout under baseplates and anchors is specified under ASTM C1107/C1107M-26.
Baseplate and anchor grouting is covered under non-shrink grout.
Why does cement grout dry in uneven color?#
Uneven color in cement grout comes from shading and efflorescence of the portland binder, and the check is a visual color-uniformity inspection.
Shading is listed with cracking, staining and powdering in the failure table above.
Is cement grout waterproof?#
No: no tile grout is the waterproofing layer, and wet areas take a bonded membrane under the tile.
The porous cement body takes up water, so tile waterproofing membranes do that job below the adhesive.