Everything you need to know about…Grout Spacers

The rumors are true, zellige CAN be installed edge to edge. That means minimal grout in those naturally open gaps left by the uneven handmade cuts that we love! Grout helps protect tile over time, so grout is recommended even with edge to edge installations. Zellige tiles already have textural variation, so they won’t lay entirely flat, even with the use of grout.

If you want to go the traditional grout spacing route, that’s an option as well and we recommend the smallest grout lines possible at 1/16” spacing. We recommend Mapei Ultracolor FA for all zellige installations, and the installation guide is available on the Resources tab of our website.

Pro tip: There is only one zellige tile that requires a sealer – our Unglazed Natural zellige tile. If you’re going with our unglazed zellige, remember to use a grout color as close to the tile as possible and seal with 511 Porous Plus prior to grouting so that the grout does not stain the tile.

If you don’t like the look of traditional grout lines between your zellige tiles, you can use wedges to maintain an even installation. The tiles will still look as if they were installed edge to edge, and the wedge will help keep the overall installation aligned as your installer works with the naturally uneven pieces. To remove the wedges, simply tap them lightly and they should pop right out prior to grouting. Wedges are lightweight, easy to use, and won’t damage the tile.

Most customers request the thinnest grout spacing possible, which is why we recommend 1/16th’” for our handcrafted cement tiles. However, you can also use a 1/8th” grout spacer if you’re covering a larger area or you want a more traditional look. The most important decision when grouting cement tiles is to choose a neutral color grout (we turn to Avalanche and Frost from Mapei’s Flexcolor CQ line) and apply the grout in small sections after properly sealing the tile with 511 Porous Plus. The sealer acts as a grout release to ensure that the grout does not stain the tile. Even with proper sealing, it is critical to only grout in small 2 feet by 2 feet sections and remove the excess grout from the surface of the tile immediately. Dark grout can damage cement tile and must be avoided unless using a grout bag to grout the open spaces slowly by hand. Be sure to review each step of our cement tile installation guide closely with your installer prior to starting the project.

Grouting thin glazed brick is a relatively straightforward process, when it comes to spacing. These brick tiles are naturally textured, which makes 3/8” the ideal width for grout when working with tiles of this size. We recommend Mapei Ultracolor Plus FA.

Though the process is fairly simple, grout specifications can be confusing as they're unique to the tile type you are installing. Don't fret, we’re here to answer all of your tile and grout-related questions. Our team loves to talk all things tile! We will walk you through the entire process, from choosing your tile to sealing it.