Grouting tiny tile gaps

papageek

My better half found some accent tiles that are basically 1 x 2 very rough cut multi colored tiles in 3 rows to make a 3 inch break between the lower and upper tiles.

Forget how much fun they have been to install, especially in the corners, inside and outside.

Now it is time to grout the little b*st*ds. The space between most of the individual tiles is about 1/16 inches, and the only grout color she likes only come in sanded grout.

No way to run a grout float over the tiles, way too jagged. My first thought is to use one of those cake decorating things to force the grout into the tiny openings, something like a caulking gun.

Anyone have any better ideas?

PS: Does anyone know how to put a parental block on HGTV?

joecaption

Sand grout can not be used, keep looking for unsanded, a pastery bag will work fine.

papageek

Are you saying it "Can't" be used because it will be a pain in the butt to get in there, or is there another reason it can't be used.

joecaption

The sand acts as a filler to help fill larger gaps, if there's no gap then there no room for the grout to fill the gap because your trying to fill it with sand.
For every color of grout there a sanded and unsanded.
May want to try a real tile store not a box store.

papageek

Thanks Joe, I’ll see if they can special order it.

We started with a “real tile store” when we purchased the tile 6 months ago. At that time they were handling “Pro Grout” and since then they dropped the line. They are not that close to our home, so, just for the grout, we went to Lowes, what I’m sure you meant by a box store!

And the store recommends the cake decorating bag for filling the gaps. They used to sell them at the store, but dropped the line because demand wasn't high enough

joecaption

In a pinch you could try a freezer baggy and cut a hole in the corner.
I've also use masons bags. Lowes and HD has then in the mason tools area.

joecaption

For gaps that tiny I'd be tempted to use matching caulking, it's also sold in any color you can buy the grout.

drtbk4ever

Photo of the tiles please. Not that I have any advice, I'm just curious what the tiles look like.

__________________
Bill

A DIY Noob that knows just enough to be dangerous.

papageek

I'll try to get some photos and post them

papageek

There’s no easy way to do this. I only have about 15 feet by 3 inches wide 1 by 2 tiles, so I sat down in a lawn chair and did half of it manually last night. It took about 3 hours to do about 8 feet of tile, but it does look great.

I cut a wooden shim down to the point where it was just under 1/16 inches wide, then cut it to be about 1 inch at the tip. Mixed the grout in a small tray and used a small putty knife to hold the grout close to the work area. Grabbed a little grout, stuffed it into the gaps with the narrow edge of the shim and moved on to the next line. Clean up after was the bigger problem do to the very uneven surface of the tiles. A few washings with a sponge did most of it, but the final cleaning about 3 hours after I was done was also done with a pointed kitchen knife to make sure none of the corners of the tiles were covered in grout.

Sure hope I got a few brownie points for all that work! But I do repeat my previous question:

Does anyone know how to put a parental block on HGTV