Which grout would you choose for a more flexible finish with lower permeability than cement grout?

Which grout would you choose for a more flexible finish with lower permeability than cement grout?

• A. Latex grout
• B. Cement grout
• C. Epoxy grout
• D. Drywall grout

Answer: (A)

Think of grout as the flexible seal between tiles. Standard cement grout is stiff and relatively porous, so it can crack or absorb water with even small substrate movement. A latex grout adds acrylic polymers to the cement mix, making the grout itself more flexible and less prone to shrinkage. Those polymers also help reduce tiny voids in the matrix, lowering water absorption compared with plain cement grout. Epoxy grout, while extremely low in permeability, is much more rigid and harder to work with, so it isn’t as forgiving when floors or walls move. The drywall option isn’t used for tile grout at all. So the latex (polymer-modified) grout gives the best combination of flexibility and lower permeability.