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Switched from sanded to unsanded grout for my kitchen backsplash and regret it every day
The unsanded stuff keeps cracking in the gaps between my subway tiles after only 3 months. Has anyone else had this issue with unsanded grout holding up long term?
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jennifer2041mo ago
Haven't you noticed that's just how things go anymore - we rush through everything and then wonder why it falls apart? Seems like the same pattern with grout, home repairs, even relationships - nobody wants to wait for things to properly cure anymore.
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faith_king1mo ago
Wait did you use the right kind of unsanded grout for those tight joints? I've used unsanded on a few backsplash jobs and never had cracking issues that fast. What brand did you go with and did you follow the mixing instructions exactly? I ask because I've seen people get bad results when they add too much water or don't let it set up properly. Could also be the tile was still moving if the thinset wasn't fully cured before you grouted.
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robert_bell1mo ago
Yeah I gotta say @faith_king that "tile was still moving" bit got me. I was in a hurry and grouted like 12 hours after setting the tile. Whoops. Definitely my fault on that one. I used Mapei unsanded grout and followed the bag directions but I probably sloshed too much water in there trying to get it smooth. Live and learn I guess. Now I get to stare at my cracked masterpiece every time I walk into the kitchen.
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