Installing Tile without Grout - Is this wise to do?

13 years ago

I am planning on redoing our bathroom and want to have tile installed in the shower area. My sister-in-law redid her bath and had limestone installed in the shower area, but without grout. The tiles are just butted up to each other. She lives in Florida and said it is done a lot down there. Is this a wise thing to do and how do you keep the water from getting onto the wallboard behind the tiles. Granted, I love the thought of not having to deal with keeping grout lines cleaned, but would be concerned about wall damage and possibly mold build up between the tiles.

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terezosa / terriks

13 years ago

No, it's a bad idea, but not for the reasons you think. Tile and grout do not provide the waterproofing in a shower. Water can and does get behind tile and grout, regardless of the size of the grout line. The waterproofing is done behind the tile.

Back to why it's a bad idea. When you butt tiles together, there is still a very small gap. If you don't fill it grout, something else will find its way in there, and that something else will be soap scum, dead skin cells, dirt, etc., which increases the odds of growing mold, etc. on that organic matter. I'd much rather have grout between my tiles than a bunch of gross junk.

Another reason not to do it is that many tiles are not exactly the same size, and they will not line up properly.

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Comments (10)

bill_vincent
13 years ago
Exactly right. No matter WHERE it's being installed in the home, it's a bad idea.
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pricklypearcactus
13 years ago
I've seen pictures of floors (not shower floors, just floors) where it looks like stone tile is butted up against each other, is that just really small grout joints? Just curious.
lazy_gardens
13 years ago
It's just really tiny grout joints. There are special grouts for "invisible" joints.
brenda_md
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks Terriks and Bill, I had a feeling it was not good to do. It makes me wonder how such practices get started.
bill_vincent
13 years ago
PPC-- You may HAVE seen an ungrouted floor. Just in the kitchens forum alone there have been many who've ignored my advice and gone forward with groutless installations. Doesn't mean it's right, or even a good idea.
antss
13 years ago
". It makes me wonder how such practices get started."

.............ya know , I was reading on the internet last nite

-OR-

did you see that Home Makeover, they put in the floor tile without grout and they said it was super terrific.
pricklypearcactus
13 years ago
Thanks for clarifying. I suppose as many times as I've seen/heard people installing tile in a shower over drywall with no waterproofing of any kind, I shouldn't be surprised to see something else done incorrectly.
Billl
13 years ago
"No matter WHERE it's being installed in the home, it's a bad idea"

There are some tiles that are designed not to have grout. All of the new "stacked stone" type tiles would look absurd with grout lines. Of course, I wouldn't want those anywhere near a shower.
webuser_778689423 webuser_778689423
3 years ago
Hi this is a really old thread but I've discovered a product (Norstone Platinum Planc) that stands by no grout, even in the shower. Does anyone have any experience with Norstone products - particularly the Platinum Planc?