- Granite tiles are made from the same material that is used to create slab counters, cut down into 12-inch squares. These natural stone products rarely if ever end up exactly the same size and shape from tile to tile. Very frequently there are small variations between the tiles; some may be slightly less than square while others may be up to 1/8-inch smaller than others. If these tiles were to be laid end to end with no grout joint, they would not form straight rows on the counter. Instead, the rows of tile would shift and move, drawing more attention to the tiles than grout would.
- Granite is a crystalline material made of quartz, mica, silica and feldspar. While the top of the granite tiles is polished and smoothed to a high-gloss finish, the sides of the tiles are not. Small surface imperfections including pits and fissures found in the stone can be felt along the edges of the stone. When two granite tiles are butted against one another with no grout joint, subtle movements and shifting of the installation cause the tiles to rub against one another. The surface imperfections of the stone will cause stress between the tiles, potentially cracking or chipping the tiles.
- Grout does more than separate the tiles from one another; it helps create a water-resistant surface for your granite tile countertop. No matter how tightly you try to place two tiles against one another, there will be a small gap between them. Liquids can work their way into these gaps, harming the installation. Because granite is porous, any moisture that seeps between the tiles can be wicked up from the bottom of the tile where sealers do not reach. This moisture can stain the tiles, ruin the substrate beneath the tiles and potentially even reach the cabinets if enough liquid was to spill.
- Countertops get a lot of use. Crumbs, liquids and food debris are a fact of the use of most counters. Grout helps keep these particles on the surface of a tile countertop where they can be easily wiped away. A tile countertop with no grout filling the spaces between the tiles will be subject to staining, trapped food particles and potentially mold and bacteria growth from trapped food sources.
- While not using grout is inadvisable for a granite tile countertop, there are ways to minimize the appearance of the grout. Use a 1/8-inch grout joint between the tiles; this size is small but adequate at protecting the tiles and making up size differences. Use an unsanded, smooth grout in a color that matches the main color tone in the granite. Dry-lay out the tiles to create a pleasing pattern before installation, and seal the grout along with the granite to help prevent stains.
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