Sanded or unsanded grout?
Sanded and unsanded grout differ in the joint width they are made for. FG-C unsanded grout is formulated for narrow joints, about 1/8 inch or less, and its fine texture gives a smooth line made to leave polished stone, glass and glossy ceramic unmarked. That makes it the usual grout for polished marble, glass mosaics and tight wall tile. FH sanded grout is made for wider joints from 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch, where the sand gives the grout body and strength, so it suits floor tile, larger formats and rustic stone with wider joints.
Colors in both sanded and unsanded
Most ARDEX FG-C and FH grout colors come in both unsanded and sanded versions, so a bathroom with a mosaic wall and a tile floor can use the same color in both joints. Shared colors include Polar White, Fresh Lily, Antique Chiaro, Natural Almond, Irish Creme, Vintage Linen, Stone Beach, Dove Gray, Silver Horizon, Stormy Mist, Gray Dusk and Charcoal Dust. A few are offered in one type only: Brilliant White, Sugar Cookie, Classic Vanilla, Barley and Black Licorice come as unsanded grout, and Ocean Gray as sanded grout.
Choosing a grout color
A tile grout close to the tile color lets the joints fade, so a floor or wall reads as one surface and the tile's own pattern or veining leads. A contrasting grout outlines each tile, which suits subway tile, patterned tile and any layout meant to be seen, such as a herringbone floor. White grouts such as Polar White and Brilliant White give a crisp, bright joint, creams such as Irish Creme, Natural Almond and Vintage Linen suit beige marble, travertine and limestone, and grays from Dove Gray to Charcoal Dust work with gray porcelain and darker stone. Black Licorice gives the sharpest outline on white tile.
Pairing with natural stone
Grout for natural stone is usually chosen to match the stone's background color so the joints stay quiet against the veining. Polished marble and other polished stone typically pair with unsanded grout in a tight joint. Tumbled and rustic stones with wider, irregular joints typically pair with sanded grout. Polar White sanded grout is listed for stone tile in particular, the cream and almond tones suit travertine and limestone, and white or soft gray grout is the usual pair for marble tile.
Mosaics, glass and porcelain
Mosaic tile has far more joints per square foot than a large tile, so the grout color decides much of how a mosaic reads. A matching grout keeps a marble or glass mosaic looking like one soft field of color, while a contrasting grout turns a hexagon, penny round or basketweave mosaic into a graphic pattern. Glass mosaics and polished stone mosaics usually take unsanded grout in their narrow joints, which keeps the grout line as fine as the tile. Large porcelain tiles are often set with tight, even joints, and a grout matched to the tile's background, such as Stormy Mist or Gray Dusk, keeps a wood-look or concrete-look porcelain floor reading as a continuous surface. The full range of mosaic tiles includes marble, glass and porcelain mosaics.
Caulk for corners and edges
Caulk is used where tile meets a different surface or changes direction, such as the joint between a backsplash and a countertop, an inside corner in a shower, or the edge where tile meets a tub. Polar White caulk is a white caulk to go with Polar White grout, so a white-grouted wall keeps an even color through its corners and edges, which matters most on shower tiles and backsplash tiles where those joints are in plain view.
