What do you think of ungrouted tiles in the kitchen?

[nattugglan11]

I previously installed 10x10 beveled tiles in the kitchen. Since they are beveled, I hesitated to start grouting because it's a bit more challenging ...but after some time, I think it looks quite okay anyway. A side effect of this is that you avoid seeing ugly grease marks in the grout around the stovetop
I have a country look in my kitchen, old style that is, so maybe it works better in my kitchen than in modern kitchens. Anyone else had ungrouted tiles in the kitchen or am I alone in this quirky solution? (Yes, those of you who tiled without gaps between the tiles obviously didn't grout)

 

[imported_Benno]

I have left it unjointed, but it's mostly out of laziness. The tiles (beveled) are edge to edge and there should really be a thin chalk joint à la tile stove. Perhaps one gets used to it ;-).

 

[ullberg]

I previously installed 10x10 beveled tiles in the kitchen, and since they are beveled, I was hesitant to start grouting because it's a bit more challenging ...but after some time, I think it looks quite okay anyway. A side effect of this is that you avoid seeing ugly grease marks in the grout around the cooktop
I have a country look in my kitchen, an old style, so it might work better in my kitchen than in modern kitchens. Are there others who have had ungrouted tiles in the kitchen, or am I alone in this quirky solution? (Yes, those of you who tiled without gaps between the tiles have, of course, not grouted)

Do you have a picture of how it looks at your place? Personally, I find it hard to believe that I would consider having them ungrouted if I set them with gaps for grout.

In the countryside, we have them set close together and then, as you mentioned, without grout. Many times, I have wondered if I should grout these because it looks like something is missing (and according to imported_Benno, it's apparently chalk grout I should go for).

The benefit of avoiding grease in the grout must be highly imaginary; in your case, the grease ends up in the gap, a gap just big enough to make it difficult to clean.

Of course, I give you "the benefit of the doubt" since I've never seen how it looks; maybe it's great. I'm really curious and would really appreciate a picture or two.

/U

 

[NinaE]

If you are afraid of grease stains on the grout, I recommend epoxy grout. We used it in our kitchen precisely because we didn't want our dark grout to get any discolorations. Six months later, it still looks new and I believe the grout will outlast the tiles.

 

[nattugglan11]

If you're worried about grease stains on the grout, I recommend epoxy grout. We used it in our kitchen precisely because we didn't want our dark grout to get any discoloration. Six months later, it still looks new, and I believe the grout will outlast the tiles.

Interesting, I wasn't aware of this product. But I read another thread here on the forum, and epoxy grout is a bit tricky, harder to work with, somewhat hazardous, and relatively expensive.

How do you apply it? ...it's important not to mess up so that you can't remove the residue, as it will likely stay forever.

 

[nattugglan11]

Do you have a picture of how it looks at your place? I personally find it very hard to believe I would want to leave it without grout if I set them with spacing for grout.

In the country, we have them set closely and, as you mentioned, without grout. I've often wondered if I should grout these because I feel like something is missing (and according to imported_Benno, it's apparently kritfog I should go for).

The benefit of avoiding grease in the grout must be highly imaginary; in your case, the grease ends up in the gap, a gap that's just the right size to make it hard to clean.

Of course, I give you "the benefit of the doubt" since I've never seen how it looks; maybe it's great. I'm really curious and would really appreciate a picture or two./U

I'll see if I can get a couple of pictures. It's not the grease itself I'm concerned about; it's the discoloration it causes on the entire grout area 30cm above the hob. The tiles I have get quite quickly smeared with cooking grease...and I see how it looks at other people's homes ..okay, not a disaster but still,

 

[NinaE]

Interesting, I wasn't aware of this product. But I read another thread here on the forum and epoxy grout is a bit tricky, harder to work with, a bit hazardous and relatively expensive.

How do you apply it? ...it's important not to mess up so you can't remove the residues, as then it will stay forever.

We went with Kerapoxy design http://www.mapei.com/adv/SE/kerapoxy_design/. It's not great to get it on your skin, but the same goes for regular grout too. It's a bit heavier than regular grout, but if you're grouting in a kitchen, the difference is hardly noticeable. You just grout as usual. It is definitely more expensive, maybe 4-5 times more than regular grout. In my project thread, you can read a bit and see results on the kerapoxy grout http://www.byggahus.se/forum/socialt-projekt/209799-nytt-kok-i-bostadsratt.html?showAll

To remove the residues, there is a special product that cost 80 kronor or something similar, so it's no problem to remove the residues if it happens to dry. The product is called Kerapoxy Cleaner.