Grout is a mortar or paste for filling crevices, especially the gaps between wall or floor tiles. Given the variety of colors available, grout has become one of the design elements of a tile installation. There are resin grouts and epoxy grouts, but grout comes in two basic varieties that are used in residential applications:
- Sanded grouts – Best for larger grout lines
- Unsanded grouts – Best for grout spaces smaller than 1/8″
Thinset is an adhesive mortar made of cement, fine sand and a water retaining agent. It is usually used to attach tile or stone to surfaces such as cement or concrete. Due to its cement ingredients, thinset should be made up in small batches as needed. It also should never be washed down a drain, as it will harden in your pipes.