Grouting vinyl floor tiles

Fordy81 · 26 Sep 2022

We got some cheap self adhesive floor tiles for the bathroom, and there are slight gaps between each one despite my best attempts. Is it possible to 'grout' between them?

If so, what to use? I have some leftover Mapei premixed Waterproof Fix and Grout but presumably this won't be any good for the floor as I think it's for walls only? If not, what is best to use?

Thanks in advance

JP_ · 26 Sep 2022

could you just use silicone?

curry-kid · 5 Oct 2022

I have used flexible powdered grout to grout between self adhesive floor tiles in our kitchen.
But really we only put this down as a temporary measure as the ceramic floor tiles underneath were all cracked and looked terrible. Not got the money at the moment to do a full kitchen replacement, including a knock through.
The grout does look good but I don't think it will last that well. It's only been down 3 months and I have had to patch the grout in a couple of places.
I intentionally left a 5mm gap between the self adhesive tiles for the grout, but i'm not sure how well it would work if you have stuck them down flush to each other.
Also might not be so good in a bathroom where the floor is likely to be wetter than in a kitchen...
Single piece of lino would be better.

Fordy81 · 17 Oct 2022

JP_ said:
could you just use silicone?

I did wonder as what I've got is the bacteria resistant stuff so shouldn't go mouldy.

foxhole · 18 Oct 2022

Fordy81 said:
We got some cheap self adhesive floor tiles for the bathroom, and there are slight gaps between each one despite my best attempts. Is it possible to 'grout' between them?

If so, what to use? I have some leftover Mapei premixed Waterproof Fix and Grout but presumably this won't be any good for the floor as I think it's for walls only? If not, what is best to use?

Thanks in advance

Far better to take them up and do it again properly

Fordy81 · 18 Oct 2022

foxhole said:
Far better to take them up and do it again properly

It has been done properly. I should have said it's just hairlines where they join but they look like black lines

curry-kid · 18 Oct 2022

How about epoxy grout?
I've not tried it personally and have heard it is a pain to apply as it sets quickly, but it is supposed to be stronger than cement type grout.

foxhole · 18 Oct 2022

Fordy81 said:
It has been done properly. I should have said it's just hairlines where they join but they look like black lines

Grouts far too coarse to fill hailrline gaps.

ktuludays · 19 Oct 2022

Fordy81 said:
I did wonder as what I've got is the bacteria resistant stuff so shouldn't go mouldy.

It will go mouldy, it always does

fairplay · 2 Oct 2023

I spaced my vinyl tiles and grouted them with pretty standard cement based grout. They lasted over ten years in a kitchen and people assumed it was a stone floor. In fact the vinyl layer wore through before the grout failed although a few bits were starting to come loose. They grout peel nd stick tiles all the time in the USA even pros do it "properly". Not everybody is in a position to strip out their kitchen completely, remove all previous floor coverings, screed it, tile it, put everything back let alone afford it at he moment!