What Color Grout To Use With Wood-Looking Tile?

Are you laying out new tiling in your home? Flooring installation can be costly, time consuming, and downright overwhelming. There are so many materials, colors, and styles to choose from. If you’ve decided to use wood look tile for your home, you’ll want to make it strong and looking seamless. This is where grout comes in.

Are you considering what color grout to use with wood-looking tile? Apply a neutral-colored grout that matches the darker tones in your wood look tiles. The goal is to pick a color that blends in as seamlessly as possible. Wood-look tiles are meant to replicate the look of authentic wood floors, which don’t have grout lines. Avoid light-colored grout, which stands out more and stains easier.

Wood-look tile is a porcelain tile manufactured to look like real wood. These tiles replicate the appearance of a wood grain, and come in various natural wood colors. They are made precisely and designed to fit together tightly and uniformly. Wood-look tiles come in various styles and sizes, but are usually shaped like wood planks.

Unlike traditional tiles, wood look tiles are rectified, meaning they have a very small grout joint. Homeowners opt for wood look tiles because they recreate an authentic wood flooring look. Thus, the beautiful wood design is meant to be front and center, without the distraction of grout. Authentic wood planks have minimal to no grout, and wood-look porcelain tiles follow suit.

Grout lines between wood look tiles are essential. Without grout, the tiles will not be able to adjust to weight and movement in the subfloor. This lack of flexibility will cause the tiles to eventually warp, develop lippage, or even break.

Wood-look tiles are designed to have very small grout lines. The industry standard is a ⅛” grout joint, but different tile layouts require different grout joints. For example, grid layouts usually require ⅛” grout joints, while brick layouts usually require a 3/16” joint. It is highly recommended you use spacers when laying out the tiles.

The color grout you use will depend on the color of your wood look tiles. The grout color should be neutral, and match the color of the tiles. The point is to have the thin grout line blend in with the surrounding wood look tiles.

To achieve this blended look, it’s good practice to match the color of the grout to the darkest wood grain color. This does two things. One, a darker color blends in with the wood grain better than a lighter color. And two, a darker color doesn’t pick up grime or dirt stains like a lighter color.

To make your color search easier, request grout color samples from the tiling manufacturer you’re purchasing from. You can hold these samples up against the real thing to find your perfect match. While it’s recommended you pick a darker, neutral shade, what you go with will also depend on your personal style.

Related Questions

What size spacers should I use for wood-look tile?

To ensure a uniform, tightly constructed wood look tile floor, use a ⅛” grout spacer. This is the standard size of grout line for this type of tiling. The alternative grout sizes are 3/16” or even 1/16”, depending on the layout of your tiling. Keep in mind, grout lines as small as 1/16” require unsanded grout. 

What do you spread grout with?

To apply grout, you should use a hard-edged rubber grout float. This tool allows you to spread the grout in wide arcs, pressing and filling in the empty grout lines. Before applying the grout, you must mix it thoroughly until there is no powder left. Then load the grout float, and spread it evenly. Once finished, squeegee off the excess grout from the surface, and let the grout joints dry.