Grout with polymer VS grout with polymer modified

[Rob V]

Hi new here on the forum. Checked out the search but didn't find an answer to the differences of grout with polymer vs grout which is polymer modified.

Also on that same grout subject the one grout I have is unsanded with polymer and for some reason I also bought a bag of sanded grout which says it is polymer-modified "sanded". Didn't buy it that long ago. Just getting old and have CRAFT disease.

Again I am just looking for the application for both and the difference of each one. I know I bought 2 different bags for a reason. For the life of me I just can't remember why.

Thanks in advance

[Ken]

Welcome Rob,

Can you please be more specific as to which products you're talking about? Please provide manufacture and product names specifically that you want clarification on.

Thanks!

[dhagin]

Hi Rob.

In addition to Kens questions, tell us what tile you're using and what the size of the grout joints are too.

[jgleason]

"grout with polymer" and "polymer modified" mean the same thing. It's like saying "vitamin fortified" or "fortified with vitamins", a distinction without a difference.

That isn't to say there won't be a difference in the grouts because different manufacturer's use different formulas to make their products. Tell us exactly what you have and we'll go from there.

[Rob V]

Sorry guys didn't know all that info was important. Here it is.

Grout manufacture is Mapei. The product is called Keracolor "U" Unsanded Grout with Polymer. The other bag is also Mapei Keracolor "S" Premium-grade, Polymer-Modified Sanded Grout.

Application is a shower. I have 1 foot square ceramic tile for the walls. Floor and ceiling will be 2" square ceramic tile.

I have stone looking tile strips (Sandalwood, Freeway pattern #50841, they are 5/8" strips they are mixed some 2 and some 4 inches long. They look like a stone of some sorts.) This I will be installing as a 2 3/4" wide accent 2/3 of the way up the shower.

Grout joints are 1/8 of an inch.

[Tiger Mountain Tile Inc]

Hi Rob,

The S is for sanded grout and the other in unsanded.

You'll want to use the sanded for grout joints 1/8" and bigger and the unsanded for smaller than 1/8".

[dhagin]

Use sanded for the whole thing. Both Mapei's Keracolor sanded & unsanded have dry polymer mixed in the bag, they just say it differently on the labels.