Best Replacement for Tile Grout

Can you use Selleys No More Gaps as a replacement for tile grout on walls?

No. Selleys does not recommend using No More Gaps — or any similar gap sealant — as a substitute for tile grout, even on walls that are not in the shower. The two products have distinct properties and distinct jobs, and swapping one for the other gives you a wall that looks passable for a while and then fails in a way that is tedious to correct.

If what you want is a grout you can apply straight from a cartridge without mixing powder, Selleys makes one: White For Life Ready To Use Grout. That is the product to reach for, not a gap filler.

Why grout and gap filler are not interchangeable

Most grout is a mixture of cement, water and sand. Its job is to fill the space between tiles and hold them in place — it is a hard, load-bearing, abrasion-resistant material that becomes part of the tiled surface. There are several types, including epoxy grout, acrylic grout and urethane grout, and of those epoxy is considered a top choice for tile work for a number of reasons.

No More Gaps is the opposite kind of material by design. It is flexible and waterproof, formulated to move with the building rather than resist it. In a tile field that flexibility is a liability: the joints between tiles are not meant to move, and a soft filler in them will pick up dirt, deform under cleaning, and never match the hardness of the surrounding surface.

Where No More Gaps genuinely belongs in a bathroom

There is a real role for it, just not in the tile joints. In a bathroom, No More Gaps can be used:

• Around the edge of a bathtub, where the tiles meet the tub
• In corners, and around the base of showers
• Around drains and pipes, to prevent leaks
• Around doors and windows, as weatherproofing

What those have in common is that they are all movement joints — a junction between two different elements that expand, contract or flex independently. That is precisely where a flexible product beats a rigid one, and precisely where grout cracks.

Note the important caveat, though: No More Gaps Bathroom & Kitchen, the variant formulated with a fungicide for damp rooms, still directs you to Selleys Wet Area Silicone Sealant for gaps around baths, sinks and showers. For a joint that is regularly wet, a silicone is the correct product, not an acrylic filler.

Using White For Life Ready To Use Grout instead

If you are re-grouting a wall, this is the Selleys product built for it. It is a water-based tile grout supplied in a 410g cartridge and a 1.4kg tub, for interior tiling.

1. Make sure the tile adhesive has fully set — typically 24 to 48 hours. Remove spacers and rake excess dust and debris out of the joints.
2. For re-grouting, remove the old grout, clean the joints thoroughly with Selleys Rapid Mould Killer, and allow the area to dry.
3. Cut and seal the cartridge, screw on the nozzle and cut it to size.
4. Apply with a caulking gun, forcing the grout into the joints and working small areas at a time.
5. Compact and clean off with a rubber squeegee or grout float, moving diagonally across the joints so you do not drag grout back out and so residue on the tile faces is minimised.
6. Let the grout firm up in the joints for about 20 minutes — longer in colder conditions — before cleaning.

Its limitations, which matter

• Not recommended for areas frequently immersed in water, such as shower floors.
• On shower walls it can be used, but allow a minimum of three days drying before exposing it to water.
• Allow three days before applying White For Life Grout Sealer for maximum stain resistance, and reapply the sealer annually or after any hard scrubbing.
• Avoid harsh acidic cleaners, and clean up spills promptly — the grout resists penetration by common stains for up to 10 minutes.

Common questions about grout and gap filler

Can I use No More Gaps between wall tiles if the wall never gets wet?

Selleys does not recommend it. The objection is not only about water — it is that a flexible sealant does not have the hardness or wear resistance that a grout joint needs.

What should I use in the corner where two tiled walls meet?

An internal corner is a movement joint, which is the one place in a tiled area where a flexible product is correct. In a wet area use a silicone such as Wet Area Silicone or No Mould rather than grout.

Is No More Gaps waterproof?

It is described as flexible and waterproof, and it is used around drains, pipes and the edge of a bath. That is not the same as being suitable for permanent water immersion — the Interior Multipurpose data sheet excludes permanent immersion and constantly damp areas.

What kinds of grout are there?

Beyond standard cement, water and sand grouts there are epoxy, acrylic and urethane grouts, each with different properties. Epoxy is widely regarded as a top choice for tile projects.

Can I grout a shower floor with White For Life Ready To Use Grout?

No. It is not recommended for areas frequently immersed in water, and a shower floor is named specifically.

How long before a newly grouted shower wall can get wet?

A minimum of three days.

Do I need to seal the grout?

For maximum stain resistance, yes — allow three days, then apply White For Life Grout Sealer, and reapply annually or whenever the grout has been scrubbed hard.

How do I keep grout looking clean?

Clean the grout and tiles regularly with White For Life Tile & Grout Cleaner to avoid a build-up of soil and soap scum, and avoid harsh acidic cleaners.

Is there a guide to grouting?

Yes — how to grout tiles and how to seal grout cover the job step by step.