Difference Between Mortar And Grout

Mortar and grout are two diﬀerent products extensively used in the construction industry for brickwork and tiles. Both mortar and grout are cement-based products.

Despite having cement as a base material in mortar as well as in grout, both of these have diﬀerent properties and also have diﬀerent applications.

But the major diﬀerence between mortar and grout is the amount of water content in it. Mortar has a relatively lesser quantity of water than grout, making it stiﬀer than grout. Grout is more fluid as compared to mortar.

Let’s try to understand mortar and grout in detail below.

Mortar

Mortar is a cement-based material usually obtained in a semi-solid form or paste form when prepared. It is a mixture of materials like cement, sand, water, and sometimes lime.

Lime is added to the mortar mix with other ingredients to enhance the durability of the structure and to increase the bond strength between two adjacent masonry elements respectively.

Mortar acts as a binding agent for masonry elements like bricks, blocks, and stones as well. It can hold bricks, blocks, and stones together to form an element or structure like walls.

Mortar is applied with a trowel between the masonry elements. Mortar is also used as a bedding material for tiles. Mortar is stiﬀer as compared to grout. It is because the amount of water present in mortar is lesser than that of grout.

Hence the fluidity or the ability to flow is less in mortar as compared to grout. Mortar is generally mixed on site as per the requirements.

There are many diﬀerent types of mortars like:-

Cement mortar.
Lime mortar.
Lime-cement mortar.
Mud mortar.
Cement clay mortar, etc.

Each one of them has diﬀerent properties and is used for diﬀerent applications.

Grout

Like mortar, grout is also a cement-based material. Grout is also found in a semi-solid or paste form because of the presence of water, as an ingredient, in it. The Grout is used as a filler material to fill up the gaps or grooves between tiles.

Grout is a viscous material. The fluidity or the ability of grout to flow is higher than mortar. This is because the quantity of water present in grout is relatively higher.

Grout is less stiﬀ than mortar and its fluidity is also much higher than mortar. Because of the high fluidity of grout, it is not possible to place grout using a trowel.

The selection of grout depends upon few factors like:-

Type of tiles.
Size of tiles.
Size of groove or spacing between tiles (usually measured in millimeters).
Location of installation of tiles.
Climatic conditions.

Other than cement-based grouts, epoxy and resin-based grouts are also available in the market. Diﬀerent types of grouts are used according to the factors stated above with their compatibility to the type of mortar used as a bedding material.

Unlike mortar, grout is available in a wide range of colors, shades, and finishes. Nowadays, decorative grouts like Matt finished grout and glitter grouts, in various colors are also available in the market.

Difference Between Mortar And Grout

Mortar Vs Grout

Mortar	Grout
Mortar contains ingredients like cement, sand, water and lime.	Grout contains ingredients like cement, water, sand, epoxy, acrylic and polymer.
Water content is less in mortar.	Water content is more in grout.
It is used as a bonding material for masonry blocks, stones and bricks.	It is used to fill up grooves between tiles.
It is used as a material for providing bedding under the tiles.	It is used as a filler material, to fill up the gaps between tiles.
Mortar is usually stiﬀer than grout.	Grout is less stiﬀ than mortar.
Mortar has low viscosity.	Grout is a highly viscous material.
Mortar is applied using a trowel.	Grout cannot be applied using a trowel.
Fluidity of mortar is less.	Fluidity of grout is higher.
Mortar needs curing, once it hardens.	There is no requirement of curing in grout.
It is usually found in the colour of cement.	Grout is found in various colours.
Setting time of mortar is relatively more.	Setting time of grout is relatively less.
Workability of mortar is much higher as it can be applied using a trowel easily.	It is diﬃcult to apply grout using a trowel because its workability is less.
Once it hardens, it acts as a non porous material. It does not let the water pass through or even it does not hold water.	Grout is a porous material. Even in its hardened state, it can let the water pass through it and can also hold water.