Two answers here:
Grout should be sanded to add strength, just like you add rocks & gravel to cement to make concrete stronger.
Grout wears off a little every day & IF the flooring has
a very shiny surface, polished anything
is very soft, like sandstone, Travertine, Coral or marble
The sand in the grout is much harder than the stone & the released bits of sand from the grout will actually scar & scratch & dull the shiny polished surface as the traffic grinds it into the floor.
The installation of the wet, sanded grout can also start the delustering process.
Very narrow joint up to about 1/4" are usually considered to be safe to do without sand, but over that, an aggregate is needed & sand is the ideal.
The sand acts the same as the rocks & gravel in concrete, they add strength, volume and keep the chalky grout product from crushing. No sanded groud should be used on polished stone with very narrow groutlines, but sand must be added for wider grout joints or the product will lack volume, be chalky and crack.
Grout is little more than a mixture of sand and cement. To make grout, add just a little bit of sand to a bucket of cement. Mix it it a creamy paste. If you add too much sand, it will be too hard to stir.
The water ratio for mixing sand and grout varies depending on the specific type and brand of grout being used. Typically, it is recommended to follow the manufacturer's instructions on the packaging for the correct water-to-grout ratio to achieve the desired consistency for your project. It is important to mix the grout thoroughly to ensure proper hydration and strength of the final product.
7 Parts sand to 1 Part portland cement
You should use the grout that will work best for the biggest grout space that you need. So for a grout width like you described, 1/16 to 1/2, you should use sanded grout. Unsanded grout will look terrible in a 1/2" grout joint, but sanded grout will look great in both. Use sanded.
If the question is "WHAT" is Cement, Sand, water & if you want color then some Pigments
Grout is a substance that is used to fill gaps between tiles, such as in a shower or bathroom. Grout may be made of small aggregate, sand, and Portland cement. It may also be made of Portland cement or masonry cement and sand. There are many different types of cement, and these are usually used as an ingredient with which to make concrete and mortar.
The obvious answer is sanded grout has sand. But the in depth answer has many differences. Sanded grout which is the most common, can be used in a grout joint from 1/8" to 1/2" (and larger but check the grout). Sanded grout scratches many tile like glass. Non sanded grout can only be used on joints 1/8" or less. Non sanded grout is typically seen on marble and granite tile, many wall tile, and all glass tile.
No it shouldn't, but you should still grout your tile.
Grout poisoning occurs when someone ingests or inhales grout, which is a mixture used to fill gaps between tiles. It contains potentially toxic substances such as cement, sand, and chemicals that can cause health issues if consumed. Symptoms of grout poisoning may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and respiratory problems.
Grout should usually be white or contrast with the tiles, but it truly depends on your preferences.
There should be no reason you cannot steam mop epoxy grout.