Grout is often an afterthought and not even considered when making bathroom selections. Often it’s left to the tiler to decide on type and colour, which is not ideal. I’ve seen some less than desirable outcomes when the grout colour is not carefully chosen with the tile.
The overall look can be compromised by the wrong colour tone of grout and can ruin the whole aesthetic in your bathroom.
SHOWNOTES
Grout is used as a filler for the joints between tiles. It is basically a calcium carbonate that has various qualities.
Different Grout Types
Super fine grout
- A fine paste that gets right into the nooks and crannies of all the different joints and when it dries you will get a fine surface.
- It is pulverized into a talc rather than being sanded.
- When using super fine grout, it is best recommended to use grout boosters. Grout boosters make it set so that it is less absorbent. It makes it hard for the water to penetrate which prevents mold to form.
- Can’t be used in Y-joints. Use it only on smaller/finer joints.
- Washed sand.
- Used a cemented material with it.
- Is more absorbent, so you need to mix it with a grout booster
- Used in bigger joints, for example, 3mm on floors
Epoxy Grout
- Superior grout and used for high traffic areas
- Not necessary for walls
- Stain resistant
- No need to seal it
- Higher price point than standard grout
- Non-porous and will not absorb build up of soaps and chemicals.
Super quality grouts– A good compromise if you don’t want to use epoxy
You can have epoxy grout and superfine grout in bathroom showers. Most tilers can install epoxies but you need to be mindful of what you are installing the epoxy grout with. You can’t use epoxy with all products.
Whether you are using a super fine grout or sanded grout, be careful of using coloured grouts with materials that have moisture absorption. This is because when they put colour in grouts, they use oxide which can bleed into the room materials you are putting them with.
How to Maintain Your Grouts
Don’t use chemicals on grout, use water. Most of the buildup on floors and our grouts comes from the chemicals that we use. Chemicals compromise the grout’s ability to stand the test of time. Bleach doesn’t remove mold, it just whitens it, and damages the grout.
The best option is to use a steam mop. It will help you sanitise and clean your grout and tiles.
Reputable companies that have excellent grout ranges
- ARDEX
- Mapei
- Davco
Additional Tips
- Bond your grout with silicone
- Best to use the same brand of grout as caulking for a perfect colour match.
- If you want to use a light colour grout on the floor, it’s best to use epoxy
What’s new?
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Links Mentioned in the Podcast:
ARDEX
Mapei
https://www.mapei.com/au/en/about-us/mapei-in-australia
Earps Bros
Whether you are looking for decorative splash-back tiles for your rental property, high performing commercial quantity slip resistant tiles or handcrafted artisan mosaics from Morocco, their range will add value to your project now and into the future. Visit their website here: https://earp.com.au/
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If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your bathroom get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.
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