E77 – Grout – what you need to know - Bathroom Design Essentials

Mar 18, 2021

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 bathoom. 

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 in them. Grout boosters makes 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.  

 

Sanded grout 

• 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 

• Superor 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 an epoxy grout and super fine grout in bathroom showers. Most tilers can install epoxys 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 same brand of grout as caulking for perfect colour match.  
• If you want to use a light colour grout on the floor, it’s best to use epoxy 

 

Links Mentioned in the Podcast: 

Join the '5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them' Webinar

If you like this and want to learn more, I've got a webinar coming up on 24th November from 7PM-8PM AEDT. Click here to find out more and register.

ARDEX 

https://ardexaustralia.com/ 

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/ 

Book a Chat  

If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your kitchen get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.   

Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group  

Want to be inspired to create a home your truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.