Renovating
What's the Difference Between Epoxy and Cement Grout?
Know when to choose cement grout and when to go for epoxy grout with this guide
Epoxy grout has become more and more popular among tile contractors and builders. I find new benefits every time I use this product. Unlike cement grout, which is made from a cementitious powder mix, epoxy grout is made from epoxy resins and a filler powder. The grout is extremely durable and almost completely stain-proof. Regular grout isn’t waterproof, so unlike epoxy grout, it can absorb water when it’s wet and stain easily. If you’re tired of scrubbing the gunk off your grout, epoxy grout could be your solution.
Epoxy grout haze or residue on tile surfaces has a glossy sheen. Make sure your tiler cleans your tile properly before and after grouting to avoid this.
The time necessary to clean the tile and the high price tag (it often costs three to fives times more than regular grout) can make some tilers hesitant to work with epoxy grout.
The time necessary to clean the tile and the high price tag (it often costs three to fives times more than regular grout) can make some tilers hesitant to work with epoxy grout.
Some epoxy grout are designed just for glass tile. Many brands have a regular epoxy and a special glass tile epoxy, too. The difference is in the filler part of the grout. The filler for glass tiles is finer, so it won’t scratch delicate tiles.
Tip: Matching the grout to your tile colour (or to the lightest-coloured tile, like in this shower) makes for a seamless installation. There’s less forgiveness with contrasting grout colours; unless the tile installation is perfect, a contrasting grout will highlight the changes in grout width.
See how to use coloured grout
Tip: Matching the grout to your tile colour (or to the lightest-coloured tile, like in this shower) makes for a seamless installation. There’s less forgiveness with contrasting grout colours; unless the tile installation is perfect, a contrasting grout will highlight the changes in grout width.
See how to use coloured grout
Brown, tan and mocha-coloured grout are hard to get right with regular grout. Many people are drawn to epoxy grout for its even colour. The colour of epoxy grout comes from the filler and is constant throughout. Regular grout can have its pigment removed during the cleaning phase.
You can make epoxy grouts sparkle by adding iridescent particles to your mix. Ask your contractor to prepare a sample board in advance to see how much sparkle you really want. The options are endless — you can even fine-tune colours by purchasing different fillers and blending them.
Tip: Medium grey is the safest colour choice for regular grout, because many installations grey out over time as soap and water take their toll.
You can make epoxy grouts sparkle by adding iridescent particles to your mix. Ask your contractor to prepare a sample board in advance to see how much sparkle you really want. The options are endless — you can even fine-tune colours by purchasing different fillers and blending them.
Tip: Medium grey is the safest colour choice for regular grout, because many installations grey out over time as soap and water take their toll.
Using an epoxy grout is completely different than using regular grout; no step is the same. From mixing to application to cleaning, epoxy grouting has its own set of rules. Make sure your tiler has experience with the product and ask for a grout sample board before installation begins.
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Although it has plenty of benefits, note that epoxy grout is more difficult to work with than regular grout. It also tends to look like plastic, which some homeowners don’t like.
Regular grout is very easy to shape in outside corners where tile wraps around a wall, curb or shower niche. It is harder to achieve the same effect with epoxy grout, since it takes a little longer to set up in the grout joint.
I find it makes the most sense to grout a bathroom in three to five rounds. Epoxy grout sets quickly, so you don’t want to mix all the grout for the bathroom and then rush it into place.