I'd like to install some tile in my bathroom and elsewhere in the house -

[hedgehog]

the problem is that we have very, very hard water and I don't want to spend the rest of my life scrubbing grout. I'm thinking of having the grout dyed gray to start with. Any suggestions?

[Paper Roses]

1. Let me tell you about my experience with colored grout!

My old bathroom has green ceramic tile. When it was done, the tile man used green grout. I doubt the grout was ever sealed because for years, every time I clean the tile, I have to scrub about a thousand grout lines. It looks good until the grout dries. Any traces of soap dry white over the green.

At this stage, there is nothing I can do with it. I am told that everyone now seals the grout. Lesson learned.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

2. If you don't have tile in your bathroom already

grout comes in colors in fact you choose a color grout that compliments your tile. Gray grout and there are shades to choose from actually the darker the better given your hard water issues.What you should do is go look at all the different colors there are grout.

Grout is a powder mix and there are all kinds of colors to choose from.

Present more details about your project ,for example ,do you have some tile in the bathroom now or are you thinking about adding tile ?

Does your bathroom have a ceiling fan to turn over the air -suck out the moisture ?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

3. Have you had any experience with epoxy grout? My brother swore by it.

I just did a back splash for a friend and they wated to use the pre mixed (not epoxy) due to its stain resistance.

I understand the epoxy is kinda hard to work with bu it is pretty much bullet proof when it comes to stains.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

4. Hello there bin Sober

Last edited Thu Feb 12, 2015, 06:37 PM - Edit history (1)

Only once on a smaller job- kitchen . it is spendy and yes hard to work with but yea, it's good stuff. I wouldn't think to use it if I were
doing anything major in tile such as a bathroom tub surround and tile walls.

As I recall I did maybe just short of 8 ' from the top of the kitchen counter top back splash up to the bottom of the upper cabinets. you clean as you go. But when yer done ,it's done ,you don't have to go back.The tiles were 4"by 4"'s.

On edit- I have had some bad luck with the pre mix stuff years back, seems to take forever to cure.
As I understand they have improved a lot on the pre mix stuff -changed the formula a bit, but I was advised to stay away form the stuff.
Same the pre mix mastic .

From what I hear some people sware by it others don't. Sales people just want to make the sale . I will say mixing is just a little too time consuming though.You go with what you know is about all I would say.

[hedgehog]

5. I'm lining up info for a major re-build in about 3 years

(if all goes well!). I'd heard of using gray grout and was wondering if anyone else had.

A huge ventilation fan to control bathroom humidity is #1 on my list.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

6. Put the fan on a timer. They work better when you run them longer AFTER you shower.

Too many people shut them off when they are done.

I have mine on a push button 10, 20, 40, 60 minute timer. I set it for 60 and then usually re set it for 60 when I'm done.

An added benefit is you won't accidentally leave the fan running for two weeks while you are on vacation and fry the thing. I read one guy claim he came home from vacation and his fan melted down on his tile floor before the breaker kicked.