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The wife wants epoxy grout in bathroom & entry tile. Salesman in one tile store showed her a white piece that had been soaking in coffee for months, and it was spotless.
If this stuff is truly stain proof, and doesn’t need sealer, it is worth the cost to not have to scrub & clean & maintain so often.
Is there a hidden downside the salesman has not told us about? Latticrete offers a “Lifetime Warrantee” against staining. This cynic says that warrantees are simply distractions from the true failure mechanism.
One tile setter told us that epoxy yellows when exposed to sun. True?
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Brad, I can't say about yellowing, but i put 9x9 tiles on masonite with epoxy grout, you could see the floor flex when yoou walked on it and it lasted 15 yrs with NO problems till the kitchen was remodeled.
*One downside I can tell you of: Unglazed tile, you don't get that stuff of post-haste, you have to go find a chemist to sell you a gallon of phosphoric acid to burn it off with. Work quickly with the water after application!!
*Epoxy grout is used in packing houses, bakeries, and other industrial installations. Because of it's resistance to acids, staining, and food product contamination, I try to talk owners of residential projects into using epoxy grout. Sometimes, they buy it. No one is pulling your leg when addressing the maintenance question. The material costs are higher, but it's up to you to figure out if it fits the bill. The "true failure mechanism" of which you speak is consequent only to the grouter's performance. If the job is done correctly, there will not be any failure of the grout. After all I have said here, do not be scared away or otherwise dissuaded from using epoxy grout. Possible "downsides" to using epoxy grout are:Specialized knowledge is required. The level of success you achieve is based upon your level of knowledge about the grout componets. Your knowledge will primarily be based upon your experience or skill level.Proper mixing techniques. Not much can go wrong here, but if problems occur they are big time problems. Basically, adhere to the recommended mixing ratios, dwell time, etc. Be certain you have completely mixed the componets. Consider what your batch size will be and what tools you will use for mixing. Batch size can be determined by total area to be grouted and your grouting speed. Preparation of surface to be grouted. You want everything clean and ready for grouting. If you have a textured tile, consider how you will remove the excess grout from tile face. A little forethought goes a long way. Grouting skill level. You should have a well developed grouting technique that includes completely filling all joints, speed, removal of all excess grout from tile face as you go, cleanliness, and, uh, speed.Grout finish. Since epoxy is a chemical cure, excess water will not affect it. A good method is to use clean cloth towels and clean water. After the initial wipe, go back and look carefully for areas you may have missed or need to be wiped better. Your skill level is probably the chief determinant in how your grout job will look. I know that sounds so obvious, but if you have any doubt about how to proceed or if you anticipate any problems, I suggest you mix a small batch for a small area to get you up to speed about how it will go. Also, it helps if you have all tools and clean water readily available before you mix. Be sure to wear a good pair of latex gloves since it is possible you may have an allergic reaction to the epoxy. Last thing: your price for whatever is posted here is that you shall let us know how it goes, agreed?
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I've used the latticrete epoxy grout. There are plusses and minuses.
One is the cost; I paid over $300 for the epoxy grout compared to $40 if I had used regular grout.
As mentioned above, if you have porous or rough-glazed tile, the epoxy will coat it and won't come completely off.
There are drawbacks to installation. Since it cures so quickly, you can only do small areas (about 10 sq foot) at a time. Also you have to add a powder when doing vertical surfaces in order to thicken it, and then it becomes harder to work.
All in all I'm quite pleased with the results and my wife is quite happy that it's a lot less maintenance than regular grout. I would do it again even though it is so much more work and money.
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These guys all have the dirt on epoxy grout. Hard to use, but worth the trouble. And never do what I tried, adding more epoxy to loosen up slightly stiff grout. When it's hard it's hard. And just think, your grout job will probably outlive the owner, the tile, the house, heck it will most likely survive a subatomic bomb.
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There is an added advantage no one has mentioned. When I do small 1" mosiac tile, I use dry thinset with the expoxy liquid, and set and grout all at once. It is truly one stop shopping!
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The wife wants epoxy grout in bathroom & entry tile. Salesman in one tile store showed her a white piece that had been soaking in coffee for months, and it was spotless.
If this stuff is truly stain proof, and doesn't need sealer, it is worth the cost to not have to scrub & clean & maintain so often.
Is there a hidden downside the salesman has not told us about? Latticrete offers a "Lifetime Warrantee" against staining. This cynic says that warrantees are simply distractions from the true failure mechanism.
One tile setter told us that epoxy yellows when exposed to sun. True?