The Truth About Epoxy Grout

Fallen in love with a mosaic tile, but alarm bells are ringing at the thought of scrubbing all that grout? Listen up!

There is an alternative to regular grout that will see your cleaning time slashed — and your mosaic feature tiles and tile grout in your kitchen, laundry or bathroom, sparkling like new for months and years from now…

Have we got your attention? Then let’s dive into all things epoxy grout…

Shelley Craft • Bathroom Tiles Grout

Zephyr and Stone • Kitchen Design with epoxy grout to splash back tiles

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So first things first. What exactly is grout, and how is epoxy grout different?

Traditional tile grout is made from a cement-based mix. It’s not waterproof and actually absorbs water when it becomes wet. It also absorbs stains easily, as anyone who has scrubbed grout will attest to.

Epoxy grout, on the other hand, is made of epoxy resins combined with a filler powder. This makes epoxy grout waterproof and almost completely resistant to stains. Furthermore the durability of epoxy grouts makes it the ideal choice for splash backs, floors and high-traffic areas.

Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Laundry with mosaic tile splashback

Epoxy Grout Benefits

Epoxy grout won’t crack, shrink, or discolour, making it ideal for applying in wet areas, such as showers. It’s also highly resistant to the harsh chemicals found in cleaning products. As an added bonus, unlike traditional cement grout, epoxy grout does not need to be sealed, due to its non-porous nature.

Sound too good to be true? Let’s look at any downsides of this wonder grout.

Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Powder Room Design for Epoxy Grout Bathroom Ideas

Epoxy Grout Tiles Drawbacks

Epoxy grout is more difficult to apply than traditional grout. It takes longer to apply and sets quickly, so must be applied in stages. Tiles must also be cleaned thoroughly before applying epoxy grout. Epoxy can discolour porous surfaces, such as natural stone, so these surfaces should be sealed prior to grouting, and an epoxy grout sealer can be used to finish the job.

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What does the Epoxy Grout Material look like?

Epoxy can also have a slightly plastic look to it, compared to the textured cement look of regular grout. Any epoxy residue left on tiles will have a glossy sheen to it, so must be cleaned thoroughly immediately after application. Due to its sheen, epoxy grout is also less forgiving and highlights imperfections in your tiling.

Zephyr and Stone • Contemporary Coastal KItchen Design with Penny Round tiled splashback

Epoxy Grout Cost

Grout epoxy also comes with a much higher price tag - expect to pay three to five times more than standard cement grout for your product. The extra time to apply epoxy and clean thoroughly afterwards also adds to the bottom line, making this grout a considerably larger investment.

Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Laundry with fishscale pattern marble tile splashback

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If opting for epoxy grout, match your grout colour as closely as possible to your tile colour. This will make any imperfections in the tiling or grout less obvious. Also ensure your tiler is experienced in applying epoxy grout, as the steps involved differ significantly from traditional cement grout.

Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Butler’s Pantry with small, white mosaic splashback tile

So there you have it. Grout, without the scrubbing. Despite some of its drawbacks, epoxy grout is a fabulous solution for splashbacks, wet areas and areas that experience high levels of traffic. We always opt for epoxy grout if installing a mosaic tile splashback behind a kitchen cooktop, or when installing light-coloured or white floor tiles in high traffic areas.

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