Tiles and grout

Sharee · Apr 13, 2008 7:05 pm

Hi all, was wondering if anyone can give me some advice on tiles. We are having our open plan kitchen, dining and lounge tiled. I want a mid tan coloured tile. I hate the look of light tiles with dark dirty grout and was wondering what the best way to avoid this is? Should I try and match the grout to the tile and get it sealed would that do it?

royalblue · Apr 13, 2008 7:19 pm

Sharee, the best way to avoid that look is NOT have a tiled floor! There are a lot of alternative surfaces that are nicer and more practical. And 'lounge room' and tiles are mutually exclusive IMO!

But if you do choose tiles, there are some ways of avoiding the dirty grout lines. Either have an epoxy grout in a similar colour to the tiles, or after it is grouted (and the grout cured) have it grout coloured. Grout colourant is about the best grout sealer you can get, and can be colour matched to your tiles.

http://www.aquamix.com/media/uploads/Gr ... rChart.pdf

After that, its just a matter of proper maintenance to keep it clean.

Ash.

Sharee · Apr 13, 2008 7:32 pm

THanks Ash, I would prefer floorboards like we have in our current home but my husband doesn't agree. Our family room (were we would sit and watch tv) will be carpeted, but the dining, kitchen and lounge is one big area and therefore probably needs to have the same floor covering and I guess that leaves us with tiles as the most practical solution.
So is it our tiler we should talk to about either of your two suggestions, which is likely to be cheaper? If the grout was coloured in the methods you described could I expect it to remain a mid tan colour (with proper maintenance) or is it inevitable that I will get some discolouration to that yucky dirty tone? sorry if I sound a little clueless, it's only because I am!!

royalblue · Apr 13, 2008 7:39 pm

Don't worry about sounding clueless. That's fine.... it makes me sound sooooo bloody great! :wink:

Yeah, talk to your tiler about a top quality epoxy grout, as a simplest way to go. If the tiler doesn't want to know, choose another tiler. Get a tiler that is used to working with epoxy grout. I say that because it presents some challenges to apply and clean up, and many just want to do it the easy way. Normally though, it is only suitable for quite narrow grout joints.

Unlike normal cement based grouts, epoxy is non absorbant, so won't soil and stain like most grout will. It is a superior product.

Ash.

to_do_list · Apr 13, 2008 7:59 pm

royalblue

Unlike normal cement based grouts, epoxy is non absorbant, so won't soil and stain like most grout will. It is a superior product.
Ash.

Thanks Ash, another useful thing I learnt today....thinking.....

Sharee · Apr 13, 2008 8:03 pm

Thanks so much Ash!

bec · Apr 13, 2008 9:19 pm

Quote:

Don't worry about sounding clueless. That's fine.... it makes me sound sooooo bloody great!

LOL