Another Question about Backsplash Materials -- Grout!

15 years ago

The recent post about backsplash materials got me thinking about grout. I'm using white subway tile (I haven't found complaints yet about it being difficult to clean, although it certainly will show dirt). But I'm having a related question about GROUT. The person at the tile shop in my home town strongly cautioned against cementious (sp?) grout, suggesting instead a urethane grout (such as quartz lock) or an epoxy grout (such as laticrete spectra lock). These aren't supposed to stain easily. I haven't found any complaints on these (except for long curing times), but I'm wondering whether anyone has has experience with their tomato sauce, or mole, or wine, etc. staining these grouts.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

willtv
15 years ago
I've had a black & white subway tile backsplash for almost a year and have had no problems keeping it clean.
I too was worried about it becoming a tomato sauce magnet.
We used bright white cementious non sanded grout and applied 2 coats of sealer.
As long as you wipe up any spills or, more appropriately, splashes within a reasonable amount of time you should be OK.
I've read several comments from people who used white epoxy grout about the grout yellowing over time.
barbcollins
15 years ago
We used the Laticrete grout like this in a previous kitchen and I thought it was great!

Laticrete Grout

Admix

DH spilled tea on it overnight and it wasn't stained. I left a broken printer on the counter once and found magenta ink had leaked out. Scared the you know what out of me! But it did not stain the grout.

We grouted another kitchen counter this weekend but Lowes did not have any of that. So we bought the Laticrete Spectralock. It was not hard to work with, but it didn't go as far as we thought. Had to go back and buy more. We ended up buying four containers to do the counters and the mosaic backsplash. Also, the color was "Almond", but the grout looked white after application. I am waiting to go back this weekend to see if it darkens.
Related Professionals
Richmond Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Texarkana Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Anniston Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Coldwater Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Norfolk Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Southaven Kitchen Remodelers · Portsmouth Kitchen Remodelers · Elmira Kitchen Remodelers · Westerly Kitchen Remodelers · Pullman Kitchen Remodelers · Crestview Custom Countertops · Tampa Custom Countertops · Jackson Custom Countertops · Albert Lea Custom Countertops · Redding Custom Countertops
Orlando1
Original Author
15 years ago
Those are very helpful relplies! My GC is urging specifically Quartzlock 2 (Urethane) grout. Other than some complaints about curing times, I can't seem to find anything negative elsewhere on the internet, but most of the posts I've find are from people on the contracting/building end of things, and not on the long-term user side.
barbcollins
15 years ago
Ok, we are back up at the weekend house.

A little disappointed in the color. It's lighter than I wanted, but it still looks ok. But I can tell you this stuff is durable. Last weekend when finishing up I picked up a glass casserole dish to take home to clean (since no kitchen sink here then). I must have had some grout on my fingers because when I took it out of the dishwasher I noticed it. Can't get it off!!!