Pool Tile - Grout help needed.

6 years ago

We are building a pool and using NPT Lightwaves pool tiles 1" x 1". They started putting bright white grout on it but it just doesn't look right, it's too stark in comparison to the tile. The picture below is from NPT's website. We also tried a spot of Delorean Gray and we didn't love that either. Any thoughts on what color grout to use?

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cgutexas

6 years ago

Hi! I have no idea how to receive notifications here. Just happened to be looking for pool furniture and saw this. I have to tell the mason in a few hours, this morning, and I have not decided, either. My builder uses a Laticrete grout (I think? The samples are on the porch, but I don't want to go out there at this hour). I paid for 4 bags of grout and 2 dye packs to be mixed by the mason last week- dealing with them has been like watching paint dry- it's awful- they've cost us 2 weeks of not being finished- I did a bright white and then a slightly cream white, and then the 2 lightest grays, one was silver shadow (another dye pack) and then a shade darker. Mason wants me to use bright white, but I KNOW it is because he doesn't want to mess with the dye pack. My tile is soooo many colors (it's called peacock and literally has most colors in its), and I don't want it to look any busier than it is. Wish they made clear grout! I don't even like the look of grout, ha. I just want the tile to look the way it does without... clear and airy. I think the bright will be too much. My builder says the silver shadow will make it look the way I want it. I was going to post on trouble free pools but haven't figured out how to do photos. What did you do? Do you have any photos? Argh the grout agony, ha. Truly wish they had something clear to go with glass tile- I bet they will at some point- it only makes sense for glass.

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Comments (11)

cgutexas
6 years ago
What did you end up doing? I have to choose my grout ASAP and am unsure what to do, also. Tile is similar but lighter- glass tile, multiple colors, iridescent. I hope that you have been happy with what you chose. Thanks in advance for any feedback,.
sandra_h94 thanked cgutexas
sandra_h94
Original Author
6 years ago
We are still deciding.....we have to have a firm answer by Monday. It's just so hard. I think we are going to go with Delorean Gray but not positive. I feel like there is no perfect grout that I will be happy with.
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sandra_h94
Original Author
6 years ago
cgutexas - have you made a decision? We are still debating.
sandra_h94
Original Author
6 years ago
We decided on Delorean Gray grout but only have a sample done so far. You sound exactly like the way we feel, we don't want it any busier and actually always hate the look of grout lines. We had an interior designer here yesterday for some things in the house and I pulled her outside and she said definately go with the lighter gray that we chose and not the white. On another note - they do make a product called Starlike Crystal Grout. We wanted to try it but it's sold out online for quick shipping and couldn't get it here soon enough to try. There are different types, some of them glitter (which we wouldn't do) - but it is out there and made for glass tile. Not sure if you have time to investigate that or not. My husband was convinced that would be the thing to use if we had the time. They were supposed to be done over a month ago.....
justcallmepool
6 years ago
I finished my pool in April, and while I did choose bright white grout with my multi-blue tiles (they are not glass though), our pavers are also bright white. So maybe look at colors that will coordinate with your paving/decking and/or your plaster or pebble colors. Just a thought!
sandra_h94
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes, our decking is a gray color and it does go with the Delorean Gray grout pretty well.
cgutexas
6 years ago
Sandra, thanks. I just looked and there are several brands (that one you mentioned looks like it has very mixed reviews and sounds like it's really hard to work with, so I know my builder wouldn't even consider it- he is soooo picky about what he will and will not do and use). I saw yours at Home Depot online but also saw other brands. I'm sure mine won't consider it for one reason or another, but I just texted him about it. Thanks for mentioning it. Regarding the coping comment, that is a VERY good point, thanks- mine is very white travertine- I just think the grout situation has to be different with clear/ iridescent glass tiles... the whole reason I picked these tiles is for the clear, translucent quality of them to "disappear" into the waterline, rather than to stand out...
S
5 years ago
It is amazing that nobody has made the perfect grout for glass mosaic pool tiles mixed blue pool tiles that have no grey in them - I am suffering the same issue - I tried 4 different grouts and none look good but I already held things up by 2 weeks so I gave up. Sterling SIlver (Laticrete) and Delorian Gray (Custom) were the two most mid-range that looked like coping color and one leaned brown and the other purple/pink. Argh. Selected the Sterling Silver and think it was a mistake.
K R
5 years ago
Check out Van Kirk pools on Instagram, they make special glitter grout for those exact tiles! Maybe they sell it?
S
5 years ago
Thanks. Mine aren't glittery. I ended up with the Sterling Silver and it seems fine - but transulcent would be amazing!