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what color grout should I replace with for this red zellige tile

last month

Tile has already been installed, obviously, but any idea of what I can do to get the grout color closer to the tile color? it’s Rouge from Zia tile and the current color i think is too much of a contrast.

Comments (57)

  • PRO
    last month

    I am not going to rip out the bathroom, it’s in my own house and a guest bath so not too too concerned. I think the two biggest issues IMO are the shower floor needing to be the same as the bathroom floor and the grout and tile for shower walls being too contrasting.

  • PRO
    last month

    One of the issues with the zelige tile is that the spacing is way too large. These tiles are most often laid very close together with no grout. But in a shower I suppose you need grout so the best solution would be a grout color almost the same as the tile.


    And since you already installed them you might choose a red or pink grout.

    Here's a color chart showing lots of options. But you need to see them in person next to your tile to make the best selection. I would NOT change out the shower floor tiles unless you want to totally start over. As soon as you disrupt the tiles, you are compromising the waterproofing.



  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    Grout colorant. MAPEI Iron or charcoal. DO NOT start ripping up any tile, or you compromise the waterproofing and it WILL leak. If you can't stand your choices, then redo it ALL. With the help of a designer this time. Bold choices can work. But not those. There is a reason you hate it. It's a hateable combo.

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    I just came across the same issue from a few years ago. They changed the grout color, and here are before and after photos:

    Before: white grout


    after: grey grout


  • PRO
    last month

    sooo much better!!

  • PRO
    last month

    i am OK with the tile color I am just going to change the grout color somehow and maybe do this for shower floor? NOTE: I am NOT ripping out the bathroom I am just looking for a grout color update and possible brain storming on the shower floor. The marble was from remnants I had and wanted to make it pop. I always get good compliments on the red bathroom so I don’t care much about the comments of bad design choices.

  • PRO
    last month

    referenced in above comment

  • PRO
    last month

    ignore above. this is what i am looking at for shower floors

  • PRO
    last month

    i understand, not removing the shower floors. this is a guest bath. used once a month maybe, cleaned twice a month.

  • PRO
  • last month

    What bothers me is the cream tile behind the sink and toilet. I think it wouldn't look so chopped up if that entire wall was done in the red tile.

  • PRO
    last month

    yea it was the last thing on the reno and I knew I wanted the red tile just slipped up on everything else in the space. but i’m not ripping anything out so have to figure out how to do small things (grout colorant) to fix

  • last month

    Take 4-8 red tiles to the best local tile store. Try out some of their 3" long, pencil-wide grout samples by placing them in between the tiles. The closer the grout is to the tile color, the better, in this situation.


  • last month

    Recolor the grout for the red tiles and throw in the teak mat that @Minardi suggested. Done.

    No one, and I mean NO ONE, will notice anything but the red walls in that bathroom. The red is the attraction and it will get the attention, so do the grout recoloring and enjoy your bathroom.

    Unless you want to put a designer shower curtain across the whole thing…. ;)

  • PRO
    last month

    @redryder what color teak mat would you do?

  • last month

    In my state, the statute that governs residential renovations/services requires the contractor to follow all manufacturer's specifications (in addition to laws/ordinances/codes/industry standards/etc.


    The Zia tile site provides installation specifications for installing zellige tile on walls, floors and shower floors. Here are the instructions for walls (all walls):


    FOR WALL INSTALLATIONS:

    • Place tiles one by one onto wall substrate.
    • Zellige tile can be spaced in several ways based on design preference. The traditional (and recommended) method for installation does not use standard grout joints; tiles are instead laid edge to edge OR with a 1/16” grout spacing if a specific grout line is preferred. Due to the inherent variation in zellige tile, it is recommended to level with wedge spacers to align tiles during installation.

    Zia actually instructs installers to use a spatula to push the grout into the small spaces between the tiles (and then to immediately clean up extra grout on the face of the tile).

    The grout lines shouldn't have been larger than 1/16" - did your tile installer understand how to install zellige tile?


    This is a Zia zellige tile also - it's not the same color as yours - more pink. However, if it had larger grout lines + a bright white grout = the same result as your shower.


    I know someone who installs tile - here is a zellige shower he finished a few months ago:


    While bright white grout wouldn't have been as big of a contrast in this shower, having such large grout lines would have made this shower look much different than it does (I think he used Mapei warm gray - Zia recommends Mapei Ultracolor FA grout for glazed zellige tile).


    I have seen many zellige showers that have been mixed with a white type of marble tile (or slab). It just looks like you have three different types of marble. Probably should have stuck with one (and not bright white background).


    The tile is expensive - using a grout colorant is your best bet (then you can decide whether you want to add a teak mat on the shower floor). On Zia's site, they recommend using a grout that closely matches the tile - not only because it will look better without contrasting grout - but also because the grout is used to fill in little pits/cracks/rough edges which is a natural part of zellige tile (however, many peopIe don't like the tile pieces to look too "beat up" - so, the grout helps "soften" the look).

  • PRO
    last month

    he claimed he knew how to install but seems he didn’t put close enough. will have him use a grout colorant.

  • last month

    I like the natural, lighter teak floor mat.

    I still think this will be a lovely shower. That tile is so unusual. No one but Houzzers would notice that the installation should have been different. It will be striking and different and stunning.

  • last month

    Skip the oiled teak, it will all come off anyway and you won’t want to spend time re-oiling it. Note that it will need to be cleaned on both sides.

  • last month

    Please post an update when you are ready.

  • last month

    You could do the pink grout but I like it it looks really cool with that mirror the way it is and it's a happy shower! Not intended a pun here my neighbor had a pink and red bathroom and bedroom that color it was really nice

  • PRO
    last month

    you want him to take a brush and color every single one of those grout joints? lol . have fun. just leave it. if it's used once a month, who cares?

    yes, he didn't know how to install them, the joints are too large. who picked the white to beging with?

    it doesn't look bad,


    heres a green one w/the white. closer spacing though




    although this nich tile doesn't work at all. (why not just use the red tile in the niche??) t's too late now. as been stated, you can't remove portion of this and redo it w/out compromising the waterproofing.


    doing the same tile in this niche would have looked better.


    another one w/the white grout.


    this one too.

    I like it here w/the black terrazzo tiles and darker countertop. maybe tone down the bright white wall paint, bring in some blacks, natural wood



  • PRO
    last month

    hi! it was permitted and passed with no issues. was properly insulated and waterproofed. the few things I would change are the floor, the red tile grout and doing the niche the same as the walls.

  • last month
    last modified: last month

    I wonder about removing the red tile on the sink wall (keeping it to just the shower) seems like that would reduce the workload associated w/ the grout colourant? And maybe it could calm the space a bit and let the shower be the star?

  • PRO
    last month

    i had it like that at first and it was just too bare/blah looking.

  • PRO
    last month

    i was at a restaurant last night and they had similar tile and the grout color looked more like dark grey

  • last month
    last modified: last month

    Emma, the ship has sailed! How has anything you said productive and helpful to Phillippe?

  • PRO
    last month

    ^^^^^

    "The lack of cohesively in the shower." What does that mean?

  • last month

    I think the red tile is fabulous! If you can get more of it, or have some left, tile all the walls -- it will look so much better if you don't have the mis-match of materials behind the toilet and sink. This tile is a commit-to-me tile, so commit to it -- don't cheap out, get more of it and finish what you started.


    The shower floor isn't great but not really the problem that the toilet/sink wall is, and like mentioned above you can get a teak mat to put down to take the eye off of that.

  • PRO
    last month

    ^^^^^

    "The lack of cohesively in the shower." What does that mean?".............

    Mmmmmmmm lol A tad too darn much going on with niche tile and shower floor tile and red and grout: )?

  • PRO
    last month

    tile guy figured out the shower floor so good there. fixing grout too

  • last month

    Please post updates. Would love to see end result.

  • PRO
    last month

    Hummm… i wrote a whole answer yesterday but it didnt go through?


    Philippe,

    you’re definitely going the right direction, i’m loving the bold choices! i would go with a warm medium grey grout as it will create a soft contrast.

    I‘m happy to hear the niche is a no issue. Your exterior wall is maybe thicker than what i thought it to be, or maybe we have different codes on that...

    my original message obviously didnt correctly translate my intentions, especially with the «cohesively» typo! Ha!

    But wishing you a successful remodeling.

  • last month

    Wow looks so much better but how did they redo the floor without tearing it out?

  • last month

    Good job! The only thing I’d add is some bold towels, rug etc to play up the shower. Turquoise, cinnamon, rich yellow….

  • PRO
    last month

    love that idea with rug color

  • PRO
    last month

    The red tiles look way better!

    I'm also wondering about the shower floor replacement?

  • PRO
    last month

    it was just done about a year ago so he tiled over the old tile - ensured waterproofing all good, etc. looks much better

  • last month

    Looks good! I like the red tiles - they’re different from the “safe white” so many people choose.

  • PRO
    last month

    he did a great job on my kitchen - one view looking into my mudroom and another into living room. the grout lines are much closer than the red guest bathroom

  • last month

    That looks nice I'm glad it all matches now

  • PRO
    last month

    Nice house! I love that black and white striped floor in the hallway. Your kitchen/great room is so light and bright.

    Thanks for coming back and showing us the finished product.

  • last month

    All of those rooms look gorgeous. I hope you like your unique red tiles better now.

  • PRO
    last month

    yes, thank you!! thank you all for the kind words, recs and constructive feedback!

  • last month

    Gorgeous!

  • last month

    Philippe - question for you -


    What material did you use for your countertops? It looks like marble with bold veining - however, on my screen, part of your island appears as if the veining has a very dark blue tint to it. I have a new MacBook pro - the colors have been really nice - but I'm not sure that it's correctly showing your veining on my screen.


    I am so happy that he was able to tone down the white grout - it makes a huge difference.


    Based upon the rooms you've shared, it makes me wonder what the other rooms look like . . .feel free to post more photos!!!!!

  • PRO
    last month

    thank you! it is marble, not as much purple as calacatta viola. on the ticket they tagged these slabs as calacatta vintage and i had them hone it. i also used the leftover for the primary bathroom

  • PRO
    last month

    Calacatta Viola is gorgeous--so dramatic! Nice to see someone use marble and not be afraid of the "upkeep." Which is nil. My son and daughter-in-law used leathered Oyster White marble for their kitchen counter tops and backsplash. It's also very dramatic--it looks like a swirling ocean.



  • PRO
    last month

    oh i love that!! i am very ocd but i have been very laid back with my marble, every time i see a mark i just say it’s getting more character