Looks great, mud 'er up!

Here are a couple of articles I found for you...

http://floorelf.com/how-large-should-grout-lines-be

http://floorelf.com/using-the-correct-type-of-grout

Thanks rawketgrl. Great articles!

Colored grout will make the lines more substantial-looking. Matching grout to tile color will make the lines much less obvious. Your choice. I'd choose the latter because the arabesque tile is the star. You can have different colored grout for the arabesque tile.

Looks great...recommend epoxy grout...and they are doing a clear now that might make you feel better.

Epoxy grout is expensive and needs an experienced installer.

I would use a single grout color - slightly darker than the subway tile and lighter than the arabesque tile. Grout is a wonderful product and really makes the space look wonderful...no way would I rip that out

Matching the gout color to the tile will minimize the joint. Keep up the good work

@Linda. Apparently your maid cleans the shower for you...for the additional expense of epoxy grout, you don't have to worry about slime mold. Yes, it does require an experienced installer, but I would think design and contractor professionals would keep up with state of the art...that's what clients pay them for.

Looks good! grout color decision is key...stay away from white....no matter what, it will discolor and get darker. Light color is good, just stay in the grey family.

@dclostboy - No, I don't have a maid...nor do I have an unlimited budget. I have used epoxy grout in kitchens, but not in showers. For our most recent tile job, we used a modified grout that cost around $25 and did about 120 sq ft of tile with one bag of grout.

It is easy to upgrade renovation projects to use the latest and greatest products, but for most homeowners, eventually the budget says no more or no go. In my market, epoxy grout is a luxury. See the referenced discussion for more info about grout selection...I'm not the only person who doesn't think that epoxy grout is always worth the premium and the dirty looks from the tile guy

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/tiling-advice-needed-dsvw-vd~685530

All I know is three years with no discoloration or mold...still white against the white tile. Wouldn't have that with past grout experiences.

You've got a nice installation here, Herb! ...and I think the little wider subway grout will actually hit your vintage look better than narrower grout would have. In my experience, the older, thicker subway tile had lines of about this size. Have fun! Mark

I dislike epoxy grout immensely. We used it on our kitchen backsplash and I hated it so much that we ripped the backsplash out and redid the whole thing. Cost me a bunch, but I couldn't live with it. Anyone wanting to try epoxy grout should have a test board done first so they don't waste money. If they like it great, but if they don't they haven't wasted a lot of money. Wish I had done a test board.

Deborah, was it an installation issue?

Epoxy grout, when correctly installed, can't be distinguished from regular grout in any visual way, except that it is much easier to clean. Deborah, what did you feel was wrong with the epoxy grout as installed? Color, installation, look, performance....??? Please clarify.

BTW, despite the frowny faces of my GC, I demanded epoxy grout for my kitchen backsplash and entryway floor. Purchased it myself too. Just was cleaning greasy red splatters of the grout in the kitchen and it wiped off with a sponge and zero residue!!!! What is not to love about epoxy grout?

And back to the poster's issue....pre-grouting, tile can sometimes be shocking in appearance. I am very comfortable with the linewidth you have chosen. Once it is grouted, it will look great.

The installation was done by our professional tile setter that has done all of our work for 10+ years. He is highly regarded as one of the best in our area and is work is impeccable - we have never had tile issues or callbacks. It is the only time we have used epoxy grout and it looked horrible. Thank God it was not for a client.

The issue was not the color- color issues are a personal preference not a performance issue. We pulled the whole wall back down within two days of install because it looked so bad, so the kitchen was never used during the time the epoxy grout was there. It was a tumbled travertine backsplash in warm walnut and the grout would not wipe down properly. It just didn't look good and I was there so I know the tile setter wiped it down as we normally would.

I am only saying that it is not the same and it might be wise as a consumer to test it before using it. A test can't hurt anything - having a finished product you hate does. If you like it after a test, go for it. All you've done is possibly add a day before the room is finished in order to do the test. Quite a bit cheaper than ruining the look of a room.

I would not install epoxy grout for a client without a test and sign-off acceptance by client given our experience with it. It never hurts for consumers to research and understand various options. I am only sharing my hands on experience with it, which appears to be different from some others.

Sounds like your installer was inexperienced and let it sit too long.

Soberg...thanks for joining on my side. I was starting to feel outnumbered.

I'm not on a "side". I am only relaying my actual experience for the benefit of the poster. Just as with everything in life, there are multiple perspectives and experiences. An educated consumer is a good thing. Not everyone will share your opinion, just as not everyone will share mine. This is for the good of people seeking help on Houzz - not to join sides.

Side was a poor choice of words on my part.

Think we're coming down to:
1. Yes, it's more expensive
2. Yes, it maintains color longer
3. Yes, it's easier to keep clean
4. Yes, it requires an installer that knows what they're doing

Any other salient points?

I can't quite imagine Deborah Butler allowing any inexperienced or incompetent tradesman to work on her own home. If you've been following her posts over the past many moons, you would know that she doesn't tolerate shoddy construction and insists on quality materials.

Epoxy grout has been available for some time now and still has only a fraction of the total retail shelf space devoted to grout products...tells me that it isn't so clearly superior as to be the only game in town. Personally, I would spend my money to upgrade to exhaust fans with humidistat controls so there would not be an environment where mold and mildew flourish.

Epoxy grout is an expensive product which is different from other grout products. If it fits your needs, use it but it isn't necessary in every situation

Not questioning Deborah's skill or quality. Nor the credentials of her installer. Just saying that her outcome was most probably a result of inexperience working with the product.

Agree that this choice as with all design choices needs to be made balancing the pros and cons. Think I adequately and concisely presented both in my previous post.

Thanks for all the great advice. I realize epoxy grout remains a controversial issue with designers, homeowners and installers. Our tile guy is neutral on his recommendation, but did give us a price comparison. Our designer heard it was great, but doesn't have any long term feedback from clients for us. I think if it keeps the shower from growing mold or mildew, it's probably an option we want to pursue. We like custom grout oyster gray and will do a small test area before we commit. Wish us luck!

Don't whine over a grout line... it is fine. I do think you want a neutral color though.

Sounds good...enjoy!

Hi All - One observation to add to the epoxy pro-con conversation. We have used it to good effect - applying smaller areas at a time, with minimal tooling, etc. Best with finer grout lines among bright glazed tile - worst application for it is with tumbled marble, with its deeply pitted and porous natural texture. Just my two cents' worth. Mark

Tumbled travertine needs to be sealed before grouting. If ever grout residue stays on the tile face after being wiped off, it is an installation issue. Any installer without much epoxy experience, or when grouting natural stone, or anyone really, should make sure that the grout will be wipeable. I don't know of any actual controversy about epoxy grout, other than contractors will always recommend against it, since it is extra work for them.

That is not factual. Whether or not to seal tumbled travertine before grouting has been debated for many years. You will find many experts on either side of that debate. The argument against sealing prior to grouting is that the sealer prevents a good grip for the grout on the tile and will lead to problems in the long run. How an installer feels about it will depend upon what their actual experience has been.

We have installed many, many tumbled travertine backsplashes without sealing before grouting. We have never had an issue with the exception of our personal home where we tried the epoxy grout. We have successfully used standard grout and Ardex grout with no problems, including no staining over the years.

I cannot speak for other contractors, but we make recommendations based on actual experiences. In the absence of actual experience with a product, we consult with the best experts we can find on behalf of our clients. It would be easier to just do what someone asks, since we don't do the installation anyway, the tile installer does. Since epoxy is more expensive, then we would just make more money if we blindly went forward. That is not consistent with the mission of our company. Our goal is to provide the best products and advice possible for our clients.

Again I only speak for our company and our actual experiences. Other people will have different experiences and therefore different opinions.

Like the tile and the spacing!
If you choose reg grout rather than epoxy, be sure to seal it with a good grout sealer-you can avoid icky grout and endless scrubbing. I think a darker grout looks good when you want to highlight a pattern. I just put a taupe grout on herringbone stone mosaic around my fireplace and it looks stunning!

Just make sure there is minimal contrast between the tile and the grout color. Match if possible, or use one shade darker or lighter but in the same palette of the tile if you can't match. You don't want the grout lines to become the focus. We used ivory subway tile with a 1/8" grout line and "alabaster" grout (one shade darker) for our backsplash to try to achieve a subtle, minimalist effect.

Love it!

We ended up with Custom's Oyster Grey Polyblend. It really pulled everything together. Whew! You were all right. The grout lines are fantastic.

Awesome job, looks great!

I am redoing my shower using subway tile. Very interesting read. My contractor suggested no grout line, or minimal and I wasn't sure. Thanks for info.

Thanks for sharing final product- great info and discussion. thad everyone!

older post

herb242: Would you mind sharing the manufacturer of the arabesque tile and also provide the name of the color? Thanks. It's beautiful.

Glad you like it! It's Walker Zanger's Julia Arabesque in Fog Gloss.

Thanks herb242! I actually bought the 4x12 tile in WZ Fog Gloss and it's just getting installed in my shower. I was thinking Oyster Gray grout but I might go with a lighter color to give it a little definition.

Did you go with the ultra clear Starphire glass door or the regular glass (with the greenish tint). I'd love to see a photo of the final result, along with the glass door. I'm thinking of not paying extra for the extra clear glass but I'm wondering how the greenish tint will look with the Fog color. Thanks again!

I think it's just regular glass. I didn't notice a green tint, but if I look at it in the light, it's very very slight. It doesn't interfere with the beauty of the tile at all.

looks great ! nicely done

Here is a link to 6th Avenue Julia Mosaic pattern online if it is helpful: http://walkerzanger.com/collections/products.php?view=mat&mat=6th+Avenue&coll=6th+Avenue

I love happy endings. This shower stall is gorgeous.
On the issue of porous tile: I think common sense should tell one that grout (whether paste or epoxy) will adhere to surfaces with such tooth as tumbled travertine. I would think that they should always be sealed first no matter what, and yes the best of professionals can make a mistake. Just my 2 cents.

LOL even a halfway decent installer can install epoxy grout in such a way that it is indistinguishable visually from cementitious grout. Yes, contractors hate having to pay attention and get it right the first time, which you have to do with epoxy grout. I have epoxy grout in my living room and now guest bathroom, and it will be going everywhere else in my house. And if an installer doesn't want to use it, they suck too much to do my job. It's that simple. I can apply the stuff myself - it's not *that* difficult. But on finish, it's true to color and looks like any other grout, except that it is waterproof, stainproof and a joy to own when compared to cementitious grout. Why should I give up my livability/durability benefits for a lazy, substandard installer who wants to hurry and collect the same money?

Funny to see this. I'm having anxiety about my 1/16" grout lines this morning. Wish they'd done 1/8" as my tile is dark and I'm putting in white grout - wanted a lot of contrast. These teeny tiny details. Sheesh. Anyway, I think you shower looks great!! Hope you are enjoying.