Will I regret white grout on a backsplash? With Grout Maximizer?

9 years ago

Hi everyone.
Will I regret it if we use a bright white grout on our backsplash tile? Will it be impossible to keep clean, especially behind the sink? I really like Mapei's Keracolor sanded grout (their regular Portland cement based grout) in their "Avalanche" color--the nicest, truest white I could find that didn't look too bluish, pinkish, or greyish next to my light "almond" colored subway tiles. I thought about using an epoxy grout for stain resistance, but this will be a DIY project and I am afraid it might be too difficult to install and clean off (I have been reading horror stories about how quickly it dries and of the haze it can leave.) What about adding Mapei's Grout Maximizer which is supposed to help it resist staining? Anyone ever try that or something similar? Any feedback on the Mapei grout in general?

I was originally going to use a grout slightly darker than my tiles, but can't find one just the right shade- they all seem to blend in too much with the tile and look too plain. Plus, the white really will help tie it in with all the whitewood trim in the kitchen and the granite.

Anyone have any feedback about the white grout on a backsplash?

We are finally getting around to installing our backsplash tile (It has only been a year since we bought the tile, LOL!) You all originally helped me select my tile, after many posts going on wild goose chases trying to figure out what would look good with my unusual creamy colored granite. Here is a link to some old photoshops of my kitchen, fwiw:
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg101822411160.html

By the way, I did decide to go with the plain subway tile backsplash after all your polling! By the way, I also went to Houzz and searched "subway tile backsplash" to look for ideas and noticed that of all those hundreds of beautiful, professionally designed backsplases only 2 or 3 had a border of some kind (other than above a range or sink)!! So I realized that you all were "dead on".

Thanks so much.

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Comments (5)

happy2learn
Original Author
9 years ago
I forgot to put the link down below where you can easily click on it. Here is a " clickable" link. Thanks.

Here is a link that might be useful: Link to my old posts with pics of my tile
happy2learn
Original Author
9 years ago
I should also mention, should you click on my link above and go to view my old post and photos, that I selected the first tile in the photoshopped pictures, the Grazia Landscape series, "seashore" color. It is a hard-to-describe color (almond? light golden ivory? sandy?) with subtle variations in glaze, as you can see. White grout seems to compliment it, but only just the right shade of it. The cooler, grayer white grouts did not look that great with it.
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I have the Subway Ceramics Avalon / Minas with a medium gray grout. And a Shaw's white sink, if anyone is considering that, by the way. (My contractor could have ordered it directly, but at his request, I went through a tile store, and by the time everyone had put their sugar onto it, it was OBSCENELY expensive.) I'm not an installation expert, but at least with the Subway Ceramics, the installers use little plastic spacers between the tiles (I think some others have their own spacers?) when they put them up, they don't do it freehand, so how much grout you get is a function of 1) the limits set by the curvature of the tile and 2) what size spacers they use. So you might be willing to go a little darker with a smaller grout line, or with a handmade tile that refuses to go close together, you might want to stay light. The traditional color is close to concrete. But most modern people don't seem to like that, so do what pleases you!
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Thanks everyone. I'm all smiley and giddy hearing your kind comments. It melts me heart. I'm glad to hear people like the backsplash tile. It is pretty bold. I was also THRILLED with how the stain on the island turned out. Interestingly, lots of people say the kitchen has a peaceful look and feel to it and that wasn't necessarily something I was aiming for but my kitchen mission statement did include "casual but sophisticated/elegant" which might boil down to "peaceful or tranquil". We feel very blessed to have been able to do such a large scale kitchen remodel and are thrilled with how everything turned out. It also means we won't be moving for the next 15+ years! I can't wait until the bar stools are in and I can start serving snacks to my kids there. We are borrowing one bar stool right now and it gets a lot of use. clarygrace and others - I'm glad to hear you think the colors are coordinate b/c I was in a quandary about that at one point. I can't wait to see your kitchen and island. We love the shape of ours but did it b/c it worked within our constraints. We didn't want to mess with the existing deck outside the bay windows and we couldn't push right much more either b/c of the powder room. And speaking of the powder room - here are pictures of that which was also part of this remodel: tea4all - the pantry is pretty small as far as walk-in pantries go. Finished dimensions are 5.5' long by 46'' wide. We weren't originally going to do a pantry but it made sense with the rest of the layout (it brought the oven closer to the rest of the kitchen) and I am really glad we did! It was actually framed larger and had to be redone b/c large aisles were more important to me than a few more inches in the pantry. The other detail I forgot to include - the grout color on the backsplash is Custom Grout Light Smoke and on the floor it is Lacrete Parchment (just in case someone really wants to know - ha!)
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Elraes Miller
9 years ago
Fun, I used epoxy grout in the bath surround. Yes it needs more cleaning to remove, but not the horror stories I've read. I did use a tile sealer on the top of tile before grouting and often wonder if this made a difference.

As with all reviews you are going to read the rough adventures. I can't remember if those who had problems were new at grouting or the type of epoxy used. The process and manufacturer is never really mentioned.

Why not try it on a small board?

I probably used this on a couple of square feet at a time and cleaned off as I went. My spacing is 1/4". It looks great, smooth and clean. Is as hard as regular grout, not sure why others had an issue with it staying soft. And I used a premix, which many said to stay away from.

I haven't had to do anything with mine for 5 years. Will add that it looks a bit different than normal grout, but you would have to look close. Wipes down right along with tile whenever wanted. It definitely seals between the tile.

Take a chance and sample it before the big job. They have small containers. Also, even though this worked for me and I would do it again, there is always the norm of wanting what has always been. Standard grout can still be the norm for many.
lam702
9 years ago
I just spent a few hours on my hands and knees scrubbing my white bathroom floor grout. My fault, I guess because it hasn't been sealed in a while. It does look bright and new again now though and I plan to seal it this weekend. For me, I love the look of the white grout but would not choose it again. Lately, the ease of cleaning factors into all my remodeling decisions. But depending on your tile colors, sometimes white is the only color that will look right. Get what you like, if you are willing to put up with scrubbing it a bit more often, that is better than choosing a grout color you aren't happy with. Just be sure to seal it often, and wipe up spots as soon as they appear.
GauchoGordo1993
9 years ago
Do you have an inspiration pic of white grout that you like? White grout never looks good to me, even when it's clean/new. It always looks like a mistake to me, like someone forgot to put pigment in the grout or something.

Will I regret white grout on a backsplash? With Grout Maximizer?

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happy2learn
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Will I regret white grout on a backsplash? With Grout Maximizer?

Comments (5)

happy2learnOriginal Author

happy2learnOriginal Author

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Elraes Miller

lam702

GauchoGordo1993

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happy2learn
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happy2learn
Original Author