Web search this: "Grout Boost"

Can recommend a few things that we've used--TEC Bright White grout and STT's SB sealer. Our tile guy "installed" the grout, we did the sealing. Regular TEC grout, and TEC XT grout were used in our house; regular in areas that were grouted before XT came out, XT grout for more recent tile work. Both are cement-based grouts. XT is supposed to be stronger, more crack resistant and also stain resistant, and has mold/mildew-icides built in. XT does not need to be sealed, but can be (using a solvent-based sealer).

We used different sealers (tile done at different times, sealer supplied by different tile stores), but I really like the STT SB sealer (solvent-based). It has extremely minimal odor (really!) and is very, very easy to apply/buff off. We used it in two of our bathrooms, and on the travertine tile throughout the main floor of our house.

If you want to find out about its use on matte tile, the owner of STT (Surface Treatment Technologies), Stephen, has been been very helpful whenever I've called with questions about his products. I have no affiliation with the company--the sealer was suggested to me on GW and I've been happy with it so far.

Thanks for the suggestion, Davidro1. I'll check it out.

Thanks for all the info, Catmom. Do you see much difference between the regular TEC and the TEC XT? I can find the regular TEC locally, but was having trouble finding the XT without ordering it. (I don't think it will get here in time for the install.)

Also, did you seal the XT grout? Thanks for your help!

TEC makes "Grout Boost", by the way.

Don't know if I can readily tell the difference (tile guys said it was a bit "stickier" consistency or texture-wise, but other than that it gets mixed up the same--fairly stiff mixture, and a fairly "dry" clean-up).

The shower that has regular TEC grout is in the guest bathroom, which isn't used very often (except while we reno'd the upstairs bathrooms). The grout did crack slightly (a year or two after it was completed) on the shower wall along the bottom corner of the niche--I couldn't say if it would have done so had we used the TEC XT.

We like the peace of mind afforded us by XT (and it's purported improvements over regular grout), but cannot tell you if it's all that much better or not in reality. So far it looks great and we're happy about that.

Sorry I couldn't give a more definitive answer.

Thanks Davidro1. Have you used Grout Boost in white grout before? Do you know if it discolors white grouts?

Thanks so much Catmom. You've been very helpful!

Oh how I wish I had known about Grout Boost when we grouted our 700+ sq ft of tile floors.

We used Laticrete epoxy grout everywhere. Flooring, bathroom, and backsplash. Whenever we get to the master bath, we will use it as well. Never stains and you don't have to seal it. It's more expensive by far and may cost you more in labor since it's a PIA to use. Worth it in the long run to me~

Glad to help!

That's a lot of sealing to do, Sugar Cookies.

Thanks, Remodelfla. Good to know that you don't have to seal the epoxy grouts. I did read, though, that white epoxy grout will eventually turn yellow. But when we grout the bathroom floor with gray grout, I think epoxy grout will be a good option.

Thanks for all the advice!

In my "old" :*( kitchen I had those white arabesque tiles. And the grout was very important to the design to give it the right look. I really needed a true white grout.

What I learned from Bill V was that a lot (if not all) of the grouts have a caramel coloring in their "bright white" mixture. If there is caramel in the mixture it's in the finished product. There is a product from Latricrete that is called Permacolor. The white was very bright white. Didn't stain, didn't need to be sealed. I suppose you could seal it, but we didn't. If I splashed sauce on it, I could wipe it off, or at least make up a mixture of oxyclean and water and get it off.

We are going to use the Permacolor grout in our bathroom. They have made more advances with it as far as the colors and other things the tile guy told me.

good luck!

"That's a lot of sealing to do, Sugar Cookies."

kithchenkrazed - Don't I know it! My knees will never be the same. lol

Bee - Thanks for your help! I actually read some of your earlier posts about the Permacolor and based on those, I purchased it in Bright White today. I hope the color is true to the sample they showed me. I am also sad that you are moving out of your old kitchen, but am looking forward to seeing what you do with the new one!

SugarCookies - I didn't even want to seal my 17 square feet of backsplash! (In all fairness, the tile company suggested not sealing the tiles, which would have meant painting the sealer onto each line of grout. No thank you.)

Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge and experience.

That's a lot of sealing to do, Sugar Cookies.

Thanks, Remodelfla. Good to know that you don't have to seal the epoxy grouts. I did read, though, that white epoxy grout will eventually turn yellow. But when we grout the bathroom floor with gray grout, I think epoxy grout will be a good option.

Thanks for all the advice!