Best grout for tile shower?

6 years ago

My husband and I recently built a house and our contractor used TEC power grout for our tile shower. He swore by it and said that it was the best grout. However, our grout started washing out in clumps. TEC said their formula changed and that there were some bad batches and paid for a regrout of our entire shower, but unfortunately the second regrout did the exact same thing. Our contractor now wants to use TEC accucolor with a grout boost. This will be the third time grouting our shower. We are skeptical about using the grout boost. He also mentioned Bostik vivid grout that we could use?? We are beyond frustrated that our grout has to be replaced for a third time and do not trust our contractor. We are wanting the best grout for our shower - any advice/recommendations would be very much appreciated!

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Comments (5)

MongoCT
6 years ago
Twice failed raises additional concerns.

First was the grout mixed correctly. An experienced installer should have this down, but a lot of folk use too much water in both the mix and when cleaning up. Excessive water can affect the structural integrity of the grout.

Next, contamination. Was the tile sealed prior to grouting? I'm simply wondering if a sealer was used and it got into the grout joints, and on the edges of the tile. That could possibly contribute to the grout not bonding as well as it should. If you can rule out contamination, then...

I'd look at your water source. Consider mixing the grout with distilled water. Tap water can sometimes cause issues depending on mineral content, etc, but it's usually a coloration issue and not a bonding issue.

Also consider one of the single-component grouts, already mixed. Something along the lines of Custom's Fusion Pro grout. There are other single-component grouts from other manufacturers as well.Grouts like Fusion Pro don't install like cement grouts, so the installer needs to read and heed the installation and cleanup instructions.

Here's to hoping the third time is the charm.

Aside: With two showers worth of grout probably being washed down the shower drain, raise the point of the shower trap being thoroughly scoured clean after the job is done. Grout powder could settle in the trap and reduce it's effectiveness to both drain and block sewer gasses.
Apolonia3
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Our tiler used Quartzlock and so far, (fingers crossed), no problems. He swears by this product. Good luck! This product is pre-mixed.

https://www.bostik.com/us/Bostik-products/quartzlock2-rapidcure-urethane-grout
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How about TEC XT? Comes in both Sanded and Unsanded versions (for most colors), and is supposed to be more stain resistant and mold and mildew resistant than other cement-based grouts. It does require a longer cure time 7-10 days before getting wet or sealing (doesn't need to be sealed, but can be, with a solvent-based sealer, which we did when we sealed the marble and trav tile in both bathrooms). I sealed it in the MB at 7 days because I needed that bathroom functional "now" LOL. It also requires a drier clean-up (just wring sponge out well when wiping off excess grout, according to the rep with whom I spoke during my grout "research"--there's a video you can watch, too). It's a little stickier than the reg TEC grout, so you might need a bit more elbow grease to remove grout haze, but that's about it. We used the Bright White for the field tile in both upstairs baths (used the reg TEC in Bright White for our kitchen and guest bathroom since the XT either wasn't around then or we just didn't know about it at the time). We used both the Sanded and the Unsanded. The Unsanded is a bit whiter than the Sanded (because the sanded has actual grains of sand, which I'm sure you know), but both seem white enough. We used a very glossy, very white, Porcelanosa large format tile in the MB. Our grout lines are very tight, except for the White Thassos mosaic/border (which came pre-mounted on mesh), and the Unsanded worked very well. We also used it (in Almond) with the split faced trav mosaic in the hall bath which had practically non-existent grout lines in spots. Of course, when I say "we" used any of these products, I mean our wonderful tile guys used them for us!
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Your welcome. Many products come and go in this industry. Products that will be going in the next ten years (my opinion) will be these grouts like Fusion and the foam boards like Kerdi Board. My thoughts. Epoxy grout is not hard to install. Only thing is that you need to clean well. I find a microfiber rag is the best thing to use. Custom Colour: 87.5% Bright White 12.5% Sautrene This is just installed. I set the grout - that took 30 minutes to place it. Then I cleaned the bucket and the grout float. Then I used fresh water and no cleaning agent to do a pre wash. Just the centers of the tiles not the grout joints. Then I cleaned the bucket and set up the initial wash with the cleaning package ad mix. This is when I shape the grout joints and clean up nice. Then you clean the bucket and set up the final wash. You wait an hour for this. After the final wash with the proper ad mix agent I go back right away with the microfibre rag. You feel areas the sponge missed. The micro finer rag leaves the floors flawless. Not a Laticrete spec but something taught to me by a pro. Once you go Microfiberrag - you can not grout the same way ever again. Even with cemenitous grout I do this. I have another grout job this Sunday or Monday. I take a quick video and post it here so you can see what I do. Maybe it changes your mind about Epoxy grout. I used to hate grouting. Hate the unknowns. The random colour changes on and on. Then I tried SpectraLock Pro by Laticrete. Now I can custom make colours and get the same perfect results every time. I just don't use it for steam shower builds. That's it.
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PRO
Dragonfly Tile & Stone Works, Inc.
6 years ago
Pros have their preferences. We use Laticrete Permacolor or Select exclusively. Never a problem. But, as Mongo stated, follow directions carefully.
PRO
TEC HB Fuller Construction Products
5 years ago
Hi Alexis, I'm the Area Technical Manager for TEC and I'm sorry to hear you had issues with Power Grout. I'm just reading your message today, so I apologize for not responding sooner. I'd like to discuss your project with you in greater detail. Thanks, Chris Kain
Andrea K
5 years ago
My contractor uses Bostic TruColor exclusively. He's done a lot of tile work and feels it's the best grout. My tile project (bathroom flooring and tub/shower surround) starts next month.

https://www.bostik.com/us/Bostik-products/trucolor-rapidcure-pre-mixed-urethane-grout

Best grout for tile shower?

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MongoCT

Apolonia3

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