You haven’t yet named a grout that doesn’t need sealing. A manufacturer makes many different types. All cement based grouts need sealing. Epoxy, acrylic, or urethane based grouts do not. Which is why I recommend the Flexcolor. It’s acrylic based.

Contact the grout manufacturer’s technical line for questions. They are the ones whose warranties are voided by using incorrect or incompatible sealing or care products on their materials. All technical questions aren’t debatable. The manufacturer rules.

Thanks @User! The guys at my tile store seem very knowledgeable, so I was inclined to take their advice without question. Will call all grout companies first thing Monday!

Also, what is the best way to prevent the haze or film left behind on tile? Especially concerned about our beautiful Seneca Studio Sea Glass tile (with the Kiesel grout).

Loving the Seneca tile! Be seure and post a picture when it is done.

@Nancy in Mich, with MANY thanks to YOU!! So glad you shared your comments about it otherwise we probably never would have discovered it. And yes, hoping to get the mirror and light up there in the next week. Can't wait to share the final result. :)

p.s. Nancy, did you seal your grout?? :-D

Oh and this just in from the Technical Product Manager from Kiesel grout (who gets points for responding 10 minutes after I emailed, on a Saturday!):

"The grout does not need to be sealed but he can seal it with 511 or any sealer compatible with cementitious grout. You can also use a stone enhancer with Kiesel grout if you prefer. The grout is designed to also work with natural stone which needs to be resealed occasionally so it accepts most sealers."

What tile did you use in your master shower and floor?

@Creative Tile Eastern CT darn good advice there!

@Susan L, that's Porcelanosa's Madagascar Blanco on the walls and Unicom's Board in Graphite on floors and shower pan. I wasn't 100% sold on either until they were installed---now I adore them both!

p.s. If it matters, the Kiesel grout is the Servoperl royal Middle Grey.

Thanks. I think they look great too.

I did something similar in my shower two years ago. Looking for something for a new house now. I don't want to do the greyish 2" tile with Warm Gray Mapei ColorFlex grout on the floor again, as in spite of being stain resistant grout, it shows darker and pinker colors on the grout ,supposedly where water has sat or soap build up. It always looks like it needs cleaning. I wanted to go darker in the new shower, so your picture is very helpful.

@Susan L, do you recall if you guys sealed the grout in your shower floor?? I can understand wanting something else. It's the one spot in our bathrooms I'm not that thrilled about. I do love the larger 12x24 graphite floor tile, though.

@Susan L, A option for you which I use quite often would be to cut the 12x24 tiles to the exact size of the drain grate. This will provide a clean look around the drain while cutting the amount of grout joints in half. I will also use the height of the curb and continue 1 row of floor tile as a base. I feel it gives the floor some depth or a 3 dimensional look while hiding any unevenness where the wall meets floor and allowing the use of dark grout matching 100% silicone sealant instead of white. This design works exceptionally well to hide the slope of a linear drain. The eye is drawn to the level line of color contrasting tiles instead of the contrast being at the slope of floor. Just a Tile Setters design opinion. The Professional Designers may think otherwise:)

Linear Drains · More Info

Linear Drains · More Info

No they didn't seal it but the grout is acrylic and not supposed to need sealing. When I called Mapei, they said that any discoloration was likely due to soap and body oils that had washed off. Some water does sit in the grout. Initially I noticed some pink tones, but they have gone away and now I just see some darker areas of grout which move around. It's probably not that noticeable to anyone but me. But I figure I'll try something darker this time.and then I hope I won't see anything.