As much as I love selecting the materials for our renovations, all the decisions can become overwhelming. Bathroom renovations are certainly no exception, especially when choosing the best tile grout for shower tile!

Not only are you trying to choose a grout that meets the aesthetic you are trying to achieve, but you also have to choose one that meets the required functional expectations. In other words, you want it to look gorgeous, serve its purpose, and be as easy to maintain as possible.

In this post, I outline the primary considerations when choosing grout to make your shower tile grout decision-making process easier.

 

Considerations When Choosing Grout for Shower Tile

When selecting a tile grout for your shower, remember that the goal is for the shower to be watertight. You need that shower to function as designed and keep water from seeping behind the tile. Stains do happen, as do mold and mildew. Unfortunately, once you have finished your beautiful shower, you will use it and have to clean it. Let’s review the different types of grout.

 

1. Types of Tile Grout

There are three predominant types of grout. They include cement-based grout, epoxy grout, and urethane grout.

Cement-Based Grout

Advantages of cement-based grout

• Very durable
• Acceptable for most installations
• Typically, the least expensive option
• Working time is more generous than the alternatives

Disadvantages of cement-based grout

• It is porous; therefore, it tends to stain
• It is not waterproof, so typically, it must be sealed

Sanded Grout Compared to Unsanded Grout

Cement-based grout is the most commonly used grout, and it comes in two variations – sanded and unsanded grout. There are a few notable differences between sanded and unsanded grout.

Sanded grout tends to provide more rigidity because of the aggregate component. That same aggregate (the sand) can scratch the tile’s surface. If you use a tile that is easily scratched, such as marble, you might choose an unsanded grout. Additionally, although I see more that do not have to be sealed, sanded grouts tend to require sealing.

Unsanded grouts are good options for vertical surfaces such as shower walls because they do not have as much slump as sanded grouts. Regarding joint size, unsanded grouts are better suited for 1/8″ joints and smaller, while sanded grouts are better for 1/8″ and larger joint sizes.

Epoxy Grout

Epoxy grout is a mixture comprised of epoxy resins and hardeners. It is becoming increasingly popular due to its numerous advantages over cement-based grout. Let’s review the advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of Epoxy Grout

• Extremely durable
• Very resistant to shrinking or cracking
• Stain resistant
• It does not require a grouting sealer be used
• Excellent for areas that see a lot of use, such as bathrooms

Disadvantages of Epoxy Grout

• Sets up quickly
• More challenging to use
• It does not look as natural as cement-based grout

Urethane Grout

Urethane grout is a typically pre-mixed, synthetic mixture of polymers and additives. Below are the advantages and disadvantages of this product.

Advantages of Urethane Grout

• Flexible and less likely to crack than cement-based grout
• Water-resistant
• Stain-resistant
• Pre-mixed, so no manual mixing is required
• No sealing required

Disadvantages of Urethane Grout

• Longer cure time than that of cement-based grouts
• Temperature sensitive

2. Budget

I wanted you to walk away with some idea of a cost comparison, so I thought I would use an example to show the differences in cost. I used prices I found from major retailers such as Floor and Decor, Lowes, etc. You may be able to find them for less and be interested in the upgraded versions of these products, but I wanted to give you an idea of the costs and a starting point.

I also linked the product data sheets for each product in case you wanted to dig in and learn more. I assumed a small project using a 12″ x 12″ x 3/8″ tile with a 1/8″ grout joint to demonstrate the varying costs.

1. Cement-Based Unsanded Grout – MAPEI Keracolor 10-lb Unsanded Grout – 212SF Coverage – Average Cost – $16
2. Cement-Based Sanded Grout – Mapei Keracolor 10-lb Sanded Grout  – 153SF Coverage – Average Cost – $14
3. Epoxy Grout – Laticrete SPECTRALOCK PRO Grout 4/5 Gal – 162.5SF Coverage – Average Cost – $95
4. Urethane Grout – Bostik Tru Color RapidCure 9-lb – 253SF Coverage – Average Cost – $90

3. Skill Level

If you plan on doing the work yourself, are you comfortable enough with your skill level to use epoxy grout, which has a far shorter working time than cement-based grout? Or are you planning to hire a professional tile installer to do the work? These are all things to think about when choosing grout.

4. Color

Your next important decision is the grout color. I am sure you already have the design of your bathroom and your vision for your shower wholly dialed in, but if you don’t, I have a couple of recommendations for you. Spend time on Instagram and Pinterest looking at and saving bathrooms that appeal to you.

Once you have a collection, look at them all together and see if there is anything that they have in common! Do you seem drawn to the more uniform look matching grout and tile provides? Or do you prefer a contrast between the tile and grout? You may have a strong preference and not even realize it!

I didn’t realize it myself, but I tend to like the more cohesive look, with the grout being similar in color to the tile. In the photos above, from our last project, we used white ceramic tile in both bathrooms with Mapei Avalanche grout. White grout can turn yellow over time, requiring more maintenance. That is just something to consider.

If you use a tile with an interesting shape that you want to highlight, consider using a contrasting grout color. It is really up to you and your vision! Your color options will depend on the type of grout you choose, so you may want to have your color in mind before making a final decision.

 

What We Do

We tend to stick with cement-based Mapei products. Specifically, we have used the Ultracolor Plus FA for the last couple of installations on our current project. It is a rapid-setting, fine-aggregate, polymer-modified grout with improved water-repellent and stain-resistant properties.

The working time is a little shorter, so I would not attempt to use this one on your first project. I also found that less water than what was called for worked best. Working time can cause some stress, so I recommend making small batches!

Mapei offers an excellent range of colors, and its products have always performed well for us. Another benefit of Mapei products is that they carry siliconized acrylic caulk in the same colors as the grout that can be used on the seams of your shower.

 

Summary

Choosing the best tile grout for shower tile is an important decision. You now know the different types of grout, their advantages and disadvantages, a rough cost comparison of each grout type, the importance of evaluating your skill level when choosing a grout type, and some helpful hints on choosing a color!

As always, make sure you read all the documentation on the product you choose just to be sure you haven’t missed anything important and follow the instructions. Every product is different and comes with its own installation instructions, risks, and precautions that must be taken. If you are doing more than renovating your shower, you might like my post, DIY Cost to Remodel a Small Bathroom.