Finally, you have chosen the tile for your project. After days, weeks or months of agonizing over the pattern, texture, shape and color the decision is made and you are feeling confident and excited to see the finished project. Whether you are tiling a full bathroom or a kitchen floor with a coordinating tile backsplash, the last part of the selection process is the grout color and type of grout. Unfortunately the grout, which separates and frames each tile, is not given the attention it should have. The chosen grout color will effect the color of the tile and the overall look of the project.

The backsplashes below have the same tile installed; Bliss Cabernet Linear Mosaic Mix of Glass and Stone. As you can see the overall finished installations look very different. Why? The top backsplash used Mapei #42 Mocha, a dark brown grout and the bottom backsplash used Mapei #94 Straw, a neutral grout color.

In the top pictures you will see how green is popping out more than the bottom pictures but the cabernet color that is very pronounced in the bottom picture has faded in the top kitchen. We call this the “odd man out” syndrome. Your eye will always go towards the color that stands alone.

In most cases we try to match the grout to the body of the tile so the pattern will stand out and the grout fades into the background. Sometimes this makes for a tough decision because the body of the tile is light and you do not want to use a darker grout that will show the grid but you also do not want to be a slave to a light colored grout. The solution is simple, use an epoxy grout. Epoxy grout is stain resistant and is much easier to clean than regular sanded / unsanded grout. Although epoxy is slightly more challenging to install, you will be glad you used it when you do not have to worry about maintaining your light color grout.

At Glens Falls Tile & Saratoga Tile & Supplies we pride ourselves on bringing to light the details that are normally not thought about. Its the details that make the job complete and grout color is a important detail.