Epoxy grout. Any experiences?

[King Herald]

Wifey has decided she wants tiles on the work surfaces in our new kitchen. We've found some 'garage floor' tiles, good and solid, thick, with colour all the way through, sort of a darkish grey colour.

We've been told we shouldn't use normal grout as it will stain and hold bacteria etc. So...

Anybody here know anything about epoxy grout?

I've heard it can be real difficult to apply, and leave a real mess if not done properly.

[Accelebrate]

King Herald said:

I've heard it can be real difficult to apply, and leave a real mess if not done properly.

That just about sums it up really. Very good otherwise.

[King Herald]

Accelebrate said:

That just about sums it up really. Very good otherwise.

I have visions of me using an icing bag and delicately filling each groove, then smoothing it with a wet finger.....

[Big Al.]

Did our kitchen worktop tiles, Grrrrrrrr

It is bloody hard work for a novice (I've been doing DIY tiling for decades) get a proper hard float to aid grout application make sure you leave all grout surface clean and smooth (i.e don't drag the grout). It's not too bad getting cured grout off the tiles as long as it's only a fine layer to clean off. I would suggest buying and using one of those hard white scotchbrite abrasive pads you can get a the tiling shops, you might need two.

If you've undertaken other grouting you shouldn't be too bad, you just have to adapt to the new material.

HTH.

[Skyedriver]

King Herald said:

epoxy grout?

Nightmare

Used it once 20 odd year ago around a tiled bathroom handbasin worktop.
Looked good at first but then it yellowed and unlike ordinary grout you couldn't clean it or dig it out.

[Accelebrate]

King Herald said:

I have visions of me using an icing bag and delicately filling each groove, then smoothing it with a wet finger.....

Joking aside my brother did pretty much that. He used a syringe to apply the epoxy grout in his mosaic shower enclosure. Took a while!

[singlecoil]

The first port of call for anyone intereted in a new technique, for just about anything, is YouTube

Just enter 'epoxy grout' into the search box.

[King Herald]

I've been hearing reports that normal decent quality grout with a waterproofer added afterwards is good enough for a work surface. Afterall, we will be using cutting boards and plates and stuff, not eating directly off the tiles. And we want dark grout anyway.

That may well be the way to go, methinks, as the 'bad news' stories far outway the 'twas easy' stories so far.

[singlecoil]

King Herald said:

That may well be the way to go, methinks, as the 'bad news' stories far outway the 'twas easy' stories so far.

And yet they keep making the stuff, makes one wonder how they manage to sell it.

[King Herald]

singlecoil said:

And yet they keep making the stuff, makes one wonder how they manage to sell it.

Probably bought by people who already know how to use it, professionals perchance, rather than people who really don't want to practise on their own new tiles.