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RenovatingBathrooms
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Tile and grout selection for minimal upkeep - First time DIY

4 months ago

Hi All,

I will shortly be embarking on my first time ensuite renovation and just in the planning phase.

My scope is to keep upkeep minimal and cleaning easy.


I have been reading that epoxy grout is alot more hard wearing, self sealing and therefore easier to keep clean. Downsides being harder to install and more expensive.

I have read it is normally only recommended for shower floors, but the idea of using multiple grout seems off putting to me, is it such a bad idea to use epoxy for the entire bathroom?

conversely what is the experience of using a cementitious grout but sealing it afterwards? are the results still sub par to epoxy and will it require periodic maintenance?


I was planning on 600x600 tiles for walls and floor, Centro drain in shower + ensuite floor already has floor waste.

Large tile selection was down to aesthetics but also keeping grout lines to a minimum (less cleaning)

But i am now reading that less grout lines will make the shower floor too slippery.


What is every bodies experience with these?

Featured Answer
  • 4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    we've been very happy with smaller floor tiles for a non slip floor surface ..mosaics, 50mm x 50mm or 50 x 25mm have all been excellent and the swimming pool ranges have provided a much cheaper price than standard small bathroom tiles... we always use cement grout for floors and standard tile grout for walls without any problem with application or maintenance ..fashions change but having previously used floor to ceiling wall tiles in various sizes on all walls we've decided that the next bathrooms will only use wall tiles where absolutely necessary (for shower walls, splashbacks around bath, vanity and toilet and skirting around the floors as old fashioned paint and good quality wallpaper can provide a much cheaper and more interesting DIY wall finish for the rest of the walls

    Comments (6)

    • 4 months ago

      Personally I don’t like tiled shower base. Grout lines are hard to clean anywhere and this is the dirtiest place. I had a mosaic bathroom and never ever again. The lafger tile the better for me. And no white grout. Sorry no experience with expiry grout. I aldd as o regret a fully tiled bathroom. My second one kept done plaster areas

    • 4 months ago

      Shower floors slope to the drain Larger tiles wouk best for strip drains. Smaller tiles are easier to lay on the changing surface

    • 4 months ago

      Yes thankyou i am aware of the envelope cut that is required,. this is what i am thinking, using a 60x60 tile


    • 4 months ago

      The L shaped tile outside the shower may not be able to be laid as one. Lilley need to be two strips. There’s a risk of breakage at the inner L join.

    • PRO
      2 months ago

      Hi Hu regarding your Grout Question and cleaning, something people do not tend to consider is how the Grout itself is finished. Some tradespeople (and DIY'ers) that work to time and budget (or lack of knowledge) do a quick wipe over of the excess wet grout a few times and that is it; but in doing so the Grout surface is left rough which in turn becomes a dirt trap.


      A good trades person will take the time to work the surface of the grout so it is as smooth as possible. Think of this like finishing Concrete Surfaces. In addition to this not all Grout Brands are created equal and some use finer grains than others which also affects the finish achievable. So Talk to your Tiler and make sure they are aware of these and they have the skill level & work to the standard that you expect.


      Hope this helps, Malcolm.

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