How To Choose The Right Grout

One of the key things that can make or break an installation is choosing the right grout color for tile. Grout can blend into the grout lines, enhance the grout lines, and make the tile darker or lighter, along with a number of other things that can affect the overall look of your tile installation.

Rather than simply holding up that little grout color sample against your tile, you can get a better indication of what your tile will look like with different colors of grout by having your contractor make you a sample board.

sample board - different colors of grout

The above sample board is simply a scrap piece of drywall or backer board with some of your tile installed on it and different areas grouted with different colors. The glass backsplash above is a perfect example of the need to choose the correct grout color.

For this installation, the homeowner was undecided as to a dark or lighter grout. The different shades of glass in the backsplash made either one a viable option and simply made it more difficult to choose. So I made a sample board with some of the tiles installed and used three different colors of grout: black, white, and gray.

To the right, you can see the difference the separate colors made in the overall look of each piece. The dark grout makes the tile considerably darker, and the white makes it considerably lighter. This is simply in one square foot of tile; imagine that entire look on the whole backsplash? How to choose the right grout color for backsplash is important.

The homeowner decided to go with the gray grout, which kept the basic initial look, shades, and colors of the tile itself. They wanted the grout to blend into the background so that the tile would be the center of attention rather than the grout lines.

The white grout lines would show up considerably, and the black would do the same, although not quite as much. The black simply made the overall look too dark, which would effectively negate having glass tile for a backsplash.

It is always better also to take the sample board into the room the tile is actually installed in. This will let you see what it will look like in that specific room and lighting.

Different light will affect tile differently, especially glass tile. Set it in there and stand back and take a look at it. Take your time; grout is permanent.

Before you begin a home remodeling project, make sure you make a proper plan. If you spend hundreds of dollars on the perfect tile, shouldn’t you have the perfect grout to bring it all together?

Author Aaron Walker

Written by: Aaron Walker

I have extensive construction knowledge and I always stay up to date on current events and new technologies and hope to share my knowledge and expertise here. I am focused on green technologies and home improvements that include green living ideas.

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