I wish I had a dollar for every homeowner who called complaining about the hassle of their tiled shower or bathtub. In most cases the problem is not the tile, it’s the nasty grout joints between the tile. Cleaning, scrubbing and getting on your hands and knees in a bathroom is no one’s idea of a good time! Regrouting and resealing the grout joints can temporarily “fix” the problem – but you will eventually end up with the same maintenance dilemma. The article below provides 5 strategies to help win the “battle of the grout joints.”
Strategy 1 – Grout free shower and tub wall panels
What better way to battle tile and grout joints them to blow them up completely. If you like the look of tile and stone consider what wouldn’t be smarter than use grout free shower wall panels which look exactly like tile and stone (without the joint)! This option provides a quality project with the look of having an actual grout joint without the maintenance. You can use these shower wall panels for senior housing or also as a tub surround in a single family rental.
Laminated shower and bathroom wall panels with a wood textured look in a contemporary bathroom
If you’re looking to do things ‘on the cheap, cheap’ acrylic or fiberglass can be your best options (although their molded appearance won’t look at good as the laminated shower panels mentioned above.
If you like a smooth surface options include contemporary high gloss panels, a traditional stone-looking line of PVC backed composite walls, a new natural looking shower wall panels made from a crushed stone with fiber strand reinforcement or even a smooth surfaced solid surface wall product can work.
Strategy 2 – Linear Drains
You’re probably wondering what shower drains have to do with tile grout joints. Long linear drains allow for a uniform slope in a shower pan which can accommodate larger format tiles with small joints vs. the standard bases with small mosaic tiles and a large number of grout joints. These drains add style, reduce maintenance and also have the benefit of draining the water from the shower floor quicker.
Strategy 3 – Use better grout
Most tile showers and bathtubs use sanded grout which is readily available at your home center store and is easy to install and cost effective. The drawback to sanded grout is it requires resealing (which few people actually remember to do) and must be constantly cleaned – which is a huge pain.
One alternative is using a latex or modified epoxy grout. This product uses epoxy resins and silica filler and does a nice job resisting staining and is harder than sanded grout. I will tell you though from the perspective of the installation crews in our remodeling division they don’t like epoxy grout because it’s difficult to mix and the time to work the materials is short.
The second option is urethane grout. This product is available pre-mixed (no mixing challenge like epoxy grout) and does not need to be resealed. The drawbacks are urethane grout is about 3x more expensive than sanded grout and requires more time and patience to install (it will save maintenance costs and time in the long run).
Urethane grout in an 18 lb. bucket
Strategy 4 – Solid surface and cultured stone shower pans
Tile shower pans (which are usually set in a mortar base, have grout joints between the tiles and are hand built at the site) not only take a lot of time to maintain – they are also known to be the source of leaks due to bad installations. Alternatives to the job site made tile bases include standard sizes pans made of fiberglass (the cheapest option but they are not known for durability) or acrylic bases (more expensive, but more reliable than fiberglass). For a higher end project solid surface shower pans or cultured stone shower bases are high quality, fully customizable, and are available in over 60 colors.
Strategy 5 – Larger wall tiles with smaller joints (or larger looking wall tiles with no joints at all!)
While 4” x 4” and 6” x 6” tiles might desired for a retro-style remodel they are not fashionable for today’s contemporary look. Large format tiles (8” x 16” units, 4” x 16” units for example) are the rage and can help in the battle vs. grout by having fewer grout joints. You can also make upkeep easier by using a darker colored grout.
You can also use this ‘large tile’ strategy effectively by using ‘large-looking’ shower wall panels which aren’t tile at all. If you look at these grout free wall panels below would you think they are tile? If you said yes they look tile you’d be correct. The cool thing is THEY ARE NOT TILE – they are laminated wall panels imported from Europe! So with this option there would be ZERO MAINTENANCE for you.
24″ x 18″ design style laminated shower wall panels in made in simple to install 2′ x 8′ sections used in a Mid Century Modern Bathroom remodel
Conclusion
Have you used any of these 5 strategies to win the battle vs. grout joints? Please comment or call us on the numbers below to get assistance on your grout problems or a free estimate on remodeling products or services.
For nationwide material supply for the grout free shower wall panels and pans for a home call Innovate Building Solutions (877-668-5888). If you’re looking for wall panels for hotel showers or a bathtub surround for a vacation home rental call 888-467-7488. For regional installation and remodeling contact The Bath Doctor in Cleveland (216-531-6085), Columbus (614-252-7294) or a bathroom remodeling project in Cleveland contact Cleveland Design and Remodeling (216-658-1270).
If you’re a remodeler or builder and want practical advice on remodeling products, industry trends, marketing and sales tips to grow your business (and cut day to day hassles), start reading my newest blog – Innovate Builders Blog. It’s packed with ideas you can use now. Click here to Sign Up for the Innovate Builders Blog or call me at 888-467-7488 to inquire about being a shower wall panel dealer of the unique line of laminate wall panels.
President of Innovate Building Solutions a nationwide supplier and regional (Cleveland and Columbus) remodeling contractors. Some of our product lines include glass counters, floors, backsplashes, glass blocks and grout free shower and tub wall panels
Hello Tracey – thanks for your question. That ‘floor to ceiling’ niche is part of a system from the Kohler Luxstone division….however I’m going to tell you the challenge with attempting to buy this niche. I’ll bet they won’t sell it to you unless you buy a complete system (which through their Luxstone division is usually quite expensive).
Another idea is to look at the ‘oversized vertical recessed niches’ in the link below. This product our company (just being transparent here) will sell direct to the public (along with other products if you need them – or just the niche if that’s all you need). Here’s the link – and number to reach our team if that makes sense – Mike – https://innovatebuildingsolutions.com/product/contemporary-shower-accessories/
Tracey
In the second picture, in the corner, please tell me where to buy that narrow floor to ceiling niche.
Pat – glad to hear it. Feel free to call our office at 877-668-5888 and we’d be glad to help – Mike
Pat charest
I have a 42 in x 32in shower in loser that’s 202 years old. Do not like the curvie fiberglass shower one piece look. Very interested in your shower wall laminates with a composite shower pan and all your ideas.
Maria – I’m glad to hear this and no this isn’t only a DIY product. We’ve been adding qualified installing dealers along the way. We do have a dealer in Boynton Beach and one in Coral Springs. I’m not sure how close these are to you. Feel free to call our office and we’ll look to put you in touch with them. Thanks for reading – Mike
Maria and Dan Ball
My husband and I love your product. Are there any instzllers available for this, (we live in the Tampa/St. Pete,FL area) or is thismonly a DIY product?
Colleen – I’m not sure which picture you’re referring to. But our high gloss wall panels can (and are) used frequently for kitchen backsplashes. Call us at 877-668-5888 and we’d be glad to assist. Mike
Colleen
Hello, is this product available in Canada? If yes, could you tell me of any suppliers in BC (Okanagan area preferably) also could this product be used as a kitchen backsplash? Thank You
Colleen
Mike Foti
Hello Tracey – thanks for your question. That ‘floor to ceiling’ niche is part of a system from the Kohler Luxstone division….however I’m going to tell you the challenge with attempting to buy this niche. I’ll bet they won’t sell it to you unless you buy a complete system (which through their Luxstone division is usually quite expensive).
Another idea is to look at the ‘oversized vertical recessed niches’ in the link below. This product our company (just being transparent here) will sell direct to the public (along with other products if you need them – or just the niche if that’s all you need). Here’s the link – and number to reach our team if that makes sense – Mike – https://innovatebuildingsolutions.com/product/contemporary-shower-accessories/
Tracey
In the second picture, in the corner, please tell me where to buy that narrow floor to ceiling niche.
Mike Foti
Mike – the linear drain pictured in ‘strategy 2’ is comes as a component of our ‘one level’ wet room shower systems – I’ve included a link to the web page on this product here – if you need more info on it call us at 877-668-5888 – Mike https://innovatebuildingsolutions.com/product/handicap-accessible-roll-in-shower-pans-wet-rooms/
Mike Clausen
Can you tell me the type and name of the product that is in the picture just above the headline,” Strategy 2 – Linear Drains”?
Thanks
Mike
Mike Foti
Pat – glad to hear it. Feel free to call our office at 877-668-5888 and we’d be glad to help – Mike
Pat charest
I have a 42 in x 32in shower in loser that’s 202 years old. Do not like the curvie fiberglass shower one piece look. Very interested in your shower wall laminates with a composite shower pan and all your ideas.
Mike Foti
Maria – I’m glad to hear this and no this isn’t only a DIY product. We’ve been adding qualified installing dealers along the way. We do have a dealer in Boynton Beach and one in Coral Springs. I’m not sure how close these are to you. Feel free to call our office and we’ll look to put you in touch with them. Thanks for reading – Mike
Maria and Dan Ball
My husband and I love your product. Are there any instzllers available for this, (we live in the Tampa/St. Pete,FL area) or is thismonly a DIY product?
Mike Foti
Bonita – the shower seat in this image looks like a custom made laminate unit. Mike
Bonita Lunt
I love the sleek seat in the shower, do you know where I can get one?
Mike Foti
Colleen – I’m not sure which picture you’re referring to. But our high gloss wall panels can (and are) used frequently for kitchen backsplashes. Call us at 877-668-5888 and we’d be glad to assist. Mike
Colleen
Hello, is this product available in Canada? If yes, could you tell me of any suppliers in BC (Okanagan area preferably) also could this product be used as a kitchen backsplash? Thank You
Colleen
Mike Foti
Melissa – it is not sandstone – but it is a solid surface product. I have included a link to it here – http://innovatebuildingsolutions.com/products/bathrooms/luxury-shower-wall-panels-accessories-storage-system
Mike
Mike Foti
Julie – this wall product is make of solid surface. I have included a link to the web page for it here – http://innovatebuildingsolutions.com/products/bathrooms/luxury-shower-wall-panels-accessories-storage-system
Mike
Melissa
What is the wall product in the first picture that looks like sandstone?
Thanks!
Julie Lindsay Gutiérrez
I love the shower wall in the first picture. Can you tell me where I can find that? I clicked on the link and I don’t see that option in the styles.