In Deciding Color of Grout for Your Place

The wrong color can destroy your piece. This is really true in deciding color for your grout. Picking out the best color of grout for your completed project is extremely important.

There are three basic approaches to choosing grout color:1) Matching: By matching the grout and tile color, the grout lines become less pronounced and the tile itself is accentuated.2) Contrasting: By contrasting the tile and grout colors, you draw attention to the pattern and layout of the tile overall. This may be the best choice with detailed geometric or decorative patterns.3) Neutral: Opting for light neutral colored grouts in grays, beiges and browns is probably the safest bet in many bathrooms.

Understand that grout is just a filler. It is not an adhesive! It is simply for you to fill in the gaps between your tiles. It will smooth out the overall look of your piece and will hide some ragged edges on your glass.In the tile industry there is a rule of thumb for grout colors. Gray and brown are always good choices with varying shades depending upon your overall color. If you are using mainly cool colors then choose gray grout, if using warm colors then use brown grout. For an overall light effect, choose a light colored grout and for darker tiles use a dark grout. So if you do your piece in mostly a rich cobalt blue with a hint of light aqua and white thrown, a dark gray grout is recommended. The cobalt is a cool color and dark tile. If you choose to do your piece in varying shades of reds, oranges, and yellows, then a medium tone brown grout is recommended.

Here are a few other tips to keep in mind:

• White grout usually looks best with pure white tiles.
• If you're going to use a white or cream grout in any high-traffic area you should seal it, which will protect the color, discourage mold and mildew, and make for easier clean-up.
• Darker colored grout hides more dirt, though some people find the look itself dirty-looking.
• Dark grout isn't completely failsafe — it can fade from sunlight and harsh cleaners.
• Epoxy grout works better than sealer from keeping stains from penetrating  grout. It works especially well on countertops, where there is a high-risk of stains.
• Use different grouts for different jobs. Unsanded grout is used for smaller grout joints such as natural stone joints. Sanded grout is used for normal and larger grout joints. Mexican tile or Saltillo has special grout for it’s larger than normal grout joints.
• Areas where a tiled surface meets a perpendicular surface should be caulked and not grouted. You'll need to recaulk annually where the countertop meets the backsplash, for instance.
• Keep grout from the original installation in case of repair. Grout from a later batch might not match exactly.
• If you choose the wrong color, you're not necessarily out of luck. Grout can be restained, bleached and colored even after it has been applied.

Choosing Between Light vs. Dark ShadesThere are pros and cons to both ends of the spectrum. Darker grouts hide dirt and stains but are also more prone to fading and staining from harsh cleaners. Lighter grouts, on the other hand, are more likely to show dirt. Some experts recommend shades that are neither dark nor super light. Colors like tan, beige, light brown and grey are easier to keep clean and less prone to fading and discoloration.   For more useful information and related topic, check our main page here"   tile and grout cleaning auckland, tile and grout cleaning south auckland