Tile, known for its longevity, has proven to be the most durable finish for pool interiors. Selecting the material, size, shape and color of the tile is just one step in the process. Another consideration is the grout selection. Grout can influence tile appearance significantly. If you choose the right grout, it can blend perfectly with the tile color. Or you can choose a contrasting color to highlight the tile. But that also requires an outstanding tile installation. Selecting your grout can be a very important decision as far as aesthetics go. Additionally, there are two different categories of grout; cementitious grout and epoxy grout. Both options are viable solutions for tiled pools, but with certain design parameters, one typically will make a better solution for a specific installation.
Cementitious grout, otherwise known as sanded grout, has been the longtime solution for pools. The cementitious grout can be applied at either indoor or outdoor pool locations, its color does not fade or change and it comes at a lower cost. But this product has also been noted to have a greater likelihood of having issues down the road. There are typically two main causes of failure, with the first being pool water chemistry. The water chemistry often gets exacerbated in spas due to calcium and/or acid issues. The water will begin to leech minerals from the tile grout, which makes the grout will need to be replaced sooner. The other main cause of failure are tile dots. The dots, in Counsilman-Hunsaker specification, have been limited to where they cannot occupy more than one-third of the depth of the tile. The grout is not allowed to occupy the depth or surface area needed to fill the space between tiles. It should be noted that the dots can still be an issue with the epoxy grouts, but it’s not as likely.
Epoxy grout, a product that has become more widely accepted by the aquatics industry as of 2010, is finding its way on more and more pool projects. The epoxy product is known to last longer, but
tends to discolor and typically be more expensive. There will usually be a 25%-35% premium, plus additional installation and labor charges. Applications where movement is critical, such as second floors, are ideal installations for epoxy grout. The grout can be used in outdoor pool applications in freeze-thaw environments, however, certain conditions must exist:
• There cannot be a high-water table
• The tile must be porcelain
• The pool should be winterized with water in it (not completely drained)
The exterior application also brings the concern of fading dark colors over time, darkening of light colors over time and in cases where high MVER/high water table exists, the drain rate of the pool water for maintenance becomes just as critical as the fill rate (nothing greater than one-inch per hour).
In project applications where the budget is limited or in the case where minimum trim tile is being installed, the cementitious grout can be considered as a value engineer option.