Help Us Pick a Grout Color!

[tyoung5ND]

Hello!

We have selected our tile (Artistry in Mosaics GG82348B18), but now we need to choose a grout color. As far as our other selections, we are doing PebbleSheen Blue Surf with an Ipe deck (no coping). We have narrowed the grout down to 4 different Laticrete options:
42 Platinum
53 Twilight Blue
88 Silver Shadow
91 Slate Grey - PB Recommendation

We have a faux edge, so the tile and grout will be a big feature in the pool. The Slate Grey is a nice, neutral color, but we thought the twilight blue is a close match with the tile colors. We are stuck if we want a grout color that closely matches the tile or something that has a bit more contrast - but still coordinates.

@kimkats - What are your thoughts?

Thank you!

Edit: TFP is having issues with uploading pictures, so I added them to Imgur instead:

https://imgur.com/a/8gyCANq

 

[Nikilyn]

I like the silver shadow. I like how it makes the tiles pop.

 

[kimkats]

You rang??? LOL Hi and thanks for letting me help you spend your money!!

I am with @Nikilyn with the Silver Shadow being my number one pick follow closely by the Slate Gray. This tile need to POP and it will with the lighter grouts.

Now lets talk about the mortar UNDER the tiles. It also comes in colors! None of them are wrong. Here is how you pick. Go to a paint store and get a white, light gray, medium gray, kind of dark gray paint card. Bring them home and put the tile on top of them where the pool will be going. Which on do you like the best? Know the colors will change through out the day due to light/shadows.

Kim

 

[mknauss]

In your area, you will get water line scale -- white grout is the least maintenance ---

 

[Nikilyn]

So is your deck wood?

 

[tyoung5ND]

Thanks for all the responses! It looks like everyone is picking the Silver Shadow. I think this was also my first pick, but I was worried the white grout would be harder to keep clean. Glad to hear from @mknauss that it is actually less maintenance for my area!

So is your deck wood?

Yes - We are doing a cantilevered deck that "wraps" over the top of the pool. It will be built with IPE which is supposed to be great for resisting salt water, insect resistant, and not as hot in the sun compared to concrete.

Now lets talk about the mortar UNDER the tiles. It also comes in colors! None of them are wrong. Here is how you pick. Go to a paint store and get a white, light gray, medium gray, kind of dark gray paint card. Bring them home and put the tile on top of them where the pool will be going. Which on do you like the best? Know the colors will change through out the day due to light/shadows.

More choices! haha Thanks @kimkats for the tip. Unfortunately, the sample tiles are glued to the cardboard, so I'm not sure how easy it will be to compare different colors. I think we like the look of the tiles on the white cardboard so going with a white mortar probably makes sense as well.

 

[kimkats]

Your PB might have some of that tile in stock if you want to play with them but you really can't go wrong with white for this one.

Ask your PB if the crew he has in mind for you has much experience with glass tile. These tiles do take a top shelf group of installers.

Kim

 

[Cena_sea]

I see you’re doing an exterior side pool wall of tile. Maybe that’s why your pb is suggesting a darker grout—would it be easier to keep clean on the exterior? Next to the glass tile are you using black rocks? Possibly grass or turf?

 

[tyoung5ND]

I see you’re doing an exterior side pool wall of tile. Maybe that’s why your pb is suggesting a darker grout—would it be easier to keep clean on the exterior? Next to the glass tile are you using black rocks? Possibly grass or turf?

That's right! We are going to tile the entire back wall. And we will have black landscaping rock along the backside of the pool. Maybe we can add grout sealer to help prevent it from showing dirt?
I added a picture showing the tile wall.

https://imgur.com/l9kMXkk

 

[kimkats]

With that side I would for sure use the gray grout! That is going to be SO pretty!!

 

[Cena_sea]

A long whole glass wall like that is really eye catching. Yes on raised spa walls but the entire exterior length of a raised pool wall without coping is unique. Especially next to dark rock (which I am looking at too for landscaping) and dark wood. It’s going to pop. I would try to experiment and sample it—get more of your tile swatches if you can because that grout will be on your “coping” there too.

If I could redo the tile grout choice for me I probably would but it also looks fine because it’s in water. There would be no “cheating” the grout choice here so no pressure (ha ha) but it needs to be the right look you want. Also agree about an experienced and detailed crew. Needs to be installed straight.

 

[kimkats]

That ^^^^ post got me to thinking about the tile wall. If you are able to think ahead make sure the top of the wall is wide enough for full runs of the tile so they don't try to "cheat" the size by using wider grout to keep from cutting the tile.