"Maybe I've just been lucky...or maybe my tenants are tiptoeing around to protect their deposits, haha."
Haha, sounds like you've got some ninja tenants there! I've had mixed luck with epoxy grout myself. Did a reno for a family member's place a couple years back—thought I'd nailed the prep, but within months it was cracking again. Turns out their kids treated bath time like a splash zone at SeaWorld. Totally agree though, prep makes or breaks it... and maybe some tenant ninja skills help too.
Haha, ninja tenants...wish I had some of those. Mine seem more like elephants in tap shoes sometimes. But yeah, epoxy grout can be a bit tricky. I did our bathroom a while back with it, thinking it'd be bulletproof, but had similar issues with cracking at first. Turns out the subfloor wasn't as stable as I'd thought—rookie mistake on my part.
Ended up redoing the prep work properly (lesson learned!) and added some flexible waterproofing membrane underneath before reapplying the grout. That seemed to do the trick; it's been holding strong for over two years now, even with my kids treating bath time like a water park adventure.
Also, if you're looking for something eco-friendly and durable, I've heard good things about urethane-based grouts too. Haven't personally tried them yet, but they're supposed to be a bit more forgiving with movement and easier on the environment.
But hey, maybe your tenants really are just stealthy deposit protectors...in which case, lucky you!
Yeah, epoxy grout can be a bit unforgiving if the prep isn't spot-on. Learned that the hard way myself—thought I'd nailed the subfloor prep, but ended up with hairline cracks after just a few months. Switched to urethane grout on my next project, and honestly, it's been great. Easier to apply, cleans up nicely, and seems to handle minor movement better. Plus, no mixing headaches. Might be worth a shot next time you're tackling a bathroom...
"Switched to urethane grout on my next project, and honestly, it's been great. Easier to apply, cleans up nicely, and seems to handle minor movement better."
Interesting, I've been debating urethane grout myself. Epoxy grout definitely has its quirks—my first attempt was a bit of a disaster too. Thought I had everything dialed in, but ended up with uneven color patches that drove me nuts every time I stepped into the shower. Urethane sounds promising, especially if it can handle slight shifts better. Might have to give it a go next time around...
I've been using urethane grout for a few years now, and yeah, it's definitely easier to work with than epoxy. Epoxy grout always feels like you're racing against the clock before it sets up and becomes impossible to clean off tiles. Plus, the fumes can be pretty intense if you're working in a smaller bathroom—ask me how I know, haha.
One thing I'd add is urethane grout seems a bit more forgiving when it comes to minor flexing or shifting. I had a client whose bathroom floor settled slightly after renovation (old houses, gotta love 'em), and the urethane grout held up surprisingly well without cracking or popping loose. Only downside I've noticed is that it takes longer to fully cure—so just make sure everyone knows to keep off it a bit longer than usual. Learned that one the hard way when someone walked on it too soon and left footprints... not fun to fix.
