Mine ran about $8k, but I DIY'd a lot of it. Splurged on epoxy grout after hearing horror stories like yours...
"My arms hurt just remembering it, haha."
Same here—sanding reclaimed wood is no joke. Worth it though, eventually.
Epoxy grout was a smart move...I learned that the hard way, haha. I went budget-friendly on regular grout and ended up resealing way sooner than I'd hoped. And yeah, sanding reclaimed wood is brutal. Did my kitchen island with some old barn boards—felt like my arms were gonna fall off—but every time someone compliments it, I forget the pain (almost). Definitely worth the sweat and soreness in the end.
"Epoxy grout was a smart move...I learned that the hard way, haha."
Yeah, epoxy grout is solid, but honestly, I've found that with proper prep and sealing, regular grout can hold up pretty well too. Epoxy can be a pain if you ever need to redo anything later...just something to consider.
Epoxy grout definitely has its perks, but I totally get what you're saying about regular grout. I'm tackling my first bathroom remodel right now, and after some research, decided to stick with standard grout and just seal it well. Fingers crossed it's enough! Honestly, I think either option can work great as long as you're thorough with prep. Good luck with your project—sounds like you've learned a ton already!
Regular grout sealed well can definitely hold up, but honestly, epoxy grout's durability saves you from resealing down the line. Did my bathroom 5 yrs ago with epoxy—still looks new, zero maintenance. Worth considering for future projects maybe?
