Reading your epoxy grout story brought back memories of my own bathroom renovation saga. I live in a historic home—think creaky floors, charming plaster walls, and plumbing that predates sliced bread. When we redid our shower, I got talked into epoxy grout by a well-meaning friend who swore it'd be the ultimate solution for an old house. Well, let's just say I spent an entire weekend frantically scrubbing tiles, desperately trying to beat the clock before it set like concrete. Lost track of how many sponges I sacrificed to that mess...
In hindsight, cement-based grout with a quality sealer would've been plenty. But hey, at least now whenever I step into the shower, I'm reminded of my own stubbornness and perseverance. Your SeaWorld comment cracked me up—exactly how I felt. Sometimes simpler really is better, especially when dealing with older homes. Glad I'm not alone in learning this the hard way.
Your epoxy grout nightmare sounds painfully familiar—I spent days obsessing over waterproofing membranes, convinced my shower would leak into oblivion without one. Now I'm wondering, did you guys go all-in on waterproofing layers too, or trust the grout alone...?
I completely understand your anxiety about relying solely on grout. When we renovated our historic bathroom, I spent countless hours researching waterproofing methods—membranes, sealants, you name it. Given the age of our home, I couldn't bring myself to trust grout alone. We ended up layering a waterproof membrane beneath the tile just for peace of mind. Honestly, it's probably overkill, but knowing there's an extra barrier helps me sleep better at night... You're definitely not alone in this!
"Honestly, it's probably overkill, but knowing there's an extra barrier helps me sleep better at night..."
I get the peace-of-mind angle, but sometimes I wonder if we're all just overthinking this stuff. My folks' house is pushing 70 years old, original tile shower, grout only—never leaked once. Makes me question if modern materials are really that much better or if we're just getting sold on extra layers we don't always need. Not knocking membranes or anything...just curious if simpler might sometimes be enough?
I totally get where you're coming from—sometimes simpler really is enough. A few thoughts from my own experience:
- Older showers were often built differently, with thicker mortar beds and more robust construction methods. That alone can make a huge difference. Your folks' 70-year-old shower probably has a solid mud bed underneath, which was the standard back then and honestly pretty bulletproof if done right.
- Modern materials aren't necessarily "better" in every single way, but they're usually quicker and easier to install correctly. Membranes and waterproofing layers are designed to reduce the margin of error for DIYers or contractors who might not have decades of tile-setting experience.
- I've remodeled a couple bathrooms myself, and while I trust my work, I still opted for a waterproof membrane. It's not because I think grout alone can't hold up—it's more about insurance against tiny mistakes or cracks that might develop over time. Grout isn't technically waterproof; it's porous, so water can slowly seep through if there's any cracking or deterioration.
- Also, building codes have evolved. In many places now, membranes or waterproofing layers are required by code. So even if you wanted to skip it, sometimes you can't.
That said, if your parents' shower is still going strong after 70 years without leaks, that's awesome and definitely speaks to the quality of craftsmanship back then. But for most DIYers today (myself included), adding that extra layer is just a practical step to avoid headaches down the road. It's not always about being sold something extra—sometimes it's just about making life easier and reducing risk.
Just my two cents...
