ever thought about your shower suddenly leaking everywhere?

I get what you're saying about cement grout holding up fine, especially with a good sealer. But honestly, from my experience dealing with multiple rental properties, epoxy grout has saved me more headaches in the long run. Tenants aren't exactly known for their gentle cleaning habits or staying on top of maintenance, and epoxy just seems to handle neglect better - less staining, less cracking, fewer callbacks about moldy showers...

That said, I totally agree it's a pain to apply compared to regular grout. First time I did it myself was kind of a disaster - sticky mess everywhere and way more stressful than I'd bargained for. But once you get the hang of it (or hire someone who knows their stuff), it's pretty much bulletproof. So yeah, cement grout is fine for your own house if you're careful and keep up with sealing... but if you've got multiple showers to worry about or you just hate maintenance like me, epoxy can be worth the extra hassle upfront.

Totally relate to the epoxy grout struggle - first time I tackled it, I swear half ended up on me instead of the tiles. But honestly, once you power through that initial mess, it's a lifesaver. If anyone's considering it, quick tip: have everything prepped and ready to go beforehand, because epoxy waits for no one. And maybe wear gloves... trust me, learned that the hard way.

Had a similar experience with epoxy grout myself - thought I had everything prepped, but didn't factor in just how quickly it sets. Ended up frantically scraping hardened epoxy off my tools halfway through the job. Definitely second the glove tip; spent days picking bits off my fingers. Still, once it's done, you can't beat the durability. Just gotta embrace the chaos for a bit, I guess...

Epoxy grout can definitely catch you off guard, can't it? Did you find yourself panicking a bit when you realized how fast it was setting up? I've been there - had a job once where I thought I'd planned everything perfectly, only to realize halfway through that my bucket of grout was turning into a solid brick. Ended up making an emergency run to the hardware store mid-job, covered in dried epoxy bits and looking like I'd lost a fight with a glue factory.

But you're right about durability. Once it's set, it's pretty much bulletproof. Did you notice how much easier it is to keep clean compared to regular grout? Makes all the chaos worth it in the end... at least that's what I tell myself every time I'm scraping hardened epoxy off my tools. Hang in there - next time around you'll be ready for it, gloves and all.

Haha, epoxy grout is no joke. I tackled it last year in our old Victorian shower - thought I'd be smart and mix a big batch to save time. Big mistake... halfway through, it was like trying to spread peanut brittle. Ended up chiseling hardened epoxy off my favorite trowel for days afterward. But yeah, the durability's amazing. Haven't had any leaks since, and cleaning is a breeze compared to before. Definitely worth the temporary panic attack and ruined tools... mostly.

"Definitely worth the temporary panic attack and ruined tools... mostly."

Honestly, epoxy grout seems like overkill for most showers. Regular cement-based grout with a good sealer works fine - cheaper, easier to apply, and you won't ruin your tools in the process. Just reseal every couple years and you're golden.

Haha, epoxy grout is definitely a love-hate thing. I mean, sure, it's bulletproof once it's in, but getting there... yeesh. Cement-based grout with sealer is usually enough for most showers, agreed. But if you're the type who forgets to reseal (guilty 🙋‍♂️), epoxy can save you from future panic attacks. Just make sure you have disposable tools handy - trust me, your favorite trowel will thank you.

Epoxy grout sounds great in theory, but honestly...

- Tried epoxy once - never again. Cleanup was a nightmare and I ruined a perfectly good sponge.
- Cement-based grout with a quality sealer lasted years for me without resealing (oops).
- Maybe epoxy's overkill unless you're building a submarine shower?

Haha, submarine shower...now there's an idea. Tried epoxy grout once myself on a client's insistence - never again. Spent more time scraping dried epoxy off my tools than actually grouting. Cement-based grout with a decent sealer has always done the trick for me too, even when I've forgotten to reseal for years (oops here too). Honestly, unless you're showering with dolphins, epoxy might be a bit much, no?

Haha, epoxy grout...been there, done that, still have nightmares. Had a client who insisted on it for their steam shower - thought it'd be bulletproof. Sure, it's tough stuff, but man, the cleanup was brutal. Lost a couple good trowels to that job. Cement-based grout with a solid sealer has always held up fine for me too, even in heavy-use showers. Unless you're hosting SeaWorld in your bathroom, epoxy really feels like overkill...

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...

"Grout isn't technically waterproof; it's porous, so water can slowly seep through if there's any cracking or deterioration."

Exactly. I've seen plenty of showers that looked fine on the surface but were secretly plotting their revenge behind the tiles... sneaky leaks are the worst. Had a client once whose "perfectly good" shower suddenly turned their dining room ceiling into abstract art. Membranes might feel like overkill, but trust me, they're cheaper than surprise renovations.

Yeah, that's exactly why I'm second-guessing skipping the membrane in my bathroom reno. I mean, grout looks solid enough, but if water's sneaking through tiny cracks... maybe better safe than sorry? I'd rather not find out the hard way.

"grout looks solid enough, but if water's sneaking through tiny cracks... maybe better safe than sorry?"

Honestly, grout alone isn't something I'd trust completely. I've seen bathrooms that looked pristine on the surface, but underneath... total nightmare. Had a client once who skipped waterproofing to save a bit of cash, and within a year, they were tearing out tiles and dealing with mold issues. Not fun.

Are you planning on using large-format tiles or smaller ones? Tile size and grout lines can make a difference in how quickly water finds its way through.

I totally agree about grout not being trustworthy on its own. When we redid our shower, I remember wondering if waterproofing was just an upsell, but honestly, after reading stories like yours...

"Had a client once who skipped waterproofing to save a bit of cash, and within a year, they were tearing out tiles and dealing with mold issues."

...I'm glad we didn't skip it. What about epoxy grout - doesn't that hold up better against water seepage? Or is it not worth the extra cost?

Epoxy grout definitely holds up better than regular grout, but honestly, I wouldn't rely on it alone. When we renovated our historic home's bathroom, we went with epoxy grout thinking it'd be bulletproof. It did help - less staining and easier cleaning - but water still finds its way through tiny cracks eventually. Waterproofing underneath is the real lifesaver. Like you said:

"Had a client once who skipped waterproofing to save a bit of cash, and within a year, they were tearing out tiles and dealing with mold issues."

Trust me, it's worth the extra peace of mind.