Our loyal readers might remember a piece we wrote in 2015 about creating a grout sample board so that our clients could pick the best grout color for their tile installation. We had absolutely no idea that this post would be so popular. Readers in every state have tuned in. The same is true in 22 countries. When my third grade teacher told me I might grow up to be somebody, I doubt she would have predicted this. But here we are, a rather big deal among the grout-curious in Newfoundland and Labrador. High five, Ms. G.
Without fail, the critics will say that white grout is white grout is white grout. It’s just a tile job, c’mon, try not to go ape about this stuff.
Oh, go ape we will. You already knew there are endless kinds of every conceivable thing for sale in your Amazon-induced vertigo. Three hundred shades of white are available at your local paint store. What made you think that all white grout was the same?
We went down the white grout rabbit hole so you don’t have to.
We used an ultra-white subway tile in this sample board to highlight some of the color and tint differences. All of these grout options are widely available at major retailers. Close-ups below:
Mapei Avalanche is a slightly warm off-white grout rather than a pure white option.
Custom Polyblend Bright White is a versatile white grout with a soft milky color and appears “whiter” than the Mapei Avalanche but not as bright as Custom Arctic White.
Custom Arctic White has a subtle grey tint and appears to be the coolest white grout of all under LED lighting commonly found in bathrooms and under-cabinet lighting in kitchens.
Prism Snow White in the right column has the most pronounced beige tint on the board. We would have renamed it “Third Day After a Chicago Snow Storm,” but nobody asked us.
TL/DR: product names can be deceiving. As with any grout color, the only way to be sure of your selection is to test it with the tile you plan to install and in the lighting conditions specific to your space. Fame may be fleeting, but grout endures. Good luck!
