Help/opnions choosing grout color

[TrapperJ]

Well after lurking here through my garage build, I have decided to do Porcelain on our 28x40 garage. We are using 18"x18" Crosville 1st. Quality tile. the model # is VS 115. It's a very dark....almost black in color. We are going to start this coming Monday and only have two choices yet to make. One is the pattern. I am leaning toward a straight. The slab is without big + or - and the walls are plumb so no worries I hope in regards to which pattern to choose.

The other is the grout color. This isn't a "working" garage as some have. No welding...grinding....torch cutting. Mostly to store cars & cycles. Along with tools. We will roll a jack around and I plan to install a 4 post lift at some point to take advantage of the 12' ceiling.

While I'd like some contrast between the grout/tile to highlight the thin (hopefully) lines, I want to be wise and pick right the first time. I'd like some advice from some of you who've been down this path before. Any no nos to watch out for? As far as going straight with the pattern? What say GJ boys & girls.?

 

[engineer2]

A light colored grout will show dirt too easily. I have learned to use "natural gray" or whatever you might consider "dirt colored". Keep the tile spacing fairly narrow like 1/8" or 3/16" and keep the grout level almost even with the top of the tile if you are rolling floor jacks around. It'll end up looking like 1/4" or wider joints depending on the rounded edges of the tile.

There are some very durable grouts such as SpectraLock. This one isn't too bad to work with for an epoxy, but you have to work in smaller batches if you are doing it yourself. It can harden before you know it, if you don't keep moving. See what your tile supplier recommends.

 

[Cave Creek Ray]

I'd go with a dark grey or black grout.

The beauty of tile is hosing it out and the squeegeeing it dry. That poses problems for hard water stains in certain dark grouts. How hard is your water?

I used a tile that had brown and grey in it. I chose a medium grey grout and put an admix in that makes the grout stain resistant for years. I used sanded caulk for the crack joints and sanded grout for everywhere else. I am told by installers that, if you go with the poly or epoxy grouts, you can easily double the price of the install. Mine is currently running about $3.25 a sq ft for porcelain first quality with no discounts available on this particular tile.

Like you I'll be doing woodwork and some automotive servicing. Finished half today and will start on the other half once I get the equipment moved onto the tile.