Epoxy vs regular grout -- pros/cons?

[IndyColtsFan]

I'm going to be hiring a contractor to rip out an entire bathroom and redo it. One question that I have is regarding the grout. "Regular" grout is the standard option but it is possible to upgrade to epoxy. Is going with epoxy a good choice? Any pros/cons?

 

[Blain]

Are you talking about the Fusion Pro material?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Are you talking about the Fusion Pro material?

No idea what the name is called -- I've had multiple contractors refer to it as "epoxy grout."

 

[skyking]

I have used laticrete's two part product called Spectralock. It is bomb-proof. ( goes into guest bathroom and pokes with screwdriver ) yup, bomb-proof. This was 10 years ago and it has improved. Back then it was offered in maybe 15 colors. Now there are 40.
Make sure your contractor has a good reputation and see examples of his work, because you are NOT fixing that shit. The old grout you could hook out with a special knife. This will require a diamond blade on a grinder 🙂
We used another product called Groutboost in the master, maybe 4 years ago. I got talked into it because it was "as good as" epoxy and easier to clean up. It was a liquid that was used in lieu of the water in a standard grout.
Not even close. We mixed according to directions and it is no where close to as hard and sealed as the true epoxy.
If I were staying any length of time in that house I would do the epoxy.

 

[jaha2000]

I have used laticrete's two part product called Spectralock. It is bomb-proof. ( goes into guest bathroom and pokes with screwdriver ) yup, bomb-proof. This was 10 years ago and it has improved. Back then it was offered in maybe 15 colors. Now there are 40.
Make sure your contractor has a good reputation and see examples of his work, because you are NOT fixing that shit. The old grout you could hook out with a special knife. This will require a diamond blade on a grinder 🙂
We used another product called Groutboost in the master, maybe 4 years ago. I got talked into it because it was "as good as" epoxy and easier to clean up. It was a liquid that was used in lieu of the water in a standard grout.
Not even close. We mixed according to directions and it is no where close to as hard and sealed as the true epoxy.
If I were staying any length of time in that house I would do the epoxy.

I did a backsplash with epoxy. I have done plenty of tile projects before, and I was quite nervous to do epoxy.
Like mentioned above, make sure you get somebody that is familiar. I practiced on some leftover tiles I had to see how it reacted. If you don't get it off in time, its on there forever basically. But yes, bomb proof, no mold, no cracking, no leaking. Its awesome stuff.