My father would always say that grout is the most important part of a bathroom renovation. He said that when I was young and I think it was just motivate me to do the grouting which was the only thing I could do at the time.
Grout though is incredibly important in your bathroom renovation process and it gets overlooked almost every single time. You choose your tiles, tapware, vanity and shower screen, then somewhere along the way someone asks you what grout you want.
That’s usually when things get confusing.
There are flexible grouts and epoxy grouts and a whole range of products that all claim to be durable, mould-resistant, or easy to clean.
So does it actually matter which one you choose?
I’ve used a lot of different products over the years, and ARDEX is one of the brands I and the business have used the most. They make both flexible cement-based grouts and epoxy grouts, which makes them a good example of something homeowners can often get wrong:
Epoxy grout isn’t simply a better version of flexible grout.
They’re designed for different purposes.
So rather than just reviewing ARDEX grout and telling you whether I think it’s good, I want to look at the two options and explain where each one makes sense.
What Is ARDEX Grout?
ARDEX is a major name in the professional tiling industry in Australia, and its grout range covers everything from everyday cement-based products through to high-performance epoxy systems. Below are the two I have used the most throughout the years.
For a typical bathroom, two products worth looking at are ARDEX FS-DD/8 and ARDEX EG 15.
FS-DD is a non-sanded, cement-based grout designed for 1mm to 4mm joints, particularly polished porcelain and modern rectified tiles. ARDEX says it provides a smooth finish while offering water repellency, dirt resistance and mould protection. ARDEX FS-DD product information (Most Modern Bathrooms This Is The Grout – Large Tiles – Small Lines)
EG 15 is an epoxy grout designed for applications where higher chemical and physical resistance is required. It also offers very low water absorption and is aimed at situations where hygiene and easy cleaning are particularly important. ARDEX EG 15 product information
That sounds great, but here’s where I think homeowners need to stop thinking about grout as simply a case of good, better and best.
Flexible Grout Isn’t the Cheap Option
When people hear “flexible grout”, they can sometimes assume it’s the basic option and epoxy is the premium one.
That’s not really the right way to look at it.
A quality flexible cement-based grout is designed to provide some movement accommodation while remaining practical and relatively easy to install.
ARDEX flexible grout is specifically designed for wall and floor applications and is suitable for a wide range of residential tiling situations.
For most bathrooms or even floor tiling throughout an everyday home
You’re getting:
- A good range of colours
- Flexible performance
- Water-repellent properties
- Mould resistance
- Relatively straightforward installation
- A lower cost than epoxy
And importantly, you’re using a product designed for the application. Flexible modern grouts like this are perfect for almost all bathrooms in terms of look, installation and longevity. This is not the heavily sanded grout of 20 years ago, often associated with not lasting.
So What Makes Epoxy Different?
Epoxy grout is a completely different type of product.
Instead of being cement-based, it’s a resin system think super hard.
The big advantage is that epoxy grout is highly resistant to water absorption, staining, chemicals and general wear.
That’s where ARDEX EG 15 comes into its own.
If you’re looking for a grout that is particularly easy to keep clean and can handle demanding conditions, epoxy has some significant advantages.
But there is a trade-off.
Epoxy costs more and is more demanding to install.
That doesn’t make it a bad choice.
It just means you should have a reason for choosing it which I will cover below.
Is Epoxy Grout Better for a Shower?
This is probably the biggest misconception.
You don’t automatically need epoxy grout because you’re tiling a shower.
A properly constructed bathroom still relies on the waterproofing system, falls, drainage, tile installation and appropriate movement joints. Grout isn’t the thing making the shower waterproof.
For a standard residential shower, a quality flexible grout is all you need.
Where epoxy starts to become attractive is the maintenance side of the equation.
If you want grout that is highly resistant to staining and easier to keep looking clean, epoxy has an advantage.
That’s particularly relevant for showers because they’re constantly exposed to water, soap, shampoo and general bathroom grime.
What About Mould?
This is another area where epoxy tends to get oversold.
Flexible grout has mould-resistant properties, which is useful in a bathroom environment.
But no grout is going to compensate for a bathroom that doesn’t dry properly.
Good ventilation, adequate falls, sensible shower design and regular cleaning still matter.
If your bathroom stays damp all day, changing from flexible grout to epoxy isn’t going to magically fix the problem.
Where Flexible Grout Makes More Sense
For most of the bathrooms I have done over 20 years, we have used flexible grout.
You’re unlikely to gain enough from epoxy to justify the additional cost simply because it’s technically the more advanced product for commercial-style applications.
I’d rather see a quality flexible grout installed properly than expensive epoxy installed badly.
That’s an important distinction. As the epoxy grout is incredibly hard to get off once installed and you will often have more problems on the install side for how it finishes.
Where Epoxy Starts to Make Sense
There are bathrooms where I’d absolutely consider it.
If the priorities are:
Maximum stain resistance
Easy cleaning
High durability
Heavy use
High hygiene requirements
then epoxy becomes much more appealing.
It was really designed for commercial use spaces. Think incredibly high traffic, heavy chemical cleaning or lots of water like a pool.
In those situations, the extra cost isn’t necessarily wasted money.
You’re paying for a different set of properties but can be up to thousands more.
The Installation Matters More Than You Think
This is one of the reasons I wouldn’t make the decision based purely on the product label.
Grout is one of those areas where installation quality can make a massive difference to the finished result.
The wrong water-to-powder ratio, poor mixing, incorrect application or inadequate cleaning can all affect the appearance and performance of cement-based grout.
Epoxy has its own installation requirements and isn’t something I’d want an inexperienced installer experimenting with for the first time on an expensive bathroom.
So if someone is recommending epoxy to you, I’d be asking more than just:
“How much extra does it cost?”
I’d also ask:
“Why are you recommending it for my bathroom?”
If there’s a good answer, great.
If the answer is simply “because epoxy is better”, I’d want a bit more explanation.
So Which One Would I Choose?
If you gave me a typical family bathroom and asked me to choose between the two, I’d probably go with flexible grout.
It’s practical, performs well and doesn’t add unnecessary cost to an already expensive renovation.
If you have an unlimited budget and a tiler super keen to use it I would recommend it, but for most home renovators it is beyond an overkill, and most tilers don’t like using it in everyday bathrooms.
That’s the part I think gets lost.
Epoxy isn’t automatically better. It’s better at certain things.
And flexible grout isn’t simply the cheaper version.
It’s often the more sensible choice.
My ARDEX Verdict
I have used Ardex most of my professional life; it’s been around a long time, and it is a really quality grout product. For most tilers and DIY people, Ardex is a really reliable brand I can recommend.
For the Expoy or flexible cement-based grout below are the key lines.
ARDEX FG 8 and FS-DD: A very good all-round choice for the majority of residential bathrooms; I would recommend without hesitation.
ARDEX EG 15: A premium option when durability, hygiene, stain resistance and cleaning justify the additional cost but an overkill.
If you’re renovating a bathroom, don’t let someone tell you that you need epoxy grout simply because it’s “better”.
Ask what you’re actually gaining from it.
Sometimes the smartest renovation decision is spending more.
Sometimes it’s knowing when you don’t need to.
Disclaimer: The advice on this website is for general information only. I draw on years of experience in bathroom renovations and tiling, but every home and project is different. Always consult a licensed tradesperson, plumber, or builder before starting any renovations, installations, or repairs.
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