Epoxy grout is not the same as epoxy-emulsion grout
Epoxy grout that meets ANSI A118.3 is made from epoxy resins and a filler powder. The Tile Council calls it extremely hard, durable, and nearly stain-proof, and says the bond between tiles can be stronger than the tile. It is harder for most installers to use, looks more plastic, is harder to shape and slope, can slump as it heats during cure, takes longer to cure, and must be kept rigorously clean. It is also much more expensive to buy than cement grout.
Do not confuse the standards
Those 100 percent solids grouts are not epoxy emulsion grouts, which mix cement and epoxy resins and meet ANSI A118.8. Emulsion grouts are not stain-proof and generally absorb liquids. They are closer to polymer-fortified cement grout under ANSI A118.7, sometimes with better chemical resistance. Epoxy thinset bonds more strongly and resists chemicals better than polymer-modified cement thinset, at a higher material cost, and is typically reserved for difficult substrates or strong chemical exposure.
A slick finish is optional
The FAQ notes that some epoxy grouts include a fluoropolymer and that the surface can be smoothed before cure into a slick finish dirt does not grip. That finish is a product choice, not a requirement of every epoxy joint.
Source
Fetched 2026-10-11 from Tile Council epoxy grout and mortar FAQ. The sentences above follow that page. They are not a contractor promise.
Related notes
- Tile notes index
- White grout residue is often minerals left by evaporating water
- Thinset follows the substrate instead of flattening it
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