soapstone tile - what type grout?

Ciao again Mario, We will be installing Finnish soapstone (Tulikivi) in our bathroom and steam shower. I love the look - my wife was sold on the funtionality and practicality - don't have to use cleaners or sealers. In fact you can't seal soapstone as you know. (Many here would have you believe you need to apply mineral oil - not true as it is only a surface condition) Naturally a non-slip surface and retains heat and radiates it - perfect for warm tile applications and our steam shower. The question is - what type of grout should we use? Research shows many sites recommend epoxy grout. Not many tile setters in the Detroit area know of soapstone and don't like epoxy grout. Any recomendations? Grazie for your response! Paul ps just purchased a couple of your titles.

 

Dear Paul:

Mario is not available today, but I will tell him that you said, Ciao… J

 

“ In fact you can't seal soapstone as you know. ”

 

Yep, both Mario and I always knew that.

 

“ (Many here would have you believe you need to apply mineral oil - not true as it is only a surface condition) ”

 

Indeed, it is not a real necessity, but it seems to do some good to the stone in the long run. Not to mention that it makes all possible scratches “disappear”, which as you well know, are very easy to occur on soapstone. A more permanent alternative to mineral oil, if you do not want to go on a routine with it, could be the application of a good-quality stone color enhancer. But then again: there's no law that forces anybody to use anything on soapstone.

 

“ don't have to use cleaners or sealers. ”

 

Both Mario and I are big fan of soapstone, but we still have this “weird” tendency of trying to separate the facts from the myths. No sealing, agreed 100%. No cleaning???...

Are you suggesting that someone told you (and you actually believed them) that soapstone will never get dirty??? Never accumulate any soap film or mineral deposit on its surface??...

Talk about miracle stone here!! J

Whoever told you that must know something that neither Mario nor I know anything about!...

 

“ Research shows many sites recommend epoxy grout. Not many tile setters in the Detroit area know of soapstone and don't like epoxy grout. Any recomendations? ”

 

Me? Especially in a bathroom and especially inside a shower stall, it's color-matching latex-based silicone caulk in my own book. Much easier to apply than epoxy grout, much easier to clean up (oops, my mistake, I almost forgot: soapstone never needs to be cleaned… J ) and just as good a performer. Hands down, it's vastly superior to even the best regular grout.

 

May I ask you now to please read and e-sign our Statement of Purpose at: http://www.marblecleaning.org/purpose.htm?

Ciao and good luck,

Mauri z io Bertoli

 

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