I started grouting today. It was a lot of elbow work to push the grout into the joints, so I only did the two end walls. The back wall, which is the other half of the job, comes tomorrow.

The grout that I am using is Custom Building Products Fusion Pro Single Component Grout. I'm using the platinum color because I read some reviews that said it looked great with the tile I'm using. I had already used it on my test wall, so I did know what it would look like. This is a pre-mixed all-in-one grout. The advantage of that kind of grout is color consistency and no need for sealant later. The disadvantage is that the working time is only a few minutes. So, you apply the grout in a little section and then come back pretty much immediately to clean it up with a sponge and microfiber cloth. It wasn't too bad once I got into the swing of things, though there were lots of little grout blobs on my drop cloth.

The only thing I'm worried about is how I'm going to grout inside the niches. The space is too tight for the most part for my grout float. I may swing by the hardware store and pick up a margin float. It seems a shame to buy the tool for that small job, but it may be handy for the main grouting on the back wall. I have only been using the short edge of my full sized grout float.

Update: I grouted the rear wall, including both niches, today. The margin float wasn't much help for grouting the niches. Instead, I resorted to pushing it in with my fingertip, as if I were smoothing caulk. I did use the margin float for the main part of the wall though. For large format tiles, where you are just doing the edges instead of covering the whole tile, the margin float works well, especially if you are the sort like me who only uses the short edge of the full sized grout float anyhow.

There is some residue on all of the tiles. It's hard to see due to the Carrara pattern on the tiles, but it's obvious to the touch. I'm going to let things sit for a while and try some clearn-up tomorrow.