There are many options when picking the perfect color for your kitchen or bathroom subway tiles. Choosing the right one for your room can be a real challenge.
The color you choose can dramatically change the feel and vibe of the home decor, transforming from worm and homely to modern and contemporary with just the slightest color shifts.
Some of the most popular colored grout products are from the Mapei company, an industry leader in grout ‘refresher’ paints, and offers a vast range of color options.
One of the more popular colors in their range is number 38, Avalanche. But to many, it looks almost identical to 00 White. So why all the fuss about Avalanche if it just looks white? Many people are curious about the differences between these two and how they might affect the look of your tiles.
The main difference between Avalanche and White is that Avalanche has a slightly more off-white color that many people describe as a light gray, and even some say it has a pinkish hue.
Whereas white (White 00, not to be confused with the brilliant or bright white color of fresh, natural sanded grout) takes on a slightly darker color, contrary to what the name might suggest.
These ambiguous titles don’t necessarily align with what we might expect from a particular color name and have been the source of much confusion for potential buyers. So let’s take a deeper look at these products and discuss how they differ.
What is Mapei Avalanche?
The Mapei company has a color swatch palette comprising dozens of unique and exciting color finishes. These colors are offered across many of Mapei’s products, including sanded grout and caulking products.
These colors are further divided into subcategories to help buyers better understand which ‘mood’ is presented by a particular color.
Avalanche is part of their ‘Serene’ range and is the brightest of their colors. It sits closest to the natural white. But it is certainly not a brilliant/bright white; it has a subtle muting with hints of warm gray making, making it a slightly warmer off-white to promote feelings of calm and relaxation and, at the same time, remaining ‘cool’ enough to be used for modern contemporary home decor.
One of the catches of opting for Avalanche is that it’s not available for every product Mapei offers. So depending on what your intended usage is, you might find yourself out of luck and need to instead opt for the 00 White color.
Here’s a list of products you can purchase in Avalanche white:
Caulks :
- Keracaulk S U
- Keracaulk U
- Mapesil T
- Mapesil T Plus
Grout colorant and sealer:
- UltraCare Grout Refresh
Grouts:
- Kerapoxy CQ
- MAPEI Flexcolor CQ
- Ultracolor Plus FA
Unfortunately, Avalanche is not available in any of their Specialty Grouts range.
The most common product to use this color on is Mapei’s Flexcolor CQ, a conveniently premixed grout that eliminates the time and effort you typically spend mixing grout by hand.
Once you apply Mapei Avalanche Flexcolor CQ grout, it doesn’t even need sealing and is resistant to shrinkage and cracks.
What is Mapei white?
No, we don’t simply mean the color white here. When the topic of white comes up in the context of Maipei’s color swatch, we are referring to the 00 White color from the ‘Traditional’ range in their caulk/grout color lineup.
These colors are slightly warmer and off-colored compared to the cooler ‘serene’ range.
This is where, for many, the confusion starts. The white color here is a fair bit darker than Avalanche and has slightly more gray tones; some say it even has a yellow hue.
If you are looking for an actual white color Mapei offers the Ultracolor Plus Max Grout in ‘Pure White. This is your best bet at achieving that perfect white finish if that’s what you are looking for.
So counterintuitive as it might seem, 00 white is your best choice if you want a slightly warmer and homely feel.
Additionally, 00 white is available in every single product that Avalanche is available in, plus a few added extra Grout products, which include:
- Keracolor S
- Keracolor U
- Kerapoxy [NA]
So with these factors in mind, let’s take a deeper look at what sets these two apart.
What are the differences between Mapei avalanche and Mapei white?
While these are both very good colors that can suit a myriad of different aesthetic and decorative styles, there are some differences that you should be aware of that might make you lean towards one color over the other.
1. The difference in color
White (or 00 white from the Traditional range), as much as the name might suggest, is not pure white. It’s an off-white/warm gray color that some people have said contains yellowish hues. And while it is a very nice color, it’s certainly not going to cut it if you are looking for a brilliant white product.
Avalanche or 38 Avalanche from the Serence range is, by comparison, a much whiter product. While not a perfect brilliant white (for that, you want the Pure White flex color grout), many people looking for a nice cool off-white color have been happy with Avalanche.
2. Not available in every product
While the most common use of these two colors is in Mapei’s grout products, of which both are available, there are some additional products that 00 white is available in which 38 avalanche is not.
So be sure to check the product and color lists on Mapei’s website to ensure the product you want is available in the correct color.
3. Water changes the color of the grout.
When applying any premixed grout, it’s always best to use natural water to mix the grout with, or if it’s premixed, you should still use clean water to wash the excess off. This is because natural impurities within the water can change the color of the grout during application.
Both white colors are technically affected by this. The effect is much more noticeable on Avalanche due to its lighter color.
4. Which is most suitable as a white alternative
If you are looking for a distinctly white color but don’t want that clinical feeling that pure white presents, both are good alternatives for their slightly grayish hue and warmer tones.
However, Avalanche is probably slightly better in this scenario as it’s a bit more white than 00 White, which is too close to a warm gray for many people’s tastes.
5. Easiest to clean
Removing dirt from the grout is identical as they are essentially the same product, just with different pigmentation.
However, visually, Avalanche is a little easier to clean because its lighter color makes it easier to see when there is dirt or mold present. 00 White, on the other hand, can often hide this until the dirt is quite serious due to its warm gray hue.
6. Difficult to maintain
Although Avalanche does a good job of showing you the dirt, for many, this is a negative as it will require almost constant upkeep to keep it clean and pristine.
Many people consider 00 White superior as they don’t want the grout to look dirty too fast after cleaning it. So in that regard, Avalanche is a little bit more challenging to maintain.
Mapei avalanche vs Mapei white: Are they the same?
While they are both used in the same kinds of products and their names, suggest they are at the very least similar, in reality, their colors differ quite substantially, and there are a few things that should be taken into account as a result of this.
- Avalanche is closer to a true white than 00 White, which has exceptionally strong gray tones.
- 00 White is available in a few different products that Avalanche is not, so you may find Avalanche is not available for specific use cases.
- Avalanche is more susceptible to color changes due to water impurities during application due to its brighter color. 00 White is a little less affected by this.
- Both make a good substitute for a traditional white, but Avalanche sits closer to a pure or brilliant white, whereas 00 White is more of an odd color with a strong gray hue.
- Avalanche is a little easier to clean due to the fact is easier to see when any dirt or mold is starting to collect.
- 00 White can do a better job of hiding small amounts of dirt, so if you’re concerned about having an ultra-clean-looking bathroom, Avalanche will require more upkeep.
David Kessler is a CSLB licensed contractor with over 25 years of experience. He is specialized in home building, construction, and electrical works; he also has a keen eye for interior design and, over the years, has collaborated with various architects.
