Examples on How to Select
the Right Grout.
Selecting the right grout
adds the finishing touch to the overall appearance of your
tile installation. The color you choose can
dramatically affect the look and feel of your tile, making
the selection of grout just as important as picking the
right tile.
Color
Selection
After choosing
your tile, the next step is to decide what effect you want.
There are two schools of thought when it comes to choosing a
grout color. One is TONE ON TONE, which means
selecting a grout color that is a close match to the tile.
The grout then acts as a background and creates a more
uniform look. You can also choose a shade or tint
slightly different from the tile color which will give your
installation more depth and interest.
On the other hand, if you
prefer to emphasize each tile, you would choose a grout that
is a CONTRAST. The grout then acts as a frame for the
tile, giving each one as individual look and the
installation a grid effect.
You should also consider
where the grout is going to be used. In a heavy-use
area, a dark shade tends to show less dirt. And always
remember to seal grout with proven excellent sealers for
ease of maintenance.
You can use our color
card to choose the color that bests fits your tile and the
look you want to achieve. Simply place your tile next
to the grout color and begin exploring the possibilities.
Of course, with our range of colors, you might just consider
picking your grout before you pick your tile.
Care and
Maintenance
Now that you've found
both the perfect tile and grout, be sure to protect your
investment with our proven excellent products, a complete
family designed to clean, protect, restore and beautify
stone, tile, grout and masonry. You will have years of
beauty ahead. Easily, Safely and Effectively.
Types of
Grout:
There are four types of grout - sanded
lime-based cementitious, lime-based cementitious
unsanded, sanded epoxy-based and unsanded epoxy base.
Unsanded grout is typically paired with softer stones
such as marble and limestone. Sanded grout is usually
used with harder surfaces. You cannot hone and polish if
sanded grout has been used with soft stone. Epoxy grout
does not need to be sealed because it will not absorb
moisture. Epoxy grout is commonly used in restaurant
chains.
Tile bathrooms are the #1 problem in
commercial buildings. Toilet bowl cleaner is usually
used - with little success.
Original grout color is very difficult to
maintain with common tile cleaning products. Grout gets
dirty and needs to be sealed.
Grout in countertops gets ugly and
unhealthy and needs to be cleaned and sealed.
;A heavy duty alkaline cleaner and
degreaser, should be used to remove
greasy soil from stone and tile floors, kitchen
counters, bathroom shower stalls, and other natural
stone and ceramic tile surfaces. For extremely stained
grout, you can add
an Energizer to the solution to bleach the grout
while cleaning it.
Directions:
- Test in several inconspicuous area to determine
the effectiveness and desired results. Especially test
the integrity of the grout in several areas - some
problems are hidden by soil - such as cracks,
discolorations, bubbles in grout, dark spots, coatings
etc. that don’t show up until after cleaning.
- Make sure all surfaces to be cleaned are swept or
vacuumed to remove loose debris.
- Apply mixed solution with a clean mop, towel or
sponge - or use the
Hybrid Hard Surface Tile and
Grout Tool or
the
Floor Tool attached to a high-pressure
portable extractor, such as a Hard Surface Cleaning
System.
- Allow plenty of dwell time for the degreaser to
work on the soil.
- Agitate with a scrub brush or a floor machine
equipped with a nylon grit as needed. NOTE: Nylon grit
brushes are only for tiles that won’t scratch!
- Remove using a sponge, wet/dry vacuum, extractor
equipped with a hard surface tool, or damp mop.
- Rinse area well with clean water.
- To protect the areas from future soiling and
staining, after complete rinsing and drying, apply
impregnator sealer, per label instructions.
- To restore grout haze and remove grout residue
from porcelain and glass only, use an acid-based grout
cleaner: Acid-based products will etch most polished
marble and limestone surfaces! Apply mixed solution
with a brush, sprayer, scrub brush, clean mop, towel
or sponge. Agitate with a scrub brush or floor machine
as needed. Remove using a sponge, wet/dry vacuum or
damp mop. Rinse area well with clean water.
Basic Grout
Usage
PRODUCT
DESCRIPTION:
FLOOR GROUT is a sanded grout, composed of
modified Portland Cement and finely graded
aggregates. It is designed for use as a grouting
material for any tiled surface with joints
between 1/8" and 1/2". FLOOR GROUT is ideally
suited for all glazed and unglazed ceramic and
mosaic tile, quarry tile, brick pavers, slate,
stone, marble and granite.
USES:
Interior or exterior
Commercial or residential baths, kitchens,
laundries, walkways, etc.
When a high density wear resistant joint is
required
Glazed and unglazed ceramic and mosaic tiles
Ideal for quarry tile, brick pavers, slate,
stone, and marble
ADVANTAGES:
Resistant to alkali and abrasives
Provides hard, wear resistant, durable joints
Water resistant
Non-staining, non-shrinking
Extended pot life
Frost proof
INSTALLATION:
Surface Preparation:
All surfaces must be clean and free of dust,
dirt, oils, paints and all other contaminants
that will prevent proper bond. Make certain no
loose material remains in joint. For repair
work, remove at least 1/16" of old grout and
scrub surface thoroughly with kitchen cleanser.
ANSI
specifications recommend waiting 48 hours after
initial tile setting before grouting to ensure
maximum adhesion of tile to substrate. Remove
tile spacers between tiles if they have been
used. Dampen surface of tile making certain not
to leave any standing water in the grout joints.
Mixing:
Mix FLOOR GROUT with clean water to the
consistency of a smooth, trowelable putty, free
from lumps. Allow the grout to stand for 15
minutes before using, then remix. Do not add
additional water.
Mix
only the amount of grout that can be used in 1
hour. When grouting highly moisture absorbent
tiles (above 7% level).
Placement:
Using a hard rubber float, fill the joints of
the tile working diagonally across the grout
joints until they are packed full and are flush
with the surface of the tile. As work
progresses, turn the grout float perpendicular
to the tile and use as a squeegee to remove as
much excess grout from the tile surface as
possible.
Allow the grout time to acquire its
initial set before proceeding. Initial set has
occurred when the grout joint can barely be
indented when pressed hard with your fingernail.
Using a towel or cheese cloth dampened with
water, clean excess grout off the surface of the
tile by rubbing in a circular motion dressing
the joint as work progresses. Use as little
water as possible.
Change water often to keep as clean as possible.
Do not leave any water or grout residue on the
surface of the grout joint. Remove any grout
haze remaining after drying with a clean dry
towel or cheese cloth.
Curing:
To provide a hard, dense grout joint, damp
curing is recommended for the first 3 days after
application. Damp cure by covering the
installation with natural kraft paper.
After the grout has cured for 10 days, the
installation may be cleaned to remove any
remaining grout from the surface of the tile by
scrubbing with hot water and soap. Acid cleaning
is not recommended. After a minimum of 28 days
curing, the installation may be sealed with a
penetrating sealer.
Please contact
us for a free inspection and professional quotation.
Trust Totally Restored, to expertly upgrade your Home.
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