Grout Information (a collection of posts)

[flatfloor]

All tile grouts fall into two basic categories: cement-based grout and epoxy grout. Grouts used for tiling should not be confused with caulks, which are elastomeric materials used for filling gaps between various building materials.

Cement-based grouts have a base of portland cement, but they differ in the types of additives they contain. Most come in powdered form to which water or liquid latex is added. Cement-based grouts include commercial portland cement, dry-set and latex-portland cement grouts. Latex-portland cement grout is the most versatile grout for residential applications.

Epoxy grout contains an epoxy resin and hardener, giving it a high degree of chemical resistance, excellent bond strength and superior impact resistance. It is the most expensive of the grouts, and therefore usually confined to industrial and commercial applications. It is somewhat thick and not easy to apply. If your tiles are more than 1/2-inch thick and the grout joints are less than 1/4- inch wide, the grout will not penetrate.

When it comes to cement-based grouts there are basically two form variations.

One is SANDED GROUT and the other is UNSANDED GROUT.

SANDED GROUT is used to fill wider grout joints. Sand (usually silica sand) is added to the basic portland cement along with colorants and other additives. When sand is added this increases strength and lends bulk for filler. Sanded grout is generally used in grout lines that exceed 1/16 inch in width.

UNSANDED GROUT is reserved for smaller grout lines around 1/16 inch or less. It might be noted that some natural stone tiles such as granite and marble are placed very close together having usually a 1/16 inch grout line and generally not more than 1/8 inch wide.

There are additives that can also be used (added) in grouts at mixing time to promote a stronger more stain resistant product when cured.

Grout sealers are also available for application to the grouts surface after it has thoroughly dried/cured. Grout sealers are strongly recommended.

[Edited by John Bridge on 05-05-2002 at 10:35 AM]

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[Rob Z]

Lat 4237 was originally developed in the late 50\'s to be mixed with job site sand/cement to make a latex modified thinset.

4237 contains latex, retardants, and tactifyers. All that is needed to make thinset is to add sand and cement in a 1:1 ratio. This can be accomplished with Laticrete 211 Crete filler powder. 211 is nothing more than ANSI approved graded aggregates and portland cement, in a 1:1 ratio.

For exterior jobs, high temperature conditions, and/or setting over a mud bed, 4237 can be mixed with Lat 317 or Lat 272 to get a latex thinset with double the amount of retardants and tactifyers. The open time and adjustability are much longer than using regular thinset.

To make a colored thinset, mix 4237 with Laticrete 500 series sanded grout. The grout is 1:1 sand/cement, and contains no latex. The 4237 provides the rest of the ingrediants to make thinset. The nice thing about this is when setting mosaics, any excess that oozes up through the tile can be struck off with a grout float and sponge. The next day, mix the same color 500 series grout with Lat 1776 grout additive and grout all the joints that didn\'t get the ooze in them.

It is important to use the 1776 additive in the grout because it has comparable quality and quanty of latex, and helps to minimize or eliminate the shading problems that you might expect to see when grouting an installation on different days.

[Bud Cline]

Here is an interesting product that claims to clean your grout without chemicals.

I have no first hand knowledge of this product and to me it appears to be a knockoff of those sponges covered with sandpaper that you can buy in a hardware store paint department. The concept surely would work though.

Check it out and see what you think, they have their contact information on the site. Each page loads very slowly so be patient.

www.r-teez.com