Technical White Paper

GROUT

Grout Selection for

Ceramic and Stone Tile
— What’s New

How does a tile contractor select the right type of

grout for a job when over seven choices are available?
Understanding the performance advantages and
limitations of each type of grout is the first step. While
most grouts meet the requirements of a particular
ANSI standard, that does not necessarily mean that
the product will satisfy the needs of a project, the
ease of use demanded by an installer or the
performance expectations of an end user.

Contractors typically want a grout that has ample

working time, fills joints completely, dries quickly,
and is easy to clean off the face of the tile. They do
By Steve Taylor not want to have to return to the job to clean off grout
Director of Architecture and haze or seal the grout.
Technical Marketing,
Custom Building Products
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GROUT

end use customers typically want an aesthetically pleasing

It is important to understand the grout that never changes in appearance. they expect the
grout to wear the same as their tile and to not stain when
requirements of the project when exposed to household liquids, dirt and fungus. In the past,
selecting a grout. there has not been a single grout that could meet all these
requirements. however, Custom building Products has fused
the top benefits of the various types of grout into a new
solution, referenced as a Single Component Grout™. fusion Pro®
presents the stain resistance, color uniformity and durability of
an epoxy grout with the ease of installation found in a traditional
cement-based grout.

SeleCtING the CorreCt Grout

Grout is an integral part of tile installation, but not every type of
grout is designed to meet the unique requirements of a job. It is
important to evaluate the options when choosing a grout for
your tile installation.
In the 2011 tCNA handbook, seven categories of tile grout were
identified. We now recognize that there are eight categories
with the introduction of fusion Pro Single Component Grout.
SAND-PortlAND CeMeNt Grout
An on-the-job mixture of 1 part Portland cement to 1 part fine,
graded, clean sand for joints up to 1/8"; 1:2 mixture for joints up
to 1/2" and 1:3 mixture for joints wider than 1/2".
this is not much different than the grout that has been used for
centuries. the base color is gray or off white. If a different color is
desired, the grout mixture will have to be colored at the job site
with pigments. Since the grout is generally mixed in small quantities
it can be difficult to maintain consistent color throughout the job.
these job site-mixed grouts do not have the chemical additive
modifiers of factory-prepared grout, so it can be more difficult to
install. It is imperative that the installed grout joint is misted with
water for several days to assure maximum strength and color
uniformity of the grout. the cement make up of these grouts
can make them prone to efflorescence. Since these grouts are
mixed at the job site instead of at a factory, it is difficult to
consistently measure an exact ratio of sand and cement. As a
result, this can affect the strength and durability of the grout.
While this type of grout generally carries a lower price point, the
results are unpredictable and may not meet the customer’s
expectations.
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StANDArD PerforMANCe CeMeNt Grout:

ANSI A118.6
A factory-prepared mixture of cement, fine aggregate,
and other ingredients to produce a water-resistant, dense,
uniformly-colored material for joints 1/8" or less. The fine
aggregate is generally replaced with clean, graded sand for
joints greater than 1/8".
these grouts are generally labeled as non-sanded when they
are made with extremely fine fillers and are suitable for joints less
than 1/8", and they are labeled sanded for joints greater than
1/8". this is a substantial improvement over the job site mix.
Custom® building Products’ Polyblend® Sanded and Non-sanded
Grout are examples of this type of grout. these factory-prepared
grouts are available in a multitude of colors and are quality
controlled so that each bag produces the same color and
Cement-based grouts pack well composition as the last bag used. this assures a more consistent
into joints, and the joints stay full color throughout the installation. Polyblend is available in
48 colors, satisfying the needs of most tile installations.
throughout the cleaning process.
these grouts are formulated for ease of use, with significantly
longer working times than non-modified job site mixes. they are
designed to stay in joints on vertical surfaces without slumping,
and they maintain full joints on the floor. the components are
precisely measured in the factory, which leads to consistent
durability and handling properties. Cement-based grouts pack
well into joints, and the joints stay full throughout the cleaning
process. however, a light haze can be left behind though it is
easily removed the next day. because these grouts are based
on Portland cement, they are porous and can be stained from
common household agents. Since their primary makeup is
cement based, they are prone to efflorescence if over-watered
during the installation process. these grouts meet the require-
ments of ANSI A118.6.
hIGh PerforMANCe PolyMer MoDIfIeD tIle Grout:
ANSI A118.7
A factory prepared mixture of cement and other ingredients,
including a redispersible latex/polymer powder (to which only
water is added at the jobsite) or a liquid latex admixture (that is
added at the jobsite in place of the water); designed for grout
joints 1/8" or less. Generally clean, graded sand is added for
grout joints greater than 1/8".
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While many of the standard performance cement grouts do

contain some polymer, they generally do not take advantage
Prism® SureColor® Grout’s hard, of the latest developments in polymer technology. on the other
dense grout joints are also hand, high performance cement grouts have higher polymer
more stain resistant to common content and benefit from years of development in polymer
chemistry. these grouts solve many of the shortcomings of
household staining agents standard cement grout.
than most standard Portland the drawbacks of many standard cement grouts are that
cement grouts. they do not dry hard (compared to the tile surface), mottle or
shade in the joints, and cure with efflorescence (white haze) on
the surface of the grout. All of these issues are the result of
inadequate hydration of the Portland cement in the standard
grout; un-hydrated cement in standard cement grout can be
much darker than fully hydrated cement, leading to a mottled
look. Custom building Products recognized these issues with
standard Portland cement grout and developed high
performance Prism® SureColor® Grout. Prism SureColor Grout
utilizes Control Cure technology™ (CCt) to eliminate many of
these problems that challenge standard cement grouts. Prism
SureColor Grout utilizes unique cements, polymers and modifiers
that help complete the hydration process in a short time.
Since the cement becomes fully hydrated quickly, it cures to a
uniform color. the color of the Prism SureColor Grout used in an
installation between dense porcelain tiles is the same color as
when it is placed between porous limestone tiles. the complete
hydration also binds any free calcium salts in the grout, so that
they do not migrate to the surface and lead to a white haze or
efflorescence. Prism SureColor Grout sets fast and develops
higher early strength for excellent abrasion resistance. the
optimization of the particle size of the fine aggregates and
cement binders in Prism SureColor Grout allow for its placement
in joints from 1/16" to 1/2" wide (eliminating the need to stock
both non-sanded and sanded grout) and assure that the grout
will cure hard. Prism SureColor Grout’s hard, dense grout joints
are also more stain resistant to common household staining
agents than most standard Portland cement grouts. Prism
SureColor Grout is available in 24 of the most popular colors to
meet the needs of architects and designers. Prism SureColor
Grout meets the more demanding requirements of ANSI A118.7.
ePoxy Grout: ANSI A118.3
Epoxy is a grouting system employing epoxy resin and hardener
portions, often containing coarse silica filler. These are formulated
for industrial and commercial installations where chemical
resistance is critical.
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these two and three component grouts are composed of epoxy

resins, hardeners (curing agents) and graded aggregates. they
do not contain any volatile solvents or water and are consid-
ered 100% solids. epoxy resins have more chemical resistance,
primarily to acidic materials, than the more common cement
grouts. because of their ability to resist chemicals, they are
commonly used in commercial applications that are routinely
exposed to corrosive chemicals or food items for extended
periods of time, such as dairies and soft drink bottlers.
because epoxy grouts eliminate many of the limitations of
standard cement grouts and have excellent stain resistance,
they are sometimes used in common residential tile installations,
such as kitchens. Custom building Products developed
CeG-lite™ 100% Solids epoxy Grout for these uses.
Because epoxy grouts eliminate historically, installers have shied away from installing epoxy
many of the limitations of grout. While these products satisfy the needs of the end user
with uniform color, durability and stain resistance, they are more
standard cement grouts and
difficult to install. the consistency of the epoxy grout makes it
have excellent stain resistance, difficult to spread and fill the joints. Many have marginal water
they are sometimes used in solubility and are difficult to clean up and maintain full joints.
Custom building Products’ CeG-lite 100% Solids epoxy Grout was
common residential tile
developed with the latest epoxy technology and is one of the
installation such as kitchens. easiest epoxy grouts to install. CeG-lite 100% Solids epoxy Grouts
meets ANSI A118.3.
ePoxy eMulSIoN Grout
Epoxy emulsion grout is a grout system employing epoxy resin
and hardener portions, both of which contain additional water
to form an emulsion. The coarse sand filler portion also contains
Portland cement.
epoxy emulsion grouts are a hybrid of the 100% epoxy and the
Portland cement grout. Generally they cost less than a 100%
epoxy grout, because they are extended with water. these
grouts rely on the hydration of the Portland cement in addition
to the cured epoxy resin for their ultimate strength. however,
because their performance is dependent on the hydration of
the Portland cement they can be prone to the same issues that
plague standard Portland cement grouts. unfortunately, the
addition of the epoxy also makes these grouts more difficult to
install than a standard cement-based grout. because of these
limitations, there are few of these types of products in the
market. these grouts meet ANSI A118.8.
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furAN reSIN Grout

Furan resin grout is a grout system consisting of furan resin
and hardener portions. Furan grout is used in industrial and
commercial installations requiring chemical resistance.
furan resin grouts are a highly specialized grout, a thermosetting
polymer designed to withstand continuous exposure to
temperatures up to 350° fahrenheit. As a grout it is primarily
used in applications such as dairies, that require resistance to
routine exposure from organic acids (contained in milk products)
and elevated temperatures. furan is a reactive polymer-like
epoxy, though it requires special installation techniques and
should not be attempted by a novice. It can not be cleaned
from the surface of the tile with water alone during the installation
process, and generally requires pre-sealing of the surface of the
tile before installation. furan grouts meet the requirements of
ANSI A118.5.
While epoxy grout does not meet the definition of a furan
grout, many epoxy grouts claim to meet the performance char-
acteristics of a furan grout. these epoxy grouts do have higher
resistance to extreme temperatures and will hold up longer when
exposed to most corrosive chemicals, but they are not based on
furan resins. they are easier to install than true furan resin grouts,
but generally not as easy as the more common 100% epoxy
grouts meeting the requirements of ANSI A118.3.
Pre-MIxeD PolyMer reSIN Grout
Pre-mixed polymer resin grout is a one-part liquid, ready-to-use
grout that requires no mixing with water.
these recently developed, easy to use grouts are generally a
mixture of acrylic and/or urethane polymer, fine fillers and water.
they are pre-blended and can be applied to the joints between
installed tiles straight from the container; no or little mixing is
required. While these are acknowledged by tCNA and the tile
industry as an alternative to traditional grout, they do not have
ANSI or other specifications to date. Since there are no standards,
there are wide variations in the properties of these premixed
grouts from the various suppliers. they can dry slower than
traditional Portland cement and epoxy grouts.
DIy installers are attracted to the convenience of opening the
container and being able to begin spreading with no mixing
required. Custom building Products has developed one of the
best grouts in this category with the SimpleGrout® brand.
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SimpleGrout is easy to install and develops excellent stain

resistance. typically, pre-mixed grout does not have strong
water resistance and should be used in dry or intermittently
wet areas. one should consult the manufacturer for specific
applications before installing a pre-mixed grout.
SINGle CoMPoNeNt Grout — NeW CAteGory
Custom building Products developed fusion Pro® Single
Component Grout™ to satisfy the needs and desires of the end
user and installer, eliminating the typical concerns of other grout
types. fusion Pro is formulated with the latest advancements in
acrylic copolymer development and silicone resin. Silicone resin
is known for having excellent chemical resistance and is used in
the most demanding applications. A silicone resin has a very
high surface tension and easily repels water. these properties
of silicone resin contribute to the excellent stain and water
Fusion Pro® Single Component resistance of fusion Pro.
Grout™ combines the properties Acrylic polymers are known for their excellent durability and can
of cement and epoxy grouts, be found in many exterior applications. the durability of the
acrylic polymers minimizes cracks from appearing in the grouted
including high stain resistance, joints and extends the longevity of the fusion Pro grout in the tile
color consistency, no efflorescence, installation. these polymers and resins are combined with other
excellent hardeners, high spread- ingredients to fuse together a grout that is easy to install, quick
to dry and easy to clean up. because of the excellent stain
ability and easy clean-up. resistance properties, fusion Pro Single Component Grout does
not have to be sealed and is easy to maintain along with the
tile. While single component grout does not have an industry
standard, fusion Pro does meet the performance properties of
ANSI A118.3 and A118.7. based on the success of this latest
developments in grout technology, tile industry associations will
soon recognize it with a new industry standard. the properties of
fusion Pro will be the basis for that standard.
In addition to these ceramic tile grouts, deformable sealant/
caulk is used in the joints between tiles, whenever movement
between adjoining tiles is suspected.
SeAlANtS/CAulkS
Suitable sealants/caulks include silicone, urethane and
polysulfide based materials. The sealant/caulk must meet the
requirements of ASTM C-920, Type S or M, Grade P or NS, Class
25 or 12.5, and Use T or NT, M and G. Sealant/Caulk for use in
traffic areas requires a Shore hardness of 35 or greater.
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the tile installation is not complete until soft movement joints are
properly installed. Consider the fact that there is movement
in every floor and wall assembly; this movement can be from
the curing of cement/concrete surfaces, thermal changes, or
even settling of the structure. Placement of movement joints is
described in ANSI and the tCNA handbook. to eliminate cracks
in the tile assembly, these guidelines should be followed. Soft
joints should also be installed wherever there is a change of
plane or the independent movement of two surfaces is possible.
Custom building Products’ Commercial 100% Silicone Caulk
meets these needs and has a Shore hardness greater than 35,
making it suitable for high traffic areas.
WhICh Grout MAtCheS the NeeDS of A Job SIte?
It may seem confusing with so many grout choices, but each
option is the result of an evolution to satisfy the needs of specific
project conditions. fusion Pro® is the most dynamic innovation
in grout to date offering the best performance characteristics
of existing grouts with the fewest limitations. easy to use, strong
in performance and competitive with high performance
grout alternatives, fusion Pro is the technology of the future
available today.

Easy to use, strong in

performance and competitive
with high performance grout
alternatives, Fusion Pro®
Single Component Grout™ is
the technology of the future
available today.

About the Author

Steve taylor is Director of Architecture and technical Marketing
for Custom building Products and has more than 30 years of
experience developing products for the construction industry.
Steve is a member of the tile Council of North America (tCNA),
helping to determine proper tile installation methods and
standards, including the simplification of tile installation processes,
which enables tile professionals to save time and money.

Seal beach, CA
technical Services 800-282-8786
custombuildingproducts.com
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