The house you build reflects your personality. It is not every day you build a new house, so you want to use the best possible material and also the most durable one. The kitchen and bathrooms of the house are the mirrors of the house which enhance or ruin the image of your house, tiling is one of the most important aspects of the new house. A tile job done properly can add life and give a refreshing look to your bathroom or kitchen for years to come. Then comes the selection of the right kind of Grout, which is as important as the choice of the right tiles because it seals the joints between the tiles to create a watertight tile surface. There are two types of epoxy grout for tiles available in the market – the conventional cement grout and the high-end epoxy grout. We will focus on Epoxy Grout in this article.

Characteristics of Epoxy Grout for tiles

Epoxy Grout for tiles is hygienic and stain-resistant epoxy resin-based grout with three components and a very high degree of resistance to chemicals, abrasion, and impact. The cured grout does not transfer taints to the food products, prevents the entry of bacteria or dirt, and can be easily maintained in a sterile condition. Epoxy Grout for tiles is perfectly suitable for grouting a wide range of tiles and stones like glazed tiles, mosaic, vitrified and fully vitrified tiles, ceramic tiles, industrial tiles, granites, marbles & other natural stones, etc. Grouting is done in tiles to give the flooring a very clean and interesting finish. Epoxy grout forms a strong seal between the tiles. The primary ingredients of epoxy grout are epoxy resins and a filler material, which chemically react with one other to form the grout material.

Epoxy grout for tiles is considered more suitable for indoor tiles and not usually recommended for the outdoors because the grout may discolor from exposure to sunlight and its UV rays over a period of time.

Laticrete Epoxy Grout

Laticrete Epoxy grout is a great and easy epoxy grout to use. It is very easy to mix, you have to just follow the directions. It is very easily applicable also. You just have to make sure to follow up with the proper cleanup rinses and then your tiles will not have any residue. This is an ultimate and lightweight one-step, polymer fortified tile mortar for interior and exterior installation of ceramic tile, porcelain tiles, glass tiles, stones, quarry tiles, pavers, and bricks. It is more suitable for interior tiles and not usually recommended for exterior tiles because the grout may discolor from prolonged exposure to sunlight and its UV rays.

Epoxy Grout for Tiles

Our Shawar epoxy grout for tiles is a two-part epoxy-based formulation that is manufactured with the utmost care and precision to make it resistant to wear and tear. It is the highest quality grouting material that provides excellent effect and durability to your tiles. It also prevents staining, spillage, and chemical attacks in filled grooves of tiles, and stones. It consists of two parts- part A and part B, and it has to be used after properly mixing both the parts homogeneously.

The advantage of these two parts is that it becomes unbreakable and tough after they are combined together and applied to the groove. When applied, it gives a nice smooth finish, which is due to an ingredient that provides a crystalline sheen effect with ease of cleanability. It can be used for both residential and commercial installations which include those with total hygiene control, and damp and wet environments.

Where can Epoxy Grout be Applied?

Epoxy Grout for tiles is suitable for installation and grouting of floor and wall tiles, artificial and natural marbles, granite, mosaics, pavers, etc with grout joints thickness ranging between 2 to 15 mm. It can be used in the following:

• Floor and wall tiles in showers and bathrooms.
• Floor and wall tiles in general areas.
• Kitchen countertops.
• Balconies and Terraces.
• Processing plants.
• Warehouses.
• Restaurants and other places that are submitted to direct contact with meat, dairy products, etc.
• Suits surfaces that are exposed to aggressive chemical substances.
• A perfect fit for grouting in swimming pools, tanks, etc.

Benefits of using Epoxy Grout

• It is easy to apply and clean compared to normal cement sealants.
• It comes in a variety of colors, so can be used for all types of tiles.
• It has high mechanical strength and hardness
• It has very low water absorption.
• It is resistant to chemicals.
• It has excellent bonding properties.
• It is stained and UV-resistant.
• It provides uniform colors and is resistant to weathering agents.
• It does not crack during hardening.
• It has high strength and the ability to withstand heavy traffic.

Surfaces Suitable for the Use of Epoxy Grout

• Brick Masonry
• Concrete Masonry
• Gypsum Wall Board
• Ceramic Tile And Stone
• Cement Mortar Beds
• Steel
• Cement Plaster
• Plastic Laminate
• Vinyl

How to Apply Epoxy Grout

• Shawar epoxy grout must be applied evenly on the tile coverings.
• Seal the joints properly by completely grouting them, and applying the filler diagonally to the tiles.
• Remove most of the excess grout immediately using the spreader, leaving only a thin film or layer on the tile.
• Immediately after this clean up the surface properly.
• To clean the tiles use a thick, hard and large sponge dipped in clean water to avoid removing grout from the joints.
• Rinse frequently to ensure clean water is used at all times, if required, replace the sponge when it gets saturated with epoxy grout.
• Finish up cleaning by moving the sponge diagonally across the tiles to avoid going into the joints.

How long does it take for Epoxy Grout to cure?

Since epoxy grout doesn’t require sealing, it is cured and ready for use much quicker than cementitious grout. Once you have finished installing your new set of tiles and applied the grout. Then comes the question: how long should you wait before you can use the bathroom/kitchen with the newly grouted tile? How long does it take for epoxy grout to dry?

It usually takes 24-72 hours for the grout to dry once you have applied it. Epoxy Grout often takes 48 hours to dry, but you must read the label on the product that you use properly. It takes around 48-72 hours for the grout to dry if it is outdoors, and as little as 24 hours if it is indoors. However, the exact drying time depends on a few factors like the type of grout, humidity levels, and whether your grout is being used indoors or outdoors. Most manufacturers put advice waiting three to seven days before exposing grout to moisture but the average drying time for epoxy grout is 24 hours. Epoxy grout consists of epoxy resin and hardener, so it’s perfect for tiles that will have exposure to harsher materials like acid and grease. This grout along with being a durable grout is also resistant to stains, cracks, chemicals, and weather changes. It needs more spent and is slightly difficult to apply since it dries quickly, but it lasts for a very long time. Epoxy grout doesn’t always need to be sealed, it gets cured and ready to go much faster than cementitious grout.

Does Epoxy Grout need a sealer?

Epoxy grout is self-sealing, so there is no need to add a sealer. The epoxy base is not porous and does not absorb water. Any coarse surface will obviously trap dirt and oils in the texture of the surface. It is natural even for a sealed cementitious grout to get dirty, and so all grout surfaces need to be cleaned occasionally. Before applying epoxy grout, some unsealed tiles like natural stone surfaces must be sealed first. But there are a few types of tile surfaces, such as non-porcelain ceramic tiles, that do not need to be sealed. Most ceramic tiles are finished with a durable glaze that protects their surface from staining, so adding a sealer is not necessary. However, porcelain tiles are not coated with a protective glaze, these surfaces have to be maintained with a protective sealer. If you are using natural stone surfaces such as marble, slate, granite, etc you will need to seal the tile surfaces because a stone is a porous material that makes it vulnerable to stains and moisture.

Can you use epoxy grout over cement grout?

Yes, it is possible to regrout by using epoxy grout over cement grout, but first, you will have to dig the existing cement grout out of the joints until it’s half the depth of the tile. This can be done conveniently with a grout saw or scraper. The basic reason behind this is to provide enough depth for the new epoxy grout to adhere to the remaining sanded grout and also to the edges of the tile. Let the epoxy grout set up for a few minutes in the bucket after mixing so that you have a slightly stiffer, tackier mix which will be tough and durable.

Shawar Epoxy grout for tiles is not only the best grout for durability and color consistency, but it is also the best choice for artistic expression and to add life to your house. It is safe and toxic-free, making it the best all-around choice.

The post How to work with epoxy grout for tiles? appeared first on Shawar.