GROUTING (SANDED, NON-SANDED, AND EPOXY)
Grouting is the “grand finale” of the rigid floor laying installation! It is the last step before completing the service. It may seem, to some people, a minor part or even a sub-service of the installation, but in case you still don't know, the correct choice of grout will increase the quality of your work. If you make a mistake at that time, you can expect to regret it and spend a lot of time and money to correct the problem later. It is not uncommon to find people who have had to remove and reinstall the entire grout in a home or office due to a wrong grout choice.
To avoid this inconvenience, consider the following basic technical prerequisites: The grout has the function of sealing the floor, joint the pieces, avoid the accumulation of dirt and proliferation of insects, absorb small movements of the structure, provide ease of cleaning and, finally, consolidate the aesthetics of the chosen material. The grout has a secondary aesthetic function; therefore, it cannot compete for attention with the floor or cause disharmony. The grout must help to highlight the qualities of the floor.
Among the most common types of grout, we basically deal with two classes. The class of cementitious (sanded or non-sanded) and the class of epoxy. We have on the market polymeric cement grouts (with additives) that add special characteristics to the grouts, such as waterproofing. Generally speaking, sandy grouts should be used in thicker grout spaces and in areas whose non-slip characteristics are relevant. The non-sandy ones, usually polymeric, have a smoother and visually finer finish, with waterproofing characteristics.
The other important type of grout is the epoxy grout. This type of grout is very difficult to be applied due to the specificity of the material, as well as its cleaning that requires the use of specific materials; however, epoxy grouts are extremely stable chemically and mechanically more superior than cement grouts, cleaning is much easier and the durability of the aesthetic characteristics are incomparable. The downsides of epoxy grouts are high cost and limited application to smooth and thin surfaces.