Grout serves as the critical binding element between tiles, masonry units, and other building materials.
Selecting the optimal grout ensures constructed assets remain water-tight, durable, and aesthetically pleasing over decades of service.
As infrastructure facilities like commercial buildings, transportation terminals, sports venues, parks, and public works installations incorporate tiled or masonry elements into their design, specifying high-performance grout makes good engineering and financial sense over the lifecycle.
Comparing the advantages and limitations of the leading Laticrete grout families allows specification for optimal enduring water-resistance, workability, strength, stain protection, crack resistance, and ease of cleaning – ultimately saving rework costs over the service life of the tiled installation.
Utilizing building code compliant, manufacturer-vetted grouts matched to the particular project needs leads to durable, sustainable infrastructure able to safely serve communities for generations
What is Laticrete Grout?
Laticrete grout refers to a variety of cement-based grout products manufactured by Laticrete, a global leader in the manufacture of tile and stone installation materials.
Their grouts are often used in civil engineering projects that require tile or masonry work, such as infrastructure facilities, commercial buildings, and public works.
Laticrete Grout Sealant
Applying a sealant to cured grout can protect it from stains and damage.
Laticrete offers a variety of grout sealants to complement their grouts, including water-based and solvent-based formulas.
For example, their SPETM Grout Sealer provides premium protection against dirt, grease, food stains, and more.
Using a compatible sealant ensures maximum performance.
Pros and Cons of Laticrete Grout
Pros
- Durability – Laticrete grouts are highly durable and long-lasting. Many formulations provide excellent resistance to cracking, shrinkage, weathering, and chemicals.
- Strength – Most Laticrete grout products gain very high compressive and tensile strength. This is important for supporting tile installations.
- Stain resistance – Many Laticrete grout options, especially epoxy formulations, provide stain proofing ability against dirt, oils, and common chemicals.
- Range of options – Laticrete offers a wide variety of grout types for various applications and joint widths, from unsanded to sanded to specialty high-performance grouts.
- Color uniformity – Color additives provide consistent, uniform grout coloring with minimal mottling or blotchiness.
Cons:
- Price – Some Laticrete grouts, particularly the high-performance epoxy options, have a higher cost than basic cement grouts.
- Specific applications – Not all Laticrete grouts may be suitable for all environments. Requires matching the appropriate grout to the application.
- Curing and installation – Proper Laticrete grout mixing, application, curing times, and cleaning takes some skill and diligence for success.
- Sealants required – Most Laticrete grouts require applying sealants following final cure for maximum stain protection.
- Not for structural use – Latex or epoxy additives enhance durability but most Laticrete grouts are still not intended for direct structural loads.
Applications of Laticrete Grout
Here are some of the most common applications for Laticrete grout products:
Flooring
- Grout for floor tile installations – both residential and commercial floors. Sanded grouts for joints 1/8″ and larger are best for strength and durability in flooring.
- Grout for large format tile floors. Laticrete grouts resist shrinkage and cracking at wider grout joint widths.
- Grouting floors in high traffic areas like airports, shopping malls, restaurants, etc that see heavy usage. Laticrete provides durable grout engineered for longevity.
Walls and Backsplashes
- Provide the grout between wall tiles including showers surrounds. Effective waterproofing properties.
- Grouting bathroom and kitchen backsplashes where staining resistance needed.
- Grout for exterior building façade tiles and interior high-rise walls. Excellent bond strength and flexibility.
Pools and Fountains
- Suitable for both indoor and outdoor pool grouting applications given chemical resistance.
- Grouting fountain tile installations exposed to weather, chlorinated water, cleaners.
Other Wet Areas
- Shower pans, steam rooms, baths, hot tubs, spas. Withstands continuous hot water, humidity, and cleaning agents.
- Grout subway tiles, mosaics, and other tiles found in bathrooms, laundries, and wet rooms.
Specialty Applications
- Countertop joints for tile countertops. Stainproof to oils, dyes, ketchup, wine, etc.
- Submerged applications like underwater pool tile grout. Long term immersion resistance.
Laticrete grouts work for nearly any interior or exterior tiling project, with specialized options for water features, high traffic, and wet areas.
Laticrete Grout Color Options
Here are some of the most popular grout color options offered by Laticrete for their grout product lines:
Standard Grout Colors
Laticrete provides grouts in popular basic colors like:
- Bright White
- Snow White
- Silver Shadow
- Sable Brown
- Smoke Grey
- Desert Beige
- Midnight Black
These standard grout colors are precision blended to produce consistent uniform coloring in cement-based and epoxy grouts.
Laticrete SpectraLOCK PRO Premium Grout
For unique or custom grout colors, Laticrete offers their SpectraLOCK PRO Premium grout in 40 different designer colors like:
- Onyx Black
- Emerald Green
- Urban Putty
- Sandstone Beige
- Sterling Silver
- Coffee Brown
- Winter Grey
The proprietary SpectraLOCK grout formulation also resists efflorescence or blotchy curing compared to typical cement grouts.
Laticrete SpectraLOCK 2000 IG Grout
Another specialty color offering, SpectraLOCK 2000 IG includes popular options like:
- Snow White
- Delorean Grey
- Bahama Blue
- Sandy Tan
Plus this advanced indoor/outdoor epoxy grout is available in any custom color using Laticrete’s Custom Color Match Program for one-of-a-kind installations.
Additional Considerations
When selecting grout colors, it helps choosing a shade that matches or contrasts well with the tiles themselves.
Lighter grout colors help small tile patterns appear larger. Darker shades work well highlighting glass, metal or marble tiles.
Ultimately Laticrete grouts offer great design flexibility with color options for unique styles.
Laticrete Grout Sanded vs Unsanded
Here is a comparison of sanded vs unsanded Laticrete grout formulations:
Sanded Grouts
Sanded grouts contain fine silica sand particles in the mixture. Some benefits of sanded Laticrete grouts include:
- Best for wider joints – Sand allows sanded grout to fully fill and seal joints 1/8” and wider, reducing shrinkage cracks.
- Increased strength and durability – The sand improves bonding and bearing strength for long lasting floor installations.
- Economical option – Sanded grouts cost less than specialty unsanded and epoxy options.
However, the sand can scratch polished stone or glass tiles during application. Sanded grouts require more water for workability increasing cure times.
Unsanded Grouts
Unsanded grouts do not contain sand so offer advantages like:
- Smoother finish – No sand allows easier spreading into narrow joints and across delicate tile like glass mosaic.
- Reduced scratching hazard – Eliminates risk of sand abrasion damage to polished tiles.
- Ideal for walls – Unsanded grouts perform well filling wall joints less than 1/8” wide.
Yet unsanded grout lacks the enhanced durability from sand. The grout is more prone to shrinkage cracks over time. Costs more than sanded.
sanded Laticrete grouts suit floor installations with ceramic, porcelain, quarry, or stone tiles and joint widths exceeding 1/8”.
For walls, narrow joints, waterproofing, and polished tiles use unsanded grouts.
Epoxy options provide extreme durability and chemical-resistance when needed.
Laticrete Grout Haze Remover
Grout haze removers safely remove cured haze and excess grout from tile.
Laticrete offers several formulas like an acidic cleaner and an eco-friendly gel cleaner.
Using the appropriate haze remover prevents damage to finishes.
Laticrete Grout Calculator
For convenience, Laticrete offers mobile apps like its Mortar and Grout Calculator to estimate exact product needs for a project based on tile size/layout.
Accurately quantifying grout needs reduces waste and cost overruns.
Laticrete Grout Installation
Laticrete provides comprehensive grout mix, application, and curing recommendations per product.
Carefully following specifications ensures optimal performance. In general, most products involve mixing with water, spreading across joints, compacting for fill, wiping, then allowing extended cure times upwards of 7 days before sealing.
Conclusion
Laticrete offers extensive grout options engineered for demanding civil works. With the right formulation, application, and maintenance,
Laticrete grouts provide long-lasting water- and stain-resistance in infrastructure facilities.
Consulting specifications ensures the optimal grout selection and installation for a tile or masonry project.
