Lisa Breakspear, head of sales, Mapei UltraCare, explains when to use a cement-based grout or an epoxy grout and the processes to adopt when working with them.
Grout specification is an important installation choice. Should a cement-based grout or an epoxy grout be used? This decision is largely determined by the environment. If tiles are being installed in an area with a high level of foot traffic, epoxy is often the best option. Additionally, if the design and tile choice call for a light or even white grout in a high traffic area, this will make the decision to use epoxy grout even more favourable. At this juncture, it’s important to consider epoxy resin residue and removal at the point of installation.
We receive many enquiries about the removal of fully cured epoxy residues, but any issues can be avoided if a good cleaning-off process is adopted straight after tiles have been installed. In contrast to cement-based grout, lots of water can be used during the wash-off process in epoxy installations. This, along with the use of a good quality cellulose sponge, will ensure only minimal residue remains after a good clean. Any remaining traces should then be removed with an epoxy residue cleaning product. We recommend a ready-to-use trigger spray treatment cleaner – which should be applied within the first 72 hours of installation, before the epoxy residue has fully cured and hardened. Using this type of cleaning product is a quick and easy process and eliminates the time consuming and difficult task of trying to remove fully cured epoxy residue.
If residues haven’t been removed after 72 hours, a different type of solution and method will need to be used. Here, we recommend a treatment which utilises a high viscosity gel which softens residues. This solution has a much longer contact time and repeated application may be necessary. A single disc cleaning machine can also be used if residue staining is particularly severe.
When tackling these sorts of issues, it’s important to use the correct product and method, to safeguard the tile aesthetic and performance features. Unfortunately, there isn’t a “one product fits all” solution and it’s always advisable to seek expert help to ensure that tiles aren’t damaged. And, while Mapei treatments are available to turn back the clock, a swift clean at the correct time is always the best route forward.
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