Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 Page 111 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116 Page 117 Page 118 Page 119 Page 120 Page 121 Page 122 Page 123 Page 124 Page 125 Page 126 Page 127 Page 128grout in the joints. We felt like an epoxy grout would be the answer to fix this. What is your professional opinion on this? ANSWER My suspicion is that this is latex migration coming from the mortar. This does not necessarily mean it is a problem with the mortar itself. I suspect the latex in the mortar may not have been allowed to fully coalesce and may continue to be an issue. Have you lifted a tile to examine the coverage and condi- tion of the bond coat? It is good that you have asked the manufacturer for a review. They will be able to assist you in deter- mining whether this is efflores- cence or latex migration, and its source. If the residue is powdery and salty it is efflorescence. If it is hard and more difficult to remove it is likely latex migration. It is important to solve the prob- lem then select the grout. Trying to lock in the migration with epoxy grout is not necessarily a cure for the issue. The source of the efflo- rescence or latex migration must be determined then remedied to ensure a long term successful solu- tion. If epoxy is eventually selected as a grout, ensure it is rated for UV exposure on an exterior installa- tion. – Mark Heinlein CTI #1112, NTCA Technical Trainer/Presenter LATICRETE® FRACTURE BAN™ is a high-performance, pliable, lightweight peel-and-stick membrane designed for use under thin-bed adhesives for ceramic tile, stone and other hard sur- face installations. This reinforced high- strength membrane performs as an anti- fracture and an acoustical underlay- ment system that eliminates the trans- mission of stresses from the substrate while dampening the transmission of impact and airborne noise through the floor to the room below. The unique design of this peel-and-stick membrane allows for usage in both commercial and residential settings where a quick dependable turnaround is required. LATICRETE FRACTURE BAN pro- vides a water-resistive barrier and can be placed under several substrates including – but not limited to – con- crete slabs, cement mortar beds, and interior ceramic tile and terrazzo floors. LATICRETE FRACTURE BAN can be used for retail, malls, offices, hospitals, and apartment and condo buildings and is part of the LATICRETE® system warranty. www.laticrete.com ASK THE EXPERTS –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 28 TileLetter | January 2017