68 2017 | TECH Grouts but are top quality and aesthetically enhanced. One trend we are see- ing in grout production is the use of recycled materials, such as recycled glass content, to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and produce a unique reflective appearance. These grouts are often UL GREENGUARD® certified and meet or exceed ANSI A118.7 (Specification for High Performance Cement Grouts). In addition to improving workabil- ity for faster and easier installation, the grouts also offer the benefit of sustainably sourced materials and low VOC emissions. These select grouts, which have been designed for virtually all types of commercial and residential installations, now feature easy-to-mix formulas with creamier consistencies and fast-setting proper- ties that allow foot traffic in as few as three hours. Tom Carroll, senior product manager, Merkrete www.merkrete.com Advances in grout technology continue, and understanding the performance, characteristics, and limitations of each type of grout is important. Most grouts are produced to meet the requirements of a par- ticular ANSI standard, but there are additional requirements demanded by installers or end users. Contractors typically want a grout product that has enough working time, spreads easily, completely fills joints, dries quickly, and is easy to clean. They certainly never want callbacks to clean grout haze and seal joints. Today, more installers are opting to upgrade their grout to high-per- formance ANSI A118.7 calcium alu- minate cement grout or RTU (ready- to-use) grouts. The costs of high- performance and RTU grouts versus traditional cement grouts are higher, but when factoring in labor savings for faster installations, no sealing and reduced callbacks, these grout prod- ucts are actually very cost-effective. As the movement to larger-format tile and smaller joint widths is grow- ing, less grout is required for each installation. This allows the contrac- tor to justify using a higher-priced, higher-performing grout because the square-foot cost is negligible. Tom Plaskota, technical support manager H.B. Fuller Construction Products www.hbfuller-cp.com The newest class of grout technology to reach the market is advanced-performance, modified grout. The industry will continue to see development in this area. Built for demanding environments, these high-performance grouts are cement-based and often polymer- modified and/or formulated with calcium aluminate cement. Several of the advanced-performance grouts have the strength and stain resis- tance of epoxy grout but offer the easy application and cleanup of tradi- tional cement-based grouts. Another key advantage of advanced-perfor- mance-modified grouts is that many formulations are efflorescence-resis- tant or even efflorescence-free. Another grout area that is expe- riencing advances in technology is ready-to-use or single component grouts. These grouts have achieved improved performance so that they now can be used for exterior instal- lations or submerged applications. New technology ready-to-use grout simply can be stirred by hand and then used. Cleanup is easy and color consistency ensures that touchups blend in perfectly. GROUTS –––––––––––––––––––––– Bostik offers Hydroment® Vivid™, a rapid curing, premium grade, cement-based grout for the most demanding commercial and residential projects. Hydroment Vivid offers consistent color technol- ogy with enhanced stain and supe- rior efflorescence protection. It’s fiber reinforced for increased crack resistance and non-sag properties. Hydroment Vivid’s rapid curing trait makes it ready for foot traffic in just four hours. It exceeds ANSI A118.7 requirements and contains Bostik’s patented Blockade™ antimicrobial protection. www.bostik.com/us Custom Building Products’ Prism® Ultimate Performance Cement Grout is designed to deliver high-quality tile surfaces while preventing call- backs in a wide variety of installation projects. A high-performance grout meeting ANSI A118.7, it’s formulated for higher strength, more resistance to cracking and less water absorption to reduce the likelihood of staining. Prism can be used in joints from 1/16” to 1/2”, will not mottle or shade regardless of tile type, temperature or humid- ity, and does not contribute to efflo- rescence. The density provides stain resistance while its rapid-setting for- mula expedites projects. Prism is light- weight, giving installers handling while contributing to LEED certification. www.custombuildingproducts.com LATICRETE’s PERMACOLOR® Select is an advanced high-performance cement grout that offers the indus- try’s first dispersible dry pigment solu-