When it comes to creating a new or refreshed bathroom or kitchen, the choice of grout and sealant you choose can either make or break as a finishing touch.
Not only can grout create a beautiful, clean finish to your project – the right product mixed with a professional application can ensure a lifetime of satisfaction.
Why do we need grout and sealant?
Grout helps keep your new tiles in place and keeps water and debris from getting into your tiles and to the wall itself. In short, grout offers structural integrity and protection.
Sealant, on the other hand, protects your grout from long term wear and tear. Continued exposure to moisture, detergents and temperature changes from the hot and cold taps can dissolve some of the mineral components within the grout. This can then allow microbes to take hold, which in turn accelerates the rate of deterioration, and can lead to a widespread bacteria or mould infestation that goes behind the tile possibly penetrating the wall or floor itself. Once moisture and mould penetrate the wall, the eventuating decay leads to the structural decline of the walls and floors around your wet area.
How do I pick the right grout and sealant?
Grouts and sealants rarely offer a one-size-fits all model, but the good news is that it means you can get the most appropriate and long-lasting product for your project.
Consider the type of traffic a family laundry gets week to week compared to that of a driveway or commercial kitchen. A family laundry may be exposed to some mild detergents and levels of moisture from time to time. Meanwhile, a driveway withstands a huge amount of physical stress on a daily basis, and a commercial kitchen may be exposed to strong detergents several times a day.
What you need to consider before picking your grout and sealant is:
What sort of tile am I using? Is it porous?
Where will the grout need to be? On a wall, floor or both?
What sort of exposure will the area get? Will it be wet all the time, need to withstand strong chemicals, or be more general for family needs?
Do you need an expert to help apply the grout and sealant, or can it be done by you?
Now that you’ve narrowed down your needs, you now need to consider some products.
Easy Grout
Just like its name, this premium grout is easy to apply and use, and offers resistance to stains, mould and bacteria. Whether you’re working on a minor project or remodelling your kitchen, as one of the most versatile products on the market this grout is reusable, easy to clean up and comes in seven colours.
Good for: Reconstituted stone, ceramic and porcelain tiles
Areas of use: Kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, laundries, alfresco areas, and balconies
Elite ColourGrout
Applicable for any occasion and area, this supreme, flexible grout product has an incredibly smooth finish for stone, porcelain and marble tiles. With built-in water repellence, Elite ColourGrout is stain, mould and bacteria resistant – and resists efflorescence. Whether it’s a domestic or commercial project, this grout is available in 10 colours and is sure to match your needs.
Good for: Porcelain, ceramic and all stone tiles.
Areas of use: Driveways, paths, balconies, alfresco areas, laundries, hallways, bathrooms and kitchens. Elite ColourGrout can be used for pools when combined with Davco 4 in 1 Grout Additive.
Epoxy Grout
If you need to grout an indoor or outdoor area that has to withstand high traffic and stress, this is the system for you. Cleaned up with water, this system consists of three parts: an epoxy resin, epoxy hardener, and a coloured grout. Offering high strength and resistant to chemicals, this is among the best products for walls and floors in commercial areas.
Good for: Porcelain, ceramic and all stone tiles.
Areas of use: All throughout the home and outdoors, as well as commercial areas in food processing plants, commercial kitchens and laundries, hospitals, public toilets, dairies, breweries and more.
Rejuvenation Grout
If you’re refreshing an area and need a fast, easy solution, then you need Rejuvenation Grout. Resistant to stains, mould and bacteria, this grout can be applied directly on top of existing grout on walls and floors. Rejuvenation Grout is available in six colours to match your project needs.
Good for: Ceramic and porcelain tiles
Areas of use: Kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, laundries, paths, alfresco areas, balconies, and pools.
Sanitized Colorgrout
Containing a biocide, Sanitized Colorgrout is one of the few grouts resistant to a wide range of moulds and bacteria.
Suitable for wall and floor applications, this grout can be used in both commercial and domestic uses – from public toilets and pools to garden paths.
Good for: Porcelain, ceramic and all stone tiles.
Areas of use: All throughout the home and outdoors, with versatility in commercial applications.
Slate and Quarry Grout
If your project involves slate and quarry tiles, then you may need to use the specially formulated Slate and Quarry Grout.
Designed for a maximum seal on natural stone products, this grout can be used internally and externally on walls and floors. Versatile for domestic and commercial uses, this grout is ideal for pools.
Good for: Ceramic, natural stone and non-moisture sensitive stone tiles.
Areas of use: All throughout the home and outdoors, with versatility in commercial applications.
Sanitized Superfine White Grout
Suitable for walls in domestic and commercial settings, this grout contains a biocide this makes it among the few grouts with the widest resistance to bacteria and mould. Sanitized Superfine White Grout is formulated for tiles with 1-3mm joints and offers a smooth finish.
Good for: Porcelain, ceramic and all stone tiles.
Areas of use: Walls in kitchens, bathrooms and laundries.
If you have any questions about picking the right product for your project, let us help you, speak to us today.
Established in 1972 Davco is Australia’s market leader in the development and manufacture of tile installation products, with solutions for professional tilers, architects, interior designs, builders and DIY homeowners.