CERAMIC TILES GROUT AND ABOUT


With so many advances in tile development, it’s easy to focus purely on the colour, design and capabilities of the tiles themselves. Here, however, building products specialist BAL explains how progressions in grout production have enabled the finishing touch to make just as much of a statement.


Since the first specialist grouts were introduced to the market by BAL in the 1960s, things have come a long way.


Basic grouts were traditionally made of sand and cement and came in two basic colours – grey and white – based on grey and white cement. No-one had yet thought of pigmenting them, with colour choices being preserved purely for the tiles themselves.


“The pressures of modern-day building projects have led to a


demand for fast-setting grouts, which are able to bear traffic


within a few hours of application and be versatile enough for use with differing joint widths on both walls and floors.”


However, this all changed with the advent of new tile types and more diverse backgrounds and environments – like wet rooms, steam rooms and power showers – which placed greater demands on the performance of grouts.


A trend for wider tile joints and a need for grout to cope in these more demanding service conditions – for example, commercial flooring – compelled manufacturers like BAL to look at new materials and advanced formulations to deliver the performance required, including flexibility, abrasion resistance and fast-setting qualities. To deliver these requirements, BAL moved away from traditional sand and cement formulations with new cement binders, aggregate polymers and powdered additives.


New developments in tile size, texture, shape and colour brought new demand for a wider pallet of colours to either complement or contrast these new tile colours and patterns.


This led to a huge variety of grout colours being made available to the market, from blacks and browns, to oranges, reds, brilliant white and event glitter grouts.


The pressures of modern-day building projects have led to a demand for fast-setting grouts, which are able to bear traffic within a few hours of application and be versatile enough for use with differing joint widths on both walls and floors.


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After years of research into cementitious grouts, carried out in collaboration with installers, BAL finally found a solution to this need with the development of BAL Micromax2.


Extremely versatile, its formulation means it can be used for both walls and floors, where previously two different formulations of grout were often needed. Its superfine formulation, giving a finish of striking smoothness, enables use with gaps as narrow as 1mm. However, the formulation also allows grouting of gaps as wide as 20mm, with no slumping, shrinking or cracking. Some wall grouts may shrink and crack if used in-between joints of, for example, 5mm wide or more.


As for tile types and substrates, BAL Micromax2 suits any type of tile, including porcelain and natural stone, on most types of background. It is ideal for dry and wet areas, indoors and outside, and can even be used with underfloor heating systems.


Recently, BAL introduced 11 new colours to its Micromax2 range which take influence from the natural environment and the changing seasons.


Walnut, Hazel and Mahogany form part of the Warm Woods collection for wood-effect flooring and/or dark coloured tiles, while Dovetail, Tornado Sky, Taupe Grey and Storm Grey are new Graphic Greys which contrast nicely with white tiles.


“New developments in tile


size, texture, shape and colour brought new demand for a


wider pallet of colours to either complement or contrast these new tile colours and patterns.”


Finally, four new ‘Vivid Views’ of Primrose, Peppermint, Cornflower White and Pink Champagne evoke shades of green, soft yellow and natural light and bring vibrant splashes of Spring and Summer colour.


Other colours available in the BAL Micromax2 range include; Snow, White, Jasmine, Manilla, Pebble, Gunmetal, Smoke, Anthracite and Ebony.


BAL Micromax2 has also been developed with an efflorescence-free formulation which means that, when


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