Do you remember a time when grout had to be mixed from scratch using silver sand and cement? During my training as a tile fixer, I occasionally had to do just that. I say “occasionally” because grout was widely available in both wall and floor versions, and unless the look of a specific tile installation called for the traditional formulation, I was instructed to use pre-made options instead.
Back then, grout seemed simple. It had a clear purpose: to protect tiles, enhance durability and complement the aesthetics of the installation. As an apprentice, I learnt to mix and apply different types of grouts, using various tools and techniques. Wall grout was finer and easier to use, whilst floor grout, with its coarser aggregate, was better suited to wider joints. Occasionally, a liquid polymer was added for specific applications. Colour options were limited, and the process, in hindsight, was relatively straightforward.
Fast forward to today, and the demands on grout have become much more complex. The evolution of tile trends, materials and applications has placed significant pressure on manufacturers and their chemists to develop grouts that meet a wide range of needs. It’s no longer sufficient for grout to simply fill the joints between tiles; it must be easy to use, perform in a variety of conditions and display aesthetic appeal.
For example, when we began developing Kelmore’s Grout Flex15, the brief reflected the challenges faced by chemists across the industry. The grout had to be suitable for all wall and floor tile types, in both interior and exterior environments. It also needed to accommodate joint widths ranging from a narrow 1mm, favoured by contemporary designs, to wider joints, up to 15mm, associated with materials such as brick slips, which mimic traditional mortar joints.
Achieving this level of versatility wasn’t easy. A grout with such broad compatibility required careful formulation to ensure the right balance of flexibility, strength and workability. To ensure the product was practical for tile fixers and met the aesthetic demands of end-users, colour options and setting times were other careful considerations. As was the ease of washing off; to maintain functionality and aesthetic appeal, the grout needed to firm up in the joint without leaving residue on the tile face that would be difficult to remove.
These challenges are not unique to our company. Across the industry, chemists are constantly tasked with solving complex problems to create grouts that keep pace with tiling innovations. As tiles become larger, thinner and more varied in material, and backgrounds keep evolving, the expectation is for grout to evolve alongside them.
Reflecting on these complexities reminds me how far the industry has come, and how much we’ve learned. Whilst I appreciate the skill of our chemists and I’m proud of the work that went into developing Grout Flex15, as I am of all of our products, this serves as a reminder that the work doesn’t end there, and it’s imperative to acknowledge the continuous need for improvement and development within the industry.
