Warranty & Product Info

Emser offers One-year limited Warranty and limitations on Liability.

Limited Warranty

Emser offers a warranty on its products to the original purchaser, for one year from the date of purchase, to be free of manufacturing defects.

Emser warrants only to its immediate customers and to no other person that its products will, on the date of ship, meet the foregoing terms of Emser’s Bid confirmation, Order Acknowledgement, or Sales Order pursuant to which such products were sold.

Tile and natural stone are subject to standard variances resulting from the manufacturing process or origin. Emser does not provide warranty on products that are within the industry standard variance levels.

Defects and Claims

In the event of a defect within any product distributed to Customer by Emser, Customer agrees to notify Emser immediately upon becoming aware of such defect. If a defect in manufacturing or coloring is identified in advance of installation, Customer agrees to not install any defective product without the written agreement of Emser.

Emser reserves the right to inspect any and all defects prior to any repair, remediation or settlement of such defect. In the event that Emser is required to participate in the repair, remediation or settlement of any defect, Emser must be included in all discussions and decisions related to such repair, remediation and/or settlement. In the event that the Customer fails to notify Emser on a timely basis, or fails to allow Emser the right of inspection, discussion or decision making in advance of repair, remediation or settlement of any defect, Customer agrees to release Emser from any liability for the defect or claim.

Customer misuse including negligence, physical or chemical abuse is not covered by this warranty. Improper installation, installation defects or errors are not covered by this warranty. Warranty claims must be submitted in within 30 days upon discovery of the proposed defect.

Terms and Conditions of Sale

Acceptance

The Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) contained herein apply to all quotations and offers made by Emser Tile, LLC (“Emser”) and to all purchase orders accepted by Emser. These Terms may in some instances conflict with some of the terms and conditions affixed to a Buyer’s purchase order or to any other procurement document issued by the Buyer. In such cases, the Terms contained herein shall govern, and acceptance of Buyer’s order is conditioned upon Buyer’s acceptance of the Terms and Conditions herein, irrespective of whether the Buyer accepts these conditions by a written acknowledgement, by implication, by acceptance of products ordered, or by payment for products ordered. Emser’s failure to object to provisions contained in any communication from Buyer shall not be deemed a waiver of the provisions herein. Any changes in the Terms contained herein must specifically be agreed to in writing, signed by an officer of Emser before becoming binding on either party.

Emser reserves the right at any time to amend these Terms and Conditions, and Buyer shall be deemed to accept such amended Terms and Conditions by ordering products offered after the date of such amendment.

Product and Prices

Unless agreed to otherwise, in advance, in writing and signed by an Officer or Director of Emser, all catalog prices, and all offered prices are F.O.B. Emser’s facility. All pricing quotes must be documented in writing and issued by Emser to be valid. Unless otherwise stated, prices quoted are firm for 30 days from the date quoted. Emser reserves the right to change its prices and the specifications of its products at any time without notice.

Prices do not include state, local, federal or other taxes and duties, and the same will be additionally charged unless a valid tax exemption or re-sale certificate is furnished to Emser prior to shipping. State and local taxes, when charged, are assessed based on those rates in effect at the Emser location selling or servicing the Buyer. All state, local, federal or other taxes and duties are the responsibility of the Buyer. Emser’s failure to assess or collect adequate taxes at the time of sale does not relieve Buyer of the responsibility for actual tax liabilities.

All Emser tiles are nominal sizes. Sizes and prices include recommended joint allowances and joints shall not be deducted when estimating quantities.

Special order or Non-Stock Product (products not included in our current price list) orders require a 50% deposit. Buyer agrees that special order or Non-Stock Product orders are non-cancelable.

Credit

All orders, shipments and deliveries by Emser are subject to credit approval by Emser’s Credit Department. As part of this credit approval, Emser may at any time decline to make any shipments or deliveries, and/or impose other terms or conditions or security arrangements as Emser, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. Emser reserves and Buyer hereby grants Emser a security interest in any products sold to the extent of the invoiced amount. If Buyer defaults under any obligation hereunder, Buyer agrees to make products available so that Emser can repossess them. A copy of the invoice may be filed with appropriate authorities at any time as a financing statement. Upon Emser’s request,
Buyer will execute any documents to perfect Emser’s security interest in any products.

Emser reserves the right in its sole discretion to require prepayment from any Buyer at any time and may refuse to sell and/or withhold further shipment until all overdue balances are made current.

Buyer shall be liable for, and shall reimburse Emser for all costs and expenses it may incur in connection with collection of any amounts owed or in enforcement of its rights, including without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, court costs, and cost of collection agencies.

Payment

Buyer’s obligation to pay outstanding invoices and all other amounts is not subject to reduction, set-off, counterclaim, or Buyer’s receipt of payment from any third party. Buyer shall pay Emser on a timely basis pursuant to the credit terms provided and shown on Emser’s invoice. Emser shall retain a purchase money security interest in all products sold until the entire purchase price has been paid in cash, in full. No check, money order, credit card, electronic payment or other form of payment shall constitute payment until it is paid by the bank on which it is drawn or by the institution of issue transmission.

Emser, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to specify the form of payment acceptable for settlement of invoices and other amounts (i.e. check, certified check, money order, credit card, wire transfer, ACH, or other electronic or non-electronic form or payment). Additionally, should the acceptance of any form of payment cause Emser to incur additional costs and fees, Buyer agrees to reimburse Emser for any such fees upon Emser’s request.

Any disputed amounts should be reported immediately and remitted with the undisputed amount by the payment due date. All billing disputes must be made within thirty (30) days of the applicable invoice date or will be deemed to be waived. Balances remaining unpaid at the due date are subject, at the sole discretion of Emser, to the assessment of late fees applied at the rate of 1.5% per month, or the highest rate permitted by law, whichever is lower, until paid.

Title and Delivery

All shipments by Emser are F.O.B. Emser’s facility, or, if applicable, the facility of an Emser affiliate or agent. Title and risk of loss or damage to products passes to Buyer upon delivery to Buyer, or a common carrier, at Emser’s facility, or, if applicable, the facility of an Emser affiliate or agent.

Buyer acknowledges and agrees that delivery dates, when quoted, are estimates only and may be changed. Emser will use reasonable efforts to deliver in accordance with quoted delivery dates. However, Emser shall not be liable for nonperformance or delays caused by a shortage of raw materials, manufacturing problems, delivery or labor problems, priorities, acts of regulatory agencies or judicial bodies, discontinuation of a product line, acts of God or third parties, infringement claims, or other causes beyond its reasonable control. Estimate delivery should be 4 to 6 business days.

Shipping Fees

Shipping fees will vary from state to state. A separate payment will be bill for the shipping fees. The fees will incur for the standard rate of the shipping location.

Emser reserves the right to make delivery in installments. All such installments shall be separately invoiced and paid for when due, without regard to subsequent deliveries. Delay of any shipment shall not relieve the buyer of its obligation to accept remaining installments. In the event that Emser’s ability to supply products becomes constrained, for any reason whatsoever, Emser may reduce quantities, delay shipments, or allocate products among its customers at its discretion.

If part or all of the products are to be delivered from outside of the continental borders of the United States, and such products are not available for any reason, then Emser may in its reasonable discretion replace the same with like products, but shall be under no obligation to do so. If Emser does not replace same, then Emser shall notify Buyer within a reasonable period of time and as Buyer’s sole and exclusive remedy Emser shall give Buyer credit based upon Buyer’s prepayments, if any, for the products.

Inspection and Acceptance

Any product sold or provided by Emser shall be deemed accepted by Buyer upon delivery. Claims for damage, shortage or errors in shipping must be recorded on the original receiving documents and reported within twenty-four (24) hours following delivery to Buyer.

It is the Buyer’s responsibility to inspect all merchandise prior to installation. If for any reason the material is incorrect or unacceptable for installation, Buyer shall make such claim to Emser, in writing, before installation.

Emser’s liability in respect to all claims shall be limited to accepting the return of incorrect or unacceptable product before installation, and then only after Emser has been notified in writing that the material is incorrect or unacceptable and has had the opportunity to inspect the product and conduct its own investigation. All original packaging materials must be kept until after inspection. Subsequent to any investigation, Emser shall have the right to supply substitute products. If substitute products are to be supplied, Emser shall have up to 90 days following the conclusion of Emser’s investigation to so substitute.

All claims for incorrect or unacceptable product should be received in writing within 30 days from shipment date and prior to installation. Installation of product is deemed acceptance of product and Emser shall not be liable for, and will not recognize, claims made after the start of the installation including claims of incorrect product; claims of incorrectly sized, colored, shaded, calibrated, or packaged product; claims of product not matching prior shipments; and/or any other product claims. Emser shall not be responsible for improper installation of products.

Returns

Special order or Non-Stock Product are not returnable and deposits on such are non-refundable. Returns of Emser Stock Product (product contained within Emser’s current price list) is subject to the prior authorization of Emser, in its discretion.

All return requests must be made within 30 days of shipment date. All product accepted for return must be in its original, unopened packaging, in full case quantities, and in good condition – suitable for resale. Returns are subject to a 25% Restocking Fee. Additionally, all costs of returning product to an Emser facility, or the facility of an affiliate, agent or original manufacturer, will be the responsibility of the Buyer. After the assessment of all costs of return, Buyer’s account will either be credited for the excess of its deposit over such costs or charged for the net of such costs in excess of its deposit.

Indemnification

Buyer shall at its own expense apply for and obtain any permits and inspections required for the installation and/or use of Emser’s products. Emser makes no promise or representation that the products will conform to any federal, state or local laws, ordinances, regulations, codes or standards.

Emser shall not be responsible for any losses or damages sustained by the Buyer, or any other person, as a result of improper installation or misapplication of Emser’s products. Buyer shall indemnify and hold harmless Emser and its agents and employees against any loss, damage, claim, suit, liability, judgment or expense (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees) arising out of, or in connection with, any injury, damage to or loss of any property, or violation of any applicable laws or regulations resulting from, or in connection with, the sale, transportation, installation, use, or repair of Emser’s products by the Buyer.

Warranty

Emser warrants only to its immediate Buyer, and to no other person, that its products will, on the date of shipment, meet the terms of Emser’s Bid Confirmation, Order Acknowledgement, or Sales Order pursuant to which such products were sold.

Manufactured Products: Emser warrants that manufactured products will be free from defect for a period of one year from date of purchase. Defect is defined as a shortfall in the product to perform to specifications as disclosed in product or trade literature, within industry allowable tolerances as set forth in standard, national industry protocols.

This one-year express warranty is the sole warranty extended and replaces any statutory warranties to the maximum extent allowable by law. Customer misuse including negligence, physical, or chemical abuse is not covered by this warranty. Installation defects or installations that violate building codes are not covered by this warranty. All warranty claims must be reported immediately. Failure to report any warranty claim within 30 days of defect discovery will void this warranty. All products must be inspected prior to installation. Visual defects or nonconformities apparent prior to installation voids this warranty. Manufactured tile is subject to variation due to an inherent variability in raw materials and production processes. Ceramic tile with a rating of V3 or V4 may contain higher levels of variation. All products should be inspected prior to
installation.

Natural Stone Products: Natural stone products, including, but not limited to, travertine, limestone, granite, marble, onyx, and slate, are products of nature mined and cut from natural formations which may inherently contain high levels of variation. Because these products are mined and cut from natural formations instead of manufactured, quality warranties are limited to the specified representations in Emser product literature, trade product literature, and guidelines established by the Marble Institute of
America. Emser does not warrant natural stone products for shade, size, thickness, warping, cleft variations, surface finish variations, or other natural defects on stone products.

EMSER DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE.

No agent, employee or other representative of Emser has the authority to create any other affirmation, warranty or representation, either oral or written, regarding Emser’s products.

THE LIABILITY OF EMSER UNDER ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY (WHETHER CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE) SHALL BE LIMITED AS FOLLOWS: THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ANY BREACH OF WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, SHALL BE THE REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE GOODS F.O.B. EMSER’S FACILITY OR, AT EMSER’S OPTION, REFUND OF THE PURCHASE PRICE OF SUCH DEFECTIVE GOODS.

IN NO EVENT SHALL EMSER BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, OR OTHER DAMAGES BY REASON OF ANY BREACH OF WARRANTY, OR ANY DELAY OR FAILURE IN DELIVERY, WHETHER OR NOT EMSER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Buyer acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing disclaimer of warranties and limitations on Emser’s liability are an essential basis for Buyer’s agreement with Emser, that Emser would not have entered into this agreement but for such provisions, and that the exclusion of special, incidental, consequential, indirect or other damages shall apply and be enforced whether or not Emser is able to replace any defective goods or complete any delivery.

Any suit or other legal action that Buyer may bring against Emser arising out of the sale of goods or other transactions contemplated hereby (whether in contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise) must be filed within 12 months from the earlier of (i) delivery of goods hereunder, or (ii) the date of Emser’s alleged breach. Buyer’s failure to file within such period shall be deemed to act as a waiver and time bar for any and all claims against Emser Tile, LLC.

Non-Waiver

Emser’s waiver of any of these Terms in any instance is limited to that instance and does not imply that Emser will waive such Terms on any future occasion.

Applicable Law

Emser and Buyer agree that this agreement shall be deemed made in Los Angeles, California; that the internal laws of California shall govern; and that the state or federal courts sitting in Los Angeles County, California shall have jurisdiction and are the proper venue for all actions hereunder. Any dispute or disagreement arising out of the sale of goods contemplated hereby shall be submitted to binding arbitration before the American Arbitration Association (AAA) in Los Angeles, California, in accordance with its commercial arbitration rules then in effect. The arbitrator(s) shall award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs to the prevailing party, and the arbitrator’s award may be entered and enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction. All remedies of Emser hereunder shall be deemed cumulative and shall be in addition to any other remedies Emser may have under law. The exercise by Emser of any one or more remedies shall not be deemed an election of remedies by Emser Tile, LLC.

Care and Maintenance

Cleaning Glazed Porcelain and Ceramic

Glazed porcelain and ceramic tiles are among the easiest flooring materials to clean. Due to their impenetrable glazes, their surfaces are resistant to water, dirt, chemicals, oil, debris, and even germs and bacteria.

Always Remember:

• Do not clean porcelain tile flooring with ammonia or with cleaners that contain bleach and/or acid. Acid and ammonia based cleaners may modify grout color and product stability.
• Use a cleaner that is pH neutral. This ensures cleaning will not harm your grout or surrounding surfaces.
• Do not use wax or oil-based cleaners.
• Use rugs at entrances to prevent dirt and grit from being tracked onto the tile flooring from outdoors. Tiles are scratch resistant but not scratch proof.
• Do not use steel wool or other abrasive pads to remove tough debris or stains. Steel wool may scratch your tiles and loose steel particles may eventually create rust stains in the grout over time.
• Although glazed surfaces are impervious, the use of a grout release will aid in post installation clean up, especially if the glazed surface has a texture to it where mortar, grout and other construction debris can get trapped inside grooves during and after installation.

Standard Cleaning Guidelines for Glazed Products

1. Sweep or vacuum loose dirt and dust from the floor prior to washing with water to prevent the tile from becoming muddy or leaving a residue after On textured surfaces sweep in multiple directions to ensure the removal of all foreign material that might be residing in the textured surface. For wall surfaces tile can be gently wiped down with a clean, dry cloth or rag.
2. Mop the floor with a mild detergent, degreaser, or tile cleaning solution. For textured floors, the use of a medium bristle brush is recommended. A sponge or clean cloth can be used to apply the cleaning agent to wall surfaces.
3. Rinse the tile thoroughly with clean water to remove any left-over detergents.
4. Drying with a clean cloth or rag is recommended to increase the shine and to prevent water spots or streaks.

Cleaning Unglazed Porcelain and Ceramic

Unglazed products are highly desirable due to their double loaded and throughbody characteristics. Polished finishes are typically protected by nano and/or wax coatings and are resistant to water, chemicals, and scratching. Matte and textured finishes are generally unprotected and although the surface is impervious, it may be more difficult to clean post install than a polished surface due to the inherent surface characteristics of these finishes on a micro pore level.

Always Remember:

• Do not clean porcelain tile flooring with ammonia or with cleaners that contain bleach and/or acid. Acid and ammonia based cleaners may modify grout color and product stability.
• Use a cleaner that is pH neutral. This ensures cleaning will not harm your grout or surrounding surfaces.
• Do not use wax or oil-based cleaners.
• Use rugs at entrances to prevent dirt and grit from being tracked onto the tile flooring from outdoors. Tiles are scratch resistant but not scratch proof.
• Do not use steel wool or other abrasive pads to remove tough debris or stains. Steel wool may scratch your tiles and loose steel particles may eventually create rust stains in the grout over time.
• Nano coatings should remain intact post install for added protection. However, if electing to remove nano coatings, a nano scrub or poultice type product may be used. Ask a sales associate for details.
• Although unglazed surfaces are impervious, the use of a grout release will aid in post install clean up, especially if the unglazed surface has a matte or textured finish to it where construction debris can get trapped during Sealing may also be recommended post install to aid in day to day maintenance of these surfaces.

o It is suggested that a breathable penetrating sealer be applied to matte unglazed surfaces after grouting. This treatment provides an excellent defense against staining and may be desirable in high traffic areas. Follow the sealing manufacturer’s guidelines for recommendations on how often a sealer should be reapplied.

Standard Cleaning Guidelines for Unglazed Products

1. Sweep or vacuum loose dirt and dust from the floor prior to washing with water to prevent the tile from becoming muddy or leaving a residue after On textured surfaces sweep in multiple directions to ensure the removal of all foreign material that might be residing in the textured surface. For wall surfaces tile can be gently wiped down with a clean, dry cloth or rag.
2. Mop the floor with a mild detergent, degreaser, or tile cleaning solution. For textured floors, the use of a medium bristle brush is recommended. A sponge or clean cloth can be used to apply the cleaning agent to wall surfaces.
3. Rinse the tile thoroughly with clean water to remove any left-over detergents.
4. Drying with a clean cloth or rag is recommended to increase the shine and to prevent water spots or streaks.

Cleaning Metal Tile

Many of the metal tiles you see on the market today are made from solid metal, coated in metal glazes, or cast from polymers that are fused with real metal particles. Due to the presence of actual metal in most cases, careful attention must be paid when cleaning these unique surfaces.

Always Remember:

• Stainless steel cleaners for appliances tend to work well on stainless steel tiles as they are typically made from similar grades of However, it is important to note that not all metal tiles are made from stainless steel and as such a pH neutral cleaner or water with a mild soap solution can be used.
• It is not recommended that any abrasive cleaners or scouring pads be used to clean metal as it may scratch the surface and cause the tiles to oxidize.
• It is also important to keep the tiles dry and away from heat as much as possible.
• Be sure to follow grout manufacturer’s instructions on cleaning and sealing grout properly.
• Grout cleaners containing bleach or ammonia may be harmful to the metal if not applied properly.

Standard Cleaning Guidelines for Metal Products

1. Wipe loose dirt or grease from the surface. An untreated paper towel or cloth is
2. Wash the surface with a mild detergent, degreaser, or cleaning solution (do not use abrasive cleaners or abrasive applicators).
3. Rinse the tile thoroughly with clean water if a detergent is used.
4. Drying with a clean cloth or paper towel is recommended to prevent water spots or streaks.

Cleaning Glass Tile and Decorative Mosaics

Glass is one of the easiest surfaces to clean. Due to its impervious nature, all stains will remain on the surface and can be wiped away with no effort. When cleaning glass and/or resin based blends the least abrasive method should always be used first as not to damage, discolor, or scratch the surface.

Always Remember:

• Do not use any abrasive cleaners or scouring pads to clean glass as they may scratch the surface.
• There are many cleaning solutions on the market today suitable for cleaning glass In most cases a standard glass or multi-surface cleaner applied with a cloth or paper towels will work well.

Standard Cleaning Guidelines for Glass Products

1. Wipe loose dirt or grease from the surface. An untreated paper towel or cloth is recommended.
2. Wash the surface with a mild detergent, degreaser, or glass cleaning solution (do not use abrasive cleaners or abrasive applicators).
3. Rinse the tile thoroughly with clean water if a detergent is used.
4. Drying with a clean cloth or paper towel is recommended to increase the shine and to prevent water spots or streaks.

Cleaning Natural Stones

Natural stone is a very durable surface when protected and maintained properly and is widely used in residential and commercial applications.

Always Remember:

• Sweep or vacuum your floors regularly.
• Protect your stone from sand and grit as floors may scratch from dirt and debris.
• Be careful with acidic foods and drinks (lemonade, orange juice, etc.) as they may etch certain stones.
• Never use any cleaners that contain ammonia, acids, or bleach.
• Never apply wax or acrylics to the surface as they may damage the stone.
• Tend to spills quickly. Sealers do not prevent 100% of damages caused by spills.
• Sealing all natural stone is highly recommended.

o It is suggested that a breathable penetrating sealer be applied before and after grouting. This treatment provides an excellent defense against staining and may be desirable in high traffic areas. Follow the sealing manufacturer’s guidelines for recommendations on how often a sealer should be reapplied.

Standard Cleaning Guidelines for Natural Stone

1. Sweep or vacuum loose dirt and dust from the floor. For wall surfaces, tile can be gently wiped down with a clean, dry cloth or rag.
2. Mop the floor with a mild detergent, degreaser, or tile cleaning solution. A sponge or clean cloth can be used to apply the cleaning agent to wall surfaces.
3. Rinse the tile thoroughly with clean water to remove any left-over detergents.
4. Drying with a clean cloth or rag is recommended to increase the shine and to prevent water spots or streaks.

Commercial Deep Cleaning

Commercial cleaning can present its own challenges due to the high traffic nature of most applications and exposure to foreign debris that a standard residential application may not be subject to. Commercial floors must be maintained properly to ensure the longevity of an application.

Always Remember:

• In addition to following standard cleaning protocol for your product type, also consider the following:
  • Floors need to be kept as dry as possible after cleaning to prevent slip accidents.
  • When mopping, the water should be changed frequently so you are not pushing around muddy water.
  • Scrubbing the floors too often with a buffer may cause irregular wear patterns.
  • Always be sure to protect furniture legs and stanchions with felt pads to protect the floors from scratching.
  • Chewing gum, grease and other debris difficult to remove may require use of a plastic putty knife.
  • Prior to removing graffiti and other difficult stains, test a small area to make sure the chemical agents will not damage the surface.
  • For embedded stains, the use of a poultice mix may be required.
  • When electing to remove nano coatings, a nano scrub or poultice type product may be used.

Standard Deep Cleaning Guidelines

1. Sweep or vacuum loose dirt and dust from the floor. For wall surfaces, tile can be gently wiped down with a clean, dry cloth or rag.
2. Mix a high concentration cleaner, degreaser, or stripper as needed based on manufacturer’s guidelines for periodic deep cleaning.
3. Agitate with scrub brush or floor scrub machine.
4. Mop up dirty solution. A wet/dry vac may be used in large areas.
5. Rinse thoroughly with clean water, changing water every 500 sq. ft. or as needed.
6. Drying with a clean cloth or rag as well as a final dry vac extraction is recommended to increase the shine, prevent water spots and streaks, and to prevent slip accidents in a commercial setting.

Cleaning Grout

There are many grouts on the market today that are stain resistant and do not require a sealer. However, not all grouts will have these characteristics and special care must be taken to ensure product performance is not compromised due to exposer to harsh cleaners.

Always Remember:

• Clean tile and stone regularly according to standard cleaning guidelines. Anything safe for the tile will typically be safe for your grout. PH neutral cleaners are highly recommended. Mopping dirty tiles will cause muddy water to get stuck in the grout joints, so keeping tiles cleaned regularly will improve the look of the grout.
• Be careful with acidic foods, drinks and dyes as they may stain certain types of grout.
• Never use cleaners that contain ammonia, acids, or bleach. Some stains may be set so deep in the grout that bleach may be the only thing to get your grout clean. Bleaching causes the pores of the grout to open and hold dirt even more. As such, sealing after bleaching is highly recommended.
• Prolonged use of bleach and ammonia based products may cause the grout to become brittle over time and in wet applications may result in water damage due to cracking and deterioration.
• Sealing grout prevents staining. Sealers are not chemical proof and may break down from continued exposure to harsh household chemical cleaners.
• It is suggested that a breathable penetrating sealer be applied before and after grouting. This treatment provides an excellent defense against staining, mold and mildew. Follow the sealing manufacturer’s guidelines for recommendations on how often a sealer should be reapplied.
• Tend to spills quickly. Sealers do not prevent 100% of damages caused by spills.
• A medium bristle brush can be used to scrub the grout joints.

Pre and Post Grout Install Tip:

• Using a grout release or sealer prior to installation is recommended especially for product that is porous or has a textured Often times grout particles may become trapped and difficult to clean during the standard grouting process and the use of a rag or sponge may not pull up all the grout haze. Using a grout release and/or sealer will help prevent this from happening. Also important to note is that grout haze left on the surface of a tile will become difficult to remove and the chemicals needed to remove it at a later time may damage the tile or alter its looks. Heavy duty grout haze removers should be used according to the grout manufacturer’s recommendations before trying more concentrated acid solutions.

 Standard Cleaning Guidelines for Grout

1. Sweep, brush, or vacuum loose dirt and dust from the surface. For wall surfaces, grout can be gently wiped down with a clean, dry cloth or rag.
2. Mop, brush, or sponge the surface with a mild detergent, degreaser, or tile cleaning solution.
3. Rinse the grout thoroughly with clean water to remove any left-over detergents.
4. Drying with a clean cloth or rag is recommended to prevent water spots or streaks on the tile.
5. Reseal grout periodically as needed.