Note: Installation procedure should conform to ANSI A108.10 Standard recommendations.
Lightly dampen unglazed or mat tile with clean, cool water but leave no standing water in the open joint space. With a rigid sharp-edge rubber float held at a 45° angle, force grout diagonally into the joint, ensuring that the grout is well-compacted, free of voids and pin holes. Remove excess grout through successive diagonal passes using the edge of the rubber float held at a sharp 90° angle. The grout should be finished evenly to the base of the cushion or bevelled edge. Allow grout to become firm enough to only be slightly indented when pushed or approximately 15 minutes depending on the type of tile or stone and ambient temperature and humidity conditions.
Use as little water as possible during cleanup of the grout residue on the tiles. An excess amount of water used for mixing or cleaning causes weakening, shrinkage, efflorescence, pin holes and colour variation of the grouted joints. Smooth and level joints and remove excess grout from tile or stone with a slightly damp, but not wet, soft close pore cellulose sponge, wiping with light pressure on the sponge in diagonal strokes.
Change the water and rinse the sponge frequently. Keeping the water and sponge clean helps achieve better colour uniformity in the grout.
Do not use acid wash
Wait at least 2 to 3 hours before removing the final haze from the tile surface by using a hand towel.
WAITING PERIOD BEFORE ALLOWING TRAFFIC
Protect the surface from shocks and vibrations for at least 24 hours. For proper curing, the substrate or tile temperature must be at least 10°C (50°F) for 72 hours after application (or 5°C [41°F] for at least 72 hours when SikaTile®-560 LFT Rapid was used for tile installation) during the curing period of SikaTile®-815 Secure Grout (CA).
Protect from general traffic for at least 3 hours. If necessary, use load-distributing protection when moving heavy equipment over the tiled area for the first 72 hours.
EXPANSION JOINTS AND CONTROL JOINTS
Install control joints where tiles abut restraining surfaces, around the perimeter of the work and at the base of columns and curbs. Install and space expansion and control joints in all directions in accordance with TTMAC Specification Guide 09 30 00 Detail #301-MJ recommendations.
CAUTION: Do not cout expansion joints in after the tiles have been installed. Install tiles normally and stop when the control joint location is reached. Cut the tile if required and resume setting from the opposite side of the joint. Before proceeding further, rake the joint and leave the tile and joint space clean. Do not fill expansion joint space after tiling is completed on the remainder of the job. Install a suitable industry-approved compressible bead and flexible sealant to caulk expansion and control joints.
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PROTECTING NEW TILE WORK
On completion of tiled floor, the user of SikaTile®-815 Secure Grout (CA) should inform the owner/agent or general contractor that it is their responsibility to allocate provision of proper installation and protection environments needed after the installation to prevent damage, as well as respecting cure times before exposing the installation to work from other trades.