Privacy Policy

This privacy policy explains what information is collected when you visit Grout Atlas (groutatlas.com, the "site"), how it is used, and the choices you have. Grout Atlas is a reference website. It does not offer accounts, logins, comments or purchases, so the information involved is limited, but we want to be clear about all of it.

Information we collect

Server logs

Like nearly every website, the servers that deliver this site automatically record basic technical information for each request. This typically includes your IP address, the date and time of the request, the page requested, the referring page, your browser type and version, your operating system, and the response status. These logs are used to deliver the site, keep it secure, diagnose errors, and prevent abuse such as automated attacks.

Cookies and similar technologies

Cookies are small text files stored by your browser. Similar technologies include local storage, pixels and scripts that read device information. The site and its third-party vendors may use these technologies as described in the cookies section below.

Analytics

We may use a web analytics service to understand how the site is used in aggregate, for example which pages are visited, how visitors arrive, which devices and browsers are common, and roughly where visitors are located (at country or region level). This helps us decide which guides to improve and which topics to cover. Analytics services may use cookies or similar technologies and may process your IP address to produce these statistics. We do not use analytics to identify individual visitors.

Information you send us

If you email us, we receive your email address, your name if you include it, and the contents of your message. We use this only to read and respond to your message, to act on corrections or suggestions, and to keep a record of the correspondence. Please do not include sensitive personal information in emails.

Search and calculators run in your browser

The site search and the calculators and selectors in our tools section run entirely in your web browser. The values you type (tile sizes, joint widths, areas, symptoms, search terms and similar inputs) are processed on your own device and are not sent to us. The tools do not store your inputs; reloading the page clears them.

How we use information

• To deliver the site and make it work correctly on different devices.
• To keep the site secure and prevent fraud and abuse.
• To understand aggregate usage so we can improve content and tools.
• To respond to messages and process correction reports.
• To display advertising, as described below, where applicable.
• To comply with legal obligations.

We do not sell your personal information for money. See the your rights section for how "sale" and "sharing" are defined under some US state laws.

Cookies

Cookies used on or through this site fall into these general categories:

• Strictly necessary: needed for the site to function and be delivered securely, and to remember your cookie consent choices where a consent tool is shown.
• Preferences: remember settings you choose, such as tool inputs stored locally.
• Analytics: help us understand how visitors use the site in aggregate.
• Advertising: used by third-party vendors to serve and measure ads, as described below.

You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers let you block all cookies, block third-party cookies, or clear cookies when you close the browser. Blocking some cookies may affect how certain parts of the site work.

Third-party vendors and advertising

This site may display advertisements served by third-party vendors, including Google. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this website or other websites.

Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to this site and/or other sites on the internet. These vendors may also use cookies, web beacons, IP addresses and similar technologies to measure ad performance, limit how often you see an ad, and prevent ad fraud.

Advertising does not influence our content. Advertisers have no input into what we write, and ads are not endorsements. See our editorial standards for our independence policy.

How to opt out of personalized advertising

• You may opt out of personalized advertising from Google by visiting Google Ads Settings. Google also explains how it uses information from sites that use its services at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.
• You may opt out of some third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting www.aboutads.info.
• In the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom, you can also visit www.youronlinechoices.eu.

Opting out of personalized advertising does not remove ads. You may still see ads, but they will not be based on your browsing history. Opt-outs are often stored in a cookie, so clearing cookies or switching browsers or devices may require you to opt out again.

Consent for visitors in the EEA, UK and Switzerland

If you visit from the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, non-essential cookies (such as analytics and advertising cookies) are only set or read with your consent where the law requires it. Where a consent message is shown, you can accept, reject or customize your choices, and you can change or withdraw consent at any time through the settings it provides or by clearing your cookies. If you do not consent to personalized advertising, any ads shown may be non-personalized, which still use cookies or similar technologies for purposes such as frequency capping, fraud prevention and measurement where permitted.

Our legal bases for processing under the GDPR and UK GDPR are: consent (for non-essential cookies, analytics and personalized advertising); legitimate interests (for operating, securing and improving the site, and for server logs); and compliance with legal obligations where applicable.

Children's privacy

This site is a general audience reference about tile grout and is not directed to children under 13 (or the equivalent minimum age in your country). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has sent us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

Data retention

We keep information only as long as it is needed for the purposes described in this policy. Server logs are kept for a limited period for security and troubleshooting and are then deleted or aggregated. Analytics data is retained in aggregate form, or for the retention period configured in the analytics service. Emails are kept as long as needed to respond and to maintain a record of corrections and correspondence. Cookies set by third-party vendors are retained according to those vendors' own policies.

Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights over your personal information. These may include the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you and receive a copy.
• Correct inaccurate information.
• Delete your personal information.
• Restrict or object to certain processing, including processing based on legitimate interests.
• Data portability.
• Withdraw consent at any time, without affecting processing that took place before withdrawal.
• Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority (in the EEA, UK or Switzerland).

California and other US state residents. Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (as amended by the CPRA) and similar state laws, you may have the right to know what categories of personal information are collected and how they are used, to request access, correction or deletion, and to opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising. The use of advertising cookies by third-party vendors may be considered "sharing" under these laws. You can opt out by using the opt-out links above, by adjusting your cookie choices, or, where applicable law requires us to honor it, by enabling a recognized opt-out preference signal such as Global Privacy Control in your browser. We will not discriminate against you for exercising these rights.

To make a request, email hello@groutatlas.com with "Privacy request" in the subject line. Because we do not maintain user accounts, we may need limited information to locate data related to you (for example, the email address you used to write to us) and to verify your request. Much of the data processed by third-party vendors is controlled by them; you can also contact those vendors directly or use their own privacy tools.

Security

The site is served over an encrypted connection (HTTPS), and access to server systems is restricted. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we take reasonable measures to protect the limited information we handle.

International transfers

The site and its service providers may process information in countries other than the one you live in, including the United States. Where required, such transfers rely on appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses.

Links to other websites

Pages may link to other websites, such as standards organizations or manufacturer data sheets. Those sites have their own privacy practices, and this policy does not cover them.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the site, its services or the law change. The updated date at the top of this page shows when it was last revised. Significant changes will be reflected here before they take effect where practical.

Contact

Questions about this policy or requests about your information can be sent to hello@groutatlas.com. See also our terms of use and contact page.