Terms of Use

These terms of use govern your use of Grout Atlas (groutatlas.com, the "site"), including its guides, calculators, tools and data tables. By using the site, you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the site.

General information, not professional advice

Everything on Grout Atlas is general information about tile grout and related materials, provided for educational purposes. It is not professional, engineering, construction, legal or safety advice, and it does not create any professional or advisory relationship between you and Grout Atlas.

Every installation is different. Substrate type and condition, movement, moisture, waterproofing, tile type, temperature, humidity, product formulation and workmanship all affect results, and none of them can be seen from a web page. Typical ranges and procedures on this site may not fit your situation. You are responsible for deciding whether information on the site is appropriate for your project.

Safety and professional disclaimer

• Follow the manufacturer's instructions. The product label, technical data sheet (TDS) and safety data sheet (SDS) for the specific product you use always take priority over anything on this site, including mixing ratios, joint width limits, working times, cure times, cleaning methods and compatibility with your tile.
• Follow local codes and standards. Building codes, permit requirements and applicable industry standards (such as the ANSI A108 and A118 series and the TCNA Handbook) vary by location and project. Check with your local building authority where required.
• Handle chemicals safely. Cement-based grout is strongly alkaline and can cause skin and eye burns. Epoxy and urethane products can cause skin sensitization and respiratory irritation. Acidic and alkaline cleaners, bleach, solvents and sealers can be hazardous, and some combinations (for example bleach with acids or ammonia) release toxic gases. Never mix cleaning chemicals. Wear gloves and eye protection, ventilate the work area, keep products away from children and pets, and follow the SDS.
• Control silica dust. Mixing dry grout powder, cutting tile and removing or grinding grout can release respirable crystalline silica, which can cause serious lung disease. Use dust-reducing methods (such as wet methods or tools with dust extraction), wear appropriate respiratory protection, and follow applicable workplace safety rules.
• Use tools safely. Oscillating tools, rotary tools, saws and grinders can cause injury. Follow the tool manufacturer's instructions and wear appropriate protective equipment.
• Get a qualified professional for structural, water and electrical issues. Grout is not a waterproofing layer. Signs such as persistently wet or dark grout, staining on ceilings below, loose or hollow-sounding tile, cracks running through tiles, soft or moving floors, mold behind surfaces, or any issue involving radiant heating or electrical systems may indicate a leak, water damage or a structural problem that regrouting will not fix. Stop and have the area assessed by a qualified professional.
• Test first. Before using any cleaner, sealer, colorant or technique on a visible area, test it on a small, inconspicuous spot, especially on natural stone, glass, polished or colored surfaces.

You assume all risk for any work you undertake based on information from this site.

Calculators, tools and data

The calculators, selectors and research tables on the site produce estimates based on stated formulas and assumptions. They are provided for planning purposes only. Results may not match actual material requirements, product performance or site conditions. Manufacturer coverage charts and data sheets take priority, and you should allow for waste and variation when ordering materials.

Accuracy and availability

We work to keep content accurate and current, as described in our editorial standards, and we correct errors under our corrections policy. However, standards are revised and products are reformulated, and we cannot guarantee that every page is complete, current or error-free at all times. The site and its content are provided "as is" and "as available." We may change, suspend or remove any part of the site at any time without notice.

Product names and trademarks

Product names, brand names and trademarks mentioned on the site belong to their respective owners. They are used only to identify products or product categories. Their mention does not imply endorsement by Grout Atlas or any affiliation with, or endorsement of Grout Atlas by, the trademark owner. Standards are referred to by their published designations; the standards themselves are the property of the organizations that publish them.

Intellectual property

The text, tables, data compilations, calculators, code, design and other original content of the site are owned by Grout Atlas and protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. You may:

• View, print and save pages for your own personal, non-commercial use.
• Quote brief excerpts with clear attribution to Grout Atlas and a link to the source page.
• Link to any page on the site.

Without our prior written permission, you may not republish, reproduce, sell, license or distribute substantial portions of the site's content, copy entire pages or data tables, or present our content as your own. To ask for permission, contact us at the address below.

Acceptable use

When using the site, you agree not to:

• Use the site in any way that breaks applicable law.
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the site, its servers or related systems, or interfere with their operation, including by introducing malware or launching denial-of-service attacks.
• Use automated tools to scrape, copy or harvest content at a volume or rate that burdens the site, or to build a competing database of our content.
• Interfere with the display of content or misrepresent your affiliation with Grout Atlas.
• Use the site to send unsolicited messages or for fraudulent purposes.

Links to third-party sites

The site may link to third-party websites, such as standards organizations, trade associations and manufacturer data sheets. These links are provided for convenience and reference. We do not control third-party sites and are not responsible for their content, accuracy, availability or privacy practices. A link does not imply endorsement. Your use of third-party sites is governed by their own terms.

Disclaimer of warranties

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Grout Atlas disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy and non-infringement. We do not warrant that the site will be uninterrupted, secure or free of errors, or that any information will produce a particular result.

Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Grout Atlas and those involved in operating the site will not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary or punitive damages, or for any personal injury, property damage, loss of data, loss of use or cost of repair or replacement, arising out of or related to your use of, or inability to use, the site or any information, calculator or tool on it, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain warranties or damages, so some of the above may not apply to you. In those cases, our liability is limited to the smallest amount permitted by law. Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.

Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Grout Atlas from any claims, losses or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your breach of these terms or your misuse of the site.

Privacy

Your use of the site is also governed by our privacy policy, which explains what information is collected and how cookies are used.

Governing law and severability

These terms are governed by applicable law without regard to conflict of law principles, and do not limit any rights you have as a consumer under the mandatory laws of the place where you live. If any provision of these terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect. Our failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver of it.

Changes to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. The updated date at the top of this page shows when they were last revised. Continued use of the site after changes are posted means you accept the revised terms.

Contact

Questions about these terms can be sent to hello@groutatlas.com. Reports of errors in our content go to corrections@groutatlas.com. See the contact page for details.