Grout Expert Prescribes Cure For Avoiding Health Problems Caused By Recently Recalled Spray-on Sealant

(Monday, August 29, 2005) - Joe Rotella, Vice President of The Grout Doctor Global Franchise Corp., educates consumers on the health hazards of grout sealants and equips them with the information they need to know when buying sealant from store shelves. His timely insight in a Q&A format helps consumers avoid the nearly 60 cases of recent health problems caused by the now recalled product "Tile Perfect, Stand ‘N Seal" made by Roanoke Companies.

Q: How safe are store-bought brands of sealant?
A: Generally, consumer brands are supposed to be safe when used according to the products' instructions. The problem with "Tile Perfect, Stand ‘N Seal" was that the product did not have the foul odor that would normally make a consumer stop using the product when the concentration became too high.

Q: What other types of sealers are there to choose from?
A: There are many kinds of sealers but all are either water-based or solvent-based (liquid or aerosol). It's difficult for the average consumer to know which is the best sealer and the right product for their needs. The safest choice is a good penetrating, VOC-free, water-based sealer that is specially formulated for use when flammability or odor sensitivity is a concern or when the area remains occupied or has little ventilation. Solvent-based sealants are also penetrating sealers, but require more precautions for consumer use because of the increase in toxicity—especially with aerosol versions of this sealant. Consumers should read the back of the sealant's packaging to find out whether or not the product is water-based or solvent-based.

Q: What advice do you have for consumers who use solvent-based sealants?
A: Consumers should wear a respirator-type mask designed to prevent inhalation of vapors (dust masks don't do this), use lots of fans, create proper room ventilation, and wear chemical resistant clothing, gloves, and protective eyewear. Unless consumers are fully educated and prepared to self-apply a sealant they have purchased, it is safer to call a grout maintenance specialist. These specialists are already trained on the health hazard data and precautions for all grout care products.

Q: What are the pros and cons of using a grout care professional versus the do-it-yourself route?
A: Not only do grout care professionals already know how to handle product safety, but the tools and techniques they use help the job get done approximately 3x faster than do-it-yourself methods. Their skills combined with their specially formulated cleaning and sealing products also ensures maximum stain prevention and easier maintenance. Do-it-yourself methods may save consumers some money, but usually not without the high price of time and labor. Our franchisees often get calls from homeowners who try and do the job themselves, but end up soliciting our help because they state that the job was too difficult and tiresome and didn't end up producing the desired results.

Q: What other advice can you offer consumers who decide to clean and/or seal their grout by themselves?
A: A key piece of advice for cleaning existing grout is to use lots of water—lots of clean rinse water—to ensure that the dirt is removed from the grout before staining or sealing it. Our advice for homeowners of brand new homes is to vacuum the grout thoroughly to avoid sealing in all the construction dust that has settled in the grout. Preparation is even more critical before applying a grout colorant or stain, which offers a stronger, longer lasting protection of the grout. With grout staining, you can change the color of your existing grout (lighter or darker) without removing it.

Q: Can you offer any other safety tips about grout cleaning and sealing products?
A: In today's world, moms and dads have become increasingly concerned about the toxicity of cleaning products around their children. They should know that comprehensive safety information for solvent-based products is just a phone call away. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) can be requested by calling the solvent supplier. Hazardous ingredients, chemical characteristics, health hazard data, precautions for safe handling and use, special protection information, and toxicological & ecological information are all documented in these data sheets. Also, choose a VOC-free cleaner and sealer. VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) is one of the most common terms used in the solvents industry. But most people do not fully understand what VOC means. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has defined "VOC" broadly to include in effect "any volatile compound of carbon" that is not specifically exempted. All solvents must be tested for VOC. Generally, any compound that is "picked up" by testing is considered a VOC. The American Solvents Council has a bulletin on their Web site (www.americansolventscouncil.org) that offers a better understanding of this term as well as other related federal regulations.

Joe Rotella is Vice President and Chief Technical Support Officer for The Grout Doctor®. After more than a decade of operation, The Grout Doctor® is firmly grounded as the country's leading grout and tile maintenance provider and is the largest company of its kind with 47 franchisees in 20 states. More information about the company and its available franchises is located at www.groutdoctor.com.

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