Like many leading tile contractors, Neuse Tile Service Inc. has found that customers complain all too often about grout. However, complaints of any kind were simply unacceptable when the North Carolina company took on a recent project for a major homebuilder and key customer. It’s also why Neuse Tile chose to use AccuColor XT™ grout on the high-profile tile installation.

Neuse Tile, located in Youngsville, NC, has built a reputation on superb craftsmanship, which is grounded in a commitment to using the latest installation methods known and the most advanced technologies available. Founded in 1964, Neuse Tile employs 50 people and serves residential and commercial builders in the central and northern regions of North Carolina.

“We work hard to educate our staff on the latest installation methods,” said Neuse Tile President Nyle Wadford, who also serves as 2nd Vice President of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) and was recently elected to serve on the NTCA Executive Committee. “Additionally, you cannot underestimate the importance tile-setting materials play in the success of any installation.”

In summer 2006, Neuse Tile welcomed the opportunity to install tile in the home of a customer unlike any other. The customer holds the title of regional vice president at a nationwide homebuilder that builds as many as 1,000 homes annually in Neuse Tile’s territory.

When it came to choosing a grout for the job, Wadford said he wasn’t going to leave anything to chance.

“The industry has struggled with cement-based grout for years and one of the biggest issues has to do with the overall durability of the material. Yet I needed to be 100 percent confident that the grout on this job would resist staining, dirt, cracking - not to mention mold and mildew. Plus, color accuracy and consistency was paramount.”

Wadford was intrigued by the manufacturer of TEC® brand’s new AccuColor XT grout, specifically formulated to deliver superior performance with resistance to cracks, stains, and mold and mildew.

After carefully analyzing the options and conducting extensive field-testing, Wadford decided to use AccuColor XT on the homebuilder’s high-end residence. In the end, the grout played a key role in the project that Wadford describes as a categorical success.