It's no secret that most bathrooms are finished inside with ceramic tiles - this is extremely practical in conditions of constant humidity. However, for the tile to cope with its task, it must create practically monolithic surface. The right grout for bathroom tiles will solve this problem.
As a result, there is practically no free space left between individual products, and the finish seems absolutely complete. However, not everyone will like this interior - some will like mosaic walls with thousands of small details. Therefore, grout was, is and will be an integral element of renovation in the bathroom.
Cement compositions based on very fine Portland cement are actively used, including for grouting joints in the bathroom. Additional qualities are given to the mass by a substance such as latex plasticizer. Latex makes regular grout water-repellent, which is extremely important in a bathroom. In addition, the introduction of a plasticizer increases the level of adhesion to ceramic and glass surfaces. This in the bathroom resists the effects of microorganisms much better than the basic cement composition.
Conventional grout is used to seal joints up to 5 mm. For larger distances between individual tiles, it is better to use cement-sand grout mixtures. Sand grains play the role of a reinforcing element - the wider the seams, the larger the fraction of sand grains should be. When working with such grouts, it is important to be careful - sand scratches the surface, and scratches will be especially noticeable on a glossy surface. How to avoid scratches? Use special spatulas with rubber tips, or rub the seams with your fingers.
In addition to introducing latex plasticizer, many builders recommend covering the seams with a special moisture-resistant impregnation. Please note that such compositions give the surface additional decorative effect. For example, there are glossy and matte compositions. The former enhance the brightness of the grout color, while the matte ones do not change color at all. From time to time the impregnation layer should be renewed. Positive quality cement grout – an opportunity to experiment with color. In fact, you can create a unique shade yourself using regular gouache.
Epoxy compounds are more expensive and more difficult to work with due to their increased viscosity. Grout stains on ceramic tiles are quite difficult to remove. However, such grouting compounds are considered better than cement ones, and quite justifiably.
The epoxy resin included in the composition gives the joints between the tiles increased resistance to water vapor and is absolutely neutral to acids and alkalis, which are found in abundance in household chemicals. Another undeniable dignity epoxy grout – brightness of color. No matter how many years have passed since the repair, the seams will look as bright as the day the composition was applied.
Cement compositions create a fairly rough, porous surface - over time, fine dust gets clogged into the pores, which is very difficult to wipe off. Epoxy compounds do not have this drawback - the surface of the joints is smooth, like glass. Epoxy grout compounds are available in ready-made color solutions. Grouts with the effect of mother-of-pearl or metallic shine (bronze, silver, gold) are very popular.
In production premises with high humidity Fugues based on furan resin are used. It is extremely difficult to work with them, and there is no point in using them in home environment. The grout has only one color – black. Furan compositions are resistant to aggressive substances and have increased adhesion to ceramic surfaces.
Which grout is preferable - cement or epoxy - is up to you. Do not chase low prices - only high-quality, and therefore expensive, grout compounds should be used in the bathroom. Follow the technology carefully, even if some points seem unnecessary to you. WITH builders prefer to use proven compositions from European manufacturers - Litokol (Italy), Schtern (Germany). The brands Ceresit, Plitonit, Atlas have good reviews.
A caring housewife is unlikely to be satisfied with the dirty gray color of the joints between the tiles, which will inevitably appear a few years after the renovation. In some cases, dirt can be dealt with using ordinary household products cleaning, sometimes you have to act more radically.
The easiest but most time-consuming way to update the decorative effect is to clean the grout using an old toothbrush, baking soda and vinegar. Gently sprinkle baking soda onto the grout lines and then moisten them with vinegar. The brush will finish what you started. Vinegar can also be used if there is a build-up on the seams. limescale. If you don’t want to bother for a long time, buy a spray bleach, which is very convenient for working in such situations. For tile joints, there are also special markers that are specially designed for grouting. They perfectly update the color and can even hide minor defects.
A radical way to update the seams is to apply a new composition over the old layer. To do this, you will have to remove it using a screwdriver or a stiff brush. upper layer old grout. After thoroughly wiping the seams from dust and moistening them with water, apply fresh grout of the desired color on top. First we rub the horizontal seams, and then move on to the vertical ones. To avoid repeating this operation in the future, we recommend covering the surface with a waterproof polyurethane varnish. It will take a lot of your time, but the result is worth it.
Finishing walls, floors, and other elements of buildings and amenities with ceramic tiles is a common technology with many advantages. High strength, durability, moisture resistance are just some of these advantages. The number of people who want to do this type of finishing with their own hands is not decreasing.
Tiling is not only about strengthening standard ceramic parts on the surface, but also about treating the seams between them. High-quality styling means receiving flat surface with equal spaces between elements. These gaps - seams - are not at all difficult to process; their configuration and dimensions are completely determined by the laid cladding. The task of the master to complete the tile work is to carefully and correctly fill the seams with the required composition.
You can be sure that anyone who could lay the tiles with their own hands will probably be able to finish the gaps. The main thing is to provide conditions for this operation during installation, then grouting tiles in the bathroom, kitchen or bathroom can be mastered and completed at the same time.
Treatment of tile joints is necessary not only for new cladding. It is known that it is the seams of the lined surface that primarily suffer from time and use. The task of updating such surfaces is very often rational decision- instead of a complete replacement.
Thus, preparing the surface for filling joints may involve removing the old unusable mass or cleaning the gaps from excess tile adhesive. Professional craftsmen never make it necessary to perform such cleaning - the edges of the tiles are thoroughly cleaned when laying. An amateur specialist should do the same - if he values his time and the final quality.
Old bathroom tile grout may have a combination of completely damaged areas and areas of very high strength. Do-it-yourself removal of the mass that fills the gaps between tiles requires caution.
To clean solid tiles, you can use factory-made scrapers, including those with a carbide blade, as well as a homemade or adapted tool. IN difficult cases You can use a homemade chisel made from a hacksaw blade for metal, and carry out the impact with the utmost care.
When you need to update an existing cladding surface, you need to remember that it is impossible to buy the same one, which means you cannot damage it in any way. The result of the preparation is completely cleaned seams and tile ends.
If previously the seams were rubbed with homemade mixtures based on conventional or white cement which the tiler made with his own hands, now they use ready-made compounds. These mixtures are produced in two versions:
Grouting bathroom tiles, done correctly, is quite reliable if a cement-based composition is used. The epoxy composition is much stronger, its water resistance is higher, as well as its cost.
Those who want to fill the gaps between the tiles with their own hands can confidently use cement mixtures for any household purpose. The costs of an epoxy composition are justified when the cladding works under conditions of intense constant moisture or even under water. The main thing is to apply the composition correctly. It is also important to be able to carefully use the resulting cladding. Over time, the master will meticulously select a tool - grout light tone will do with a white spatula, and dark with a black
The cement-based composition comes in the form of a dry mixture or in the form of a ready-to-use paste. The fundamental difference between such grout and homemade grout is the balanced additives. They determine properties that are important for use in business and for operation:
The grout for bathroom tiles prepared according to the instructions is applied to the seams with a rubber or stainless steel spatula. It is better not to use simple steel tools, as they may cause rust stains. The master’s task is to fill all the gaps between the tiles evenly, tightly and without gaps. It is acceptable for some of the mixture to remain on the tile.
As the finished mixture is used, the master can update the portion, knowing how much he can use during the time it remains in working condition. The moisture from the mixture will gradually go into the body of the cladding, the mixture in the seams and on the surface will harden, dry out and then it can be removed with a dry cloth - it can be easily removed. Removing excess mixture is at the same time an operation to form a uniform surface and joint profile. The master will gradually learn to make them completely even.
For walls and floors, the grouting operation is performed in the same way. If unfilled spaces are discovered, such an area needs to be updated, and if necessary, completely remade. Such general scheme can be done in different ways. Home master, doing this work with his own hands, will develop and apply the most convenient techniques for himself:
In order for the cladding to be not only spectacular, but also practical, the grout for the bathroom must be chosen taking into account many factors:
Knowing the peculiarities of using the bathroom, the master can choose a regular moisture-resistant mixture for the walls, and an epoxy composition for the floor. Anticipating the imminent need to renew the seams, it is better to use a cement-based mixture - it is cheaper, easier to use and easier to remove.
It is better to start grouting tiles in the bathroom from an inconspicuous place - the master will be able to quickly learn how to use a spatula and other tools. Careful and hard work will give good results very soon. In a secondary area, you can refine the color, and after its final approval, update the first trial fragment.
Completing the tiling of walls and floors, done with your own hands, should adequately crown labor-intensive process creating a high-quality, beautiful and reliable surface.
First of all, let's figure it out - when do you need to grout tile joints? Typically, craftsmen advise starting this work no earlier than a day after installation is completed, but you shouldn’t put it off for long. And this period is determined for many reasons:
Traditionally, the color of the grout is selected according to the color of the tile. According to generally accepted design rules, more than two primary colors are not used in the interior of one room. Therefore, some deviations in the intensity of the shades of grout and tiles are allowed, but not a difference in color. When combining tiles of different colors, as well as when using decorative inserts, you should stock up on grout in the appropriate colors.
If you cannot find grout on sale that matches the color of the tile, then the problem can be solved by making it yourself. To do this, take a white mixture and add to it the required amount of color for water-based paint. By gradually mixing a certain color, you can give the grout the desired shade.
There is one secret here: the color of the wet solution is more intense than the one obtained when the mixture dries. When adjusting saturation, you need to remember this feature in order to select the desired color as accurately as possible.
For white floor tiles it is more prudent to immediately choose a light-colored grout gray– since when using the floor it is very difficult to achieve its ideal whiteness.
Depending on what methods of grouting tiles you plan to use, you may need the appropriate tools: a container with a volume of no more than 1.5-2 liters (a small plastic bucket or bowl); a convenient metal spatula for mixing the finished mixture, a foam sponge, a clean rag and a bucket of water. But the main tool in the work will be a special plastic spatula with a rubber tip or more cheap option- rubber spatula, although such savings are not always justified.
As when calculating other building mixtures, it is quite difficult to calculate the expected grout consumption in advance. Even the numbers indicated by manufacturers on the packaging very often differ, and the most unpleasant thing is when the mixture unexpectedly runs out during operation, absolutely not justifying the declared consumption rates.
To reduce such costs when purchasing grout, you should consider:
For calculations, the ratio of 400 g of mixture per 1 sq.m of laid tiles is taken as a basis. standard size, adding or reducing the amount of grout depending on the above conditions.
When all the materials and tools are ready, you need to understand how to use tile grout.
First things first, you need to prepare the mixture. This is done immediately before starting work, since the solution is not stored for long and hardens after 15-30 minutes. For the same reason they prepare it in small quantity, especially if there are few skills at work. Dilute the dry mixture clean water, according to the instructions. And at this stage it is very important to mix the components correctly, otherwise you can spoil the material - either a solution that is too thin or too thick is not suitable for work. After stirring the mixture, let it stand for about five minutes, and then mix thoroughly again. That's it, the solution is ready! Let's take the spatula!
When the processing of the tile seams after grouting is completed, the surface is left to dry completely. Usually, provided the average daily room temperature is 16-26 degrees and relatively low humidity, an hour or an hour and a half is enough. But a decrease in temperature by 3-5 degrees can delay this process.
As for the readiness of the floor tiles for use, although the grout in the joints dries in an hour, you can still walk or place furniture on the floor no earlier than three hours later. The fact is that small specks or sand that accidentally fall into a weak grout solution can disrupt the integrity of a neatly executed seam.
When the grout has completely dried, it’s time to remove the remaining white coating and finally bring tiled surface in order.
The intensity and amount of plaque on the tiles depends on how thoroughly the foam sponge was washed and how often the water in the bucket was changed. But even if the tiles need a good cleaning, it is not difficult to do.
The best and most effective way will be directed from the hose clean running water- fast, clean and no need to rub anything. But it is not always practical to use this method. Therefore, the “dry” cleaning method is more often used. To do this, use a thick, preferably felt, rag, which is used to rub the surface, removing the remaining mixture. The problem can only arise with cleaning the surfaces of grooved, textured or matte tiles. And here special cleaners will help, which can usually be found in the same stores where grout is purchased.
Quite often, tiles are used to cover walls and floors in various rooms. It is not only practical, but also nice option finishing. However, everything can be ruined by careless or unprofessional rubbing of the seams. The joints are filled with a special composition, and this process has many nuances.
How to grout grout on tiles so that beautiful view Has the decorated room been preserved for a long time? Knowing the intricacies of such work will help you understand this.
Before you grout the seams on the tiles, you need to purchase grout. It is selected depending on the following factors:
When choosing a color, many experts advise purchasing grout mixtures in darker tones than the tile covering itself. This will strictly emphasize the geometry of the tile and practically hide the dirt that appears during operation.
Before starting the tiling process, you should find out what can be used to seal the tile seams in each specific case. To do this, it is important to understand what types of mashing compositions there are.
Based on their chemical components, they are classified into the following types:
Cement-sand compositions are made from white cement with the addition of fine-grained clean sand. They are used for decorative design seams in rooms characterized by moderate humidity and gentle conditions. The base must be concrete or brick that is not subject to deformation. If you can't find the shade you want, you can purchase White color and add coloring when cooking.
Polymer-cement mixtures are similar in composition to cement-sand grout, but also contain polymer additives, making them more durable and moisture resistant. The seams lined with them are not susceptible to the formation of various defects, for example, cracks. Cement-sand and polymer-cement grouting specialists prefer for residential buildings and office premises.
Epoxy-cement and epoxy compounds are used in both internal and external tile work. Thanks to their composition, they are able to withstand even the most aggressive operating conditions: bases subject to deformation, increased humidity and adverse influences environment. The composition of epoxy-based grout is viscous and tends to harden quickly, so it requires active and skillful work. It is not suitable for grouting narrow tiled spaces in residential premises, the width of which ranges from 3-6 mm, but it will be an excellent solution for facing works on wide seams of various non-standard objects, for example, swimming pools. This type of paste is used more often in industrial facilities.
Polymer mixtures are resistant to temperature fluctuations, therefore they are successfully used when laying floor tiles with a “warm floor” system. They are injected into the seam using a special syringe.
Before grouting the seams on the tiles, you must prepare a construction kit. It consists of the following components:
Before grouting the seams between the tiles, specialists carry out preliminary measures to clean the spaces between the tiles. They remove all remaining dividing crosses, despite the opinion of many manufacturers that they can be left and grout applied on top. Professionals say that in areas where the separator remains, the tone of the grout after hardening will be lighter - this will ruin the final result.
After this procedure, everything is washed with ordinary water using a foam sponge. Before grouting the tiles on the floor, the room being treated should be thoroughly vacuumed.
For unglazed materials, preliminary light moistening of the top and side surfaces is required. This event will help get rid of excessive moisture suction when applying grout. When heavily moistened, the grout often spreads, so it is important not to overdo it. Grout can be applied to glazed tiles without first wetting the side and top areas.
Before grouting the joints on the tiles, you need to properly prepare the grout. The quality of the work performed will depend on it. This mass is prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions. A grout mixture that is too thin can lead to cracking of the joint after drying; if it is too thick, it will not fill the space of the entire joint. The mass should be homogeneous and resemble sour cream in consistency. It is convenient to use a construction mixer for mixing.
The finished paste should be used quickly, so knead it in small portions(about 300-500 grams at a time).
Before grouting tiles on the floor or wall, read these recommendations from experts:
A small amount of prepared grout paste is applied to the seam area and distributed over it using a grout float, which must be held at an angle of 30-40° to the surface to be treated.
It is important to know how to properly grout tile joints in order to get a high-quality and neat result. To do this, you need to run it along the seam 3-4 times, rubbing and deepening the mixture as thoroughly as possible into all the voids and corners. The area between the tiles should be filled tightly to eliminate the formation of voids between the tiles as much as possible. Excess grout paste is removed by running a float diagonally to the seam. The tool is positioned at an angle of 90° to the treated area. Some experts recommend having another spatula for this.
After about 15 minutes, the grout paste will dry out a little. It's time to wipe the seams with a damp sponge in the same sequence in which they were rubbed.
Only when pressing on it with uniform force are seams with the same depth obtained. This must be done precisely at at this stage, then it will be difficult to correct the result. The sponge is washed with plain water. The treated area is left to dry (on average this process lasts 12 hours).
You need to know how to grout tile grout in the corners. To do this, use a special small spatula designed for hard to reach places. Many experts prefer to fill the corners and crevice spaces around the perimeter of shower cabins, bathtubs, washbasins with silicone, which will guarantee the tightness of the entire seam and will prevent the formation of cracks in the future. Before filling the space between tiles silicone sealant You need to seal the edges of the tiles with masking tape to avoid contamination. The sealant is pressed in continuously, then leveled using a moistened rubber spatula. After removing the excess silicone, you can remove the strips of tape from the tiles.
You should know how to grout the grout on floor tiles so that you don’t accidentally ruin the result. To do this, many craftsmen recommend that after grouting, cover the treated area with a sheet of plywood and leave it until the grout paste has completely hardened. Once the grout has hardened, you need to start cleaning the tiles. It is washed well with a wet sponge and then rubbed with a dry cloth.
Everyone who does their own repairs is interested in the question of how much it costs to grout the tile seams and lay it, that is, what the savings will be for the budget. The cost of a specialist’s services in this work depends on the status of the master himself, the rating of his company, the size tile covering And total area, intended for laying and rubbing. On average, professionals request about 600 rubles per 1 sq.m. for laying tiles of ordinary size followed by grouting, and within 950 rubles/1 sq.m. for the same work with mosaics. A separate service for grouting the area between the tiles will cost approximately 100 rubles/1 sq.m.
Tile is undoubtedly the most popular material for finishing walls and floors in the bathroom. And there are many objective reasons for this: it is easy to wash, it is resistant to humidity and direct moisture, it is hygienic and environmentally friendly. To the choice of floor and wall ceramic tiles They always act very responsibly.
However, how your bathtub will ultimately look after renovation and how long the tiles will last depends not only on the quality of the tiles themselves and the skill of the builder who will lay them. The final result largely depends on the quality of related products, such as tile grout. Anyone who has never dealt with laying tiles may not even know about its purpose. In this article we will tell you why tile grout is needed, what types of grout mixtures are available and how to use it.
Tile grout is dry mortar, which can be either cement or epoxy based. Grout is used to fill the joints between tiles. This is done not only for aesthetic reasons, but also to ensure that moisture does not get into the seams and mold and bacteria do not accumulate.
In addition, correctly selected grout can help hide defects caused by uneven walls or improper laying of tiles.
Before you go to the store to buy grout for joints, you should note that grouts are divided into two main types, depending on the main component of the mixture: cement-based grout and resin-based grout (particularly epoxy resin).
The cement base is more popular among consumers. This is primarily due to its lower cost. In addition, working with cement grout is easier. It is enough just to dilute the dry mixture with water or latex water based to the desired consistency. However, in some cases, grout is sold ready-to-use in plastic buckets.
It should be borne in mind that although it is more convenient to use a ready-made mixture, it is less economical than using a dry mixture. The fact is that the finished mixture dries very quickly and if you do not have time to use the entire bucket soon after opening, the remaining mixture will quickly harden and you will have to throw it away.
Among resin-based grouts, the most common is epoxy resin-based grout. There are other grouts, for example based on furan resin. However, they are rarely used in decoration interior spaces. For example, grouts based on furan resin are used mainly in industrial enterprises in difficult production conditions. Epoxy grouts are used everywhere.
Criteria for choosing cement and epoxy grout somewhat different.
Cement grouts can be intended for work with narrow seams (up to 5 mm) or with wide seams (more than 5 mm). If you have wide joints to work with, you will need to purchase sanded grout. Moreover, the wider the seam between the tiles, the larger the grains of sand in the mixture should be. Some cement mixtures also add special chemical substances, designed to combat the formation of mold and fungi - fungicides.
Most experienced tilers still advise giving preference to epoxy grout in the bathroom, since they, unlike cement grouts, are not destroyed under the influence of chemicals and are more resistant to various types of pollution. However, cement grouts are also suitable for floor tiles.
If you nevertheless decide to use cement grout, we advise you to purchase a water repellent - a special composition that gives the surface treated with it water-repellent properties.
As we have already noted, among resin-based grouts the most the best option are epoxy resin based grouts. It includes epoxy resin, hardener and coloring component. There is also a so-called two-component grout, which consists of cement, which is diluted with a latex plasticizer. This grout is much stronger than others and is usually used on building facades.
The color of the grout is selected based on the color of the tile.
Cement grout can be either a natural gray color or any other color, from white to black, depending on the color pigment used. If you could not find the required shade of the finished mixture, you can create it yourself by purchasing white grout and a color scheme for it.
The choice of epoxy grout is much wider, but you cannot paint epoxy-based grout yourself. Thanks to the addition of shiny components, manufacturers were able to achieve the effect of gold, silver, bronze, and metallic. The range is truly impressive.
When choosing a grout color, you must follow two simple rules:
If you use a combination of several colors in your bathroom decor or decide to buy mosaic tiles, transparent grout is ideal for you. It is made on a glass basis and is ideal for grouting artistic and glass mosaic. Transparent grout is called very arbitrarily - it does not transmit light and takes on the color of the tile being grouted. However, it is not transparent in itself. This grout is used only on narrow joints up to 2 mm wide.
The proper service life of the tiles also largely depends on the manufacturing company. It is better to trust trusted manufacturers. Among the most popular grout manufacturers on Russian market It should be noted:
High quality The manufacturer's products do not guarantee reliable results if you do not carefully follow the instructions.
Porous ceramic tiles have high moisture-absorbing properties, so use them in rooms with high humidity Not recommended. To ensure that the tile does not suffer during use, it is coated with a special glaze or varnish to increase water resistance. This varnish is also often used to create decoupage designs on tiles. Although this varnish is expensive, it gives the tiles a number of very useful properties:
Silicone grout is often used to treat seams and joints of ceramic tiles. Treating seams in this way increases the waterproofness of the seams and prevents the formation of mold and mildew. The work is carried out using a special gun with a ready-made composition, which greatly facilitates the process of processing seams.
