Grouting tile seams is an equally important process than cladding itself. This is done not only for beauty, although it means a lot, but also in order to protect the finishing layer from the effects of adverse factors. High-quality grout does not miss moisture, does not give to develop fungi and accumulate pollution than the service life of the tile extends. In order to correct the seams, it is worthwhile to get acquainted with the application technology, as well as find out which composition is suitable for the bathroom best.
Tile grouts (fugues) are a pasty mixture or a powder that is bred by a liquid to a certain consistency. Such formulations differ in color, drying rates, plasticity and other criteria, but all of them are divided into only two types - mixtures based on epoxy resin and cement-based mixtures.
The main advantage of cement rates is a combination good quality and low cost. These universal mixtures contain small-scale cement, coloring pigments, plasticizers and hydrophobic additives. Bred them ordinary water either liquid latex that increases the adhesive flap properties. The finished solution is a plastic mass with which it is easy and convenient to work, but it is used only for seams with a width of up to 5 mm.
For wider seams, the grout is used with the addition of sand, and the more width, the larger the sand. Sand reduces the shrinkage of the solution after drying, thanks to which the seams are not cracking. At the same time, sand-cement mixtures are not recommended for tiles with a glazed surface, because scratches on the glaze can remain from the sand.
Release cement grouts both in a dry form (powder) and ready to use. Buying ready-made mixes is convenient, but it is not always beneficial: if you do not have time to spend everything in the specified time, the mass remaining in the bucket just dries. With a powder, this will not happen, the main thing is to keep it in a tightly closed container in a dry place. If there will be moisture, it will be already unsuitable for use.
There are few minuses in cement formulations, but they are quite significant. First, this grout has low resistance to moisture and pollution. Soap foam and dirt that fall on the tile are entrusted in the seams and spoil the aesthetic type of cladding. Secondly, under the influence of household chemicals, which is used for cleaning, the fugue is gradually collapsed, and after a while it is necessary to process the seams again.
cement grout
The main quality of such compositions is durability. In addition, this grout for seams of tiles in the bathroom moisture-resistant and is not susceptible to shrinkage. Even after 10 years between tiled seams Keep the initial look. In addition to epoxy resin, the filler, modifying additives and hardener, contains a filler. As a filler, quartz sand of various fractions is usually used. The hardener is always packaged separately from the rest of the components, and is added directly when the grouts are added. After mixing the components, a very viscous dense mass is formed, and it is hard to work with it, even for specialists. But all inconveniences are completely paid off by the quality of the seams obtained, their rich color and high strength.
Due to the low porosity, the dirt is not entrusted to such seams, and they are much easier to cleaned than cement. In addition, epoxy grout for tiles in the bathroom is not affected by mold and perfectly transfers the impact of any cleaning agents. Its water resistance contributes to an increase in the life of the entire cladding than the cement formulations cannot boast. Well, to minuses, in addition to difficulty in applying, it is possible to take a high cost of such rates and restrictions in the application: the minimum width of the seam should be 6 mm, otherwise the viscous mass simply will not be able to get drunk high quality.
If you need a tile grout in the bathroom, what to choose best? This question is relevant for everyone who decided to independently do cladding. And, as practice shows, here many allow serious mistakes affecting the quality of the finish. So, we give several main criteria that determine the choice of composition.
Well, of course, be sure to take into account the thickness of the seam. For example, a seamless tile lays with a minimum distance of 1-2 mm, and artificially aged tiles with uneven edges can have seams up to 15 mm. Accordingly, in the first case, you can take a cement grout, in the second - cement-sand with the largest fraction of filler or epoxy.
Characteristics of leading manufacturers
| View of Zatirki. | Main characteristics | Comething value |
|---|---|---|
| Elastic moisture-repellent two-component mixture based on cement, ready for use. Used for seams with a width of up to 10 mm, has an antifungal effect. Forms a perfectly smooth surface, resistant to erasing. Available in 32 color options, including white, packing - plastic bucket 2 kg. Density of 1.75 kg / d3. The viability of the solution is 2 hours | 350 rub. | |
| Moisture-resistant cement-based mixture. Used for seams with a width of 1-6 mm, produced in 40 color versions. The composition has increased resistance to cracking and shrinkage, not inclined to burn apart. Packing - Package 2 kg. Density of 1.15 kg / d3. Ripening time 5 minutes | 200 rubles. | |
| Waterproof, easy to apply cement-based grid. It is used for seams with a width of 1-8 mm. Color gamma includes 30 options. Packing - Package 2 kg. Differs in high decorative seam and burning resistance. Density of 1.8 kg / d3. The viability of the solution is 1 hour. Ripening time of a mixture of 7 minutes | 205 rub. | |
| One-component mixture cement based with anti-grab effect. Used for wipping seams 2-6 mm wide. Available in 17 color versions, refer to packets of 1, 2 and 5 kg. Density of 1.65 kg / d3. The viability of the solution is 1.5 hours. Drying time 24 hours | 100 rubles. (2 kg) | |
| Waterproof multicomponent cement mixture with polymer and organic additives. It is easily easy to use, stability to shrink and high decorative seam. Available in 7 color variants, used for seams 1-6 mm. Packing - Packages 2 and 5 kg. Density of 1.9 kg / d3. The viability of the solution is 2 hours. Maturation mix 5 minutes | 148 rub. (2 kg) | |
| Two-component moisture-proof mixture based on epoxy resin. It is distinguished by durability, resistance to shrinkage, very high decorative seams. The color gamma includes 103 shades, among which there are options with luminescent additives, sparkles, bronze and golden crumbs. Suitable for seams width 3-15 mm, fusing in plastic buckets of 2.5 and 5 kg. Density of 1.55 kg / d3. The viability of the solution is 1 hour | 2500 rub. (2.5 kg) |
On the packing of the grout formulations, manufacturers indicate an approximate consumption of a mixture per square meter. But after all, the tile can have different sizes, the seams have different widths and thickness, so you have to calculate the amount yourself. The easiest way to do this with the help of tables developed by experts.
If suddenly you did not find the desired option in the table, use the online calculator. It is too convenient waywhich allows with maximum accuracy to calculate the desired volume of the cloud. You need to perform accurate measurements of the tile (length, width, thickness), determine the exemplary width of the seam and find out the density of the grout mixture (this information is indicated on the package). After you enter all the numbers in the appropriate windows, and click the "Calculate" button, the online calculator will give the result to which 8-10% of the reserve should be added.
There is another option - calculations using the formula. For convenience, we denote parameters with letters:
All sizes in millimeters, flow rate - kg / m2.
Formula of calculation:
material consumption \u003d (a + b) × s × d × p / (a \u200b\u200b× b)
For example, the tile has dimensions of 300x300x5 mm, the width of the seam 3 mm, the mixture density is 1.6 kg / d3. We perform calculations according to the formula: (300 + 300) x5x3x1.6 / (300x300) \u003d 0.16 kg / m2.
Now, to find out how much the grouts need, you need to multiply the result on the total cladding area. For example, it is necessary to bind the walls of the wall 3x2 meters, it means that the work area is 6 square meters. Making calculations:
6x0.16 \u003d 0.96
We add about the reserve another 10%: 0.96 + 10% \u003d 1,056 kg.
That is, for the processing of the seams you need to buy a little more kilogram of grout. If you have not yet decided on the tile, note that the smaller its size and more thickness, the more consuming the griming mixture. Increases the rate of consumption and relief of facing material.
Learning how to rub the seams are completely simple, the main thing is to have a desire. First of all, you need to remember that working with the fugue requires great accuracy, because it is easy to drink tiles easily, and it is more difficult to clean. Some types of races can leave insanible traces on the tile, which spoils very much appearance Facing. So if you took a fugue that is very different in color from finishing materialFirst check it on one of the tiles.
To do this, we need to dissolve a small amount of core mixture (enough and teaspoon), apply it to facial Tiles and wait for drying. Now try to erase with a wet sponge from the surface: if color spots remain on the tile, it is better to replace the fugu to a more neutral or use impregnate.
In extreme cases, buy a bag for applying a grout that will allow you to distribute the mixture on the seam more accurately.
Before proceeding with the grout of the seams, you should cook everything you need:
The grout tools are in every construction store and they are inexpensive. By the way, the mixer may not be useful - some manufacturers are recommended to mix the composition manually, for example a cylma or metal spatula. Information about this is necessarily in the instructions placed on the package, so you can immediately carefully read everything that is written there.
According to the rules, putting the seams of tiles in the bathroom with their own hands is performed at least one day after the completion of the cladding, but it is better to wait 2-3 days. During this time, the glue will have time to dry well and moisture will remain under the tile. Another important condition - the surface must be perfectly clean and dry. If you immediately after the facing, you did not remove the excess glue, you will have to scratch it dry, using a metal spatula or knife. When the seams are cleaned, wipe everything with a clean cloth.
If the grout when checking left traces on the tile, before processing the seams, it is necessary to protect the surface of the facing with the help of impregnates, or the pores. These are liquid compositions that, after applying, form a dense elastic film and do not give the dye to penetrate deep into. Upon completion of the processing of the seams, they are easily washed together with the residues of the grout. They are sold in building stores, mainly in plastic containers with a volume of 1 liters. There is enough of such a quantity by 10-15 meters of the square, depending on the porosity of the material. One of the most popular is the impregnate Sopro AH737 German production.
The drug is ready for use, it does not contain solvents and other aggressive substances, does not have a sharp smell. Used at a temperature not lower than 5 and no higher than 25 degrees.
As an impregnate is used: the liquid is poured for convenience into a wide container, dip the sponge, slightly pressed and neatly applied to the tile, avoiding the drug in the seams. It takes 30 minutes to dry out, but it should be searched to the grout before after 2 hours. Too porous surfaces are recommended to process twice.
Important! Uneven application of impregnate, especially in large quantities, leads to the formation of stains on the tile, eliminate which will not work. And yet: the drug cannot be used on glass and PVC tiles.
Each type of grout has its own proportions for the knead, and they are listed in the manufacturer's instructions. To find out how quickly grip creates, and as it is believed to be cladding, the first portion of the solution makes a small (200-250 g) - just enough for a plot of 1-2 m2.
Step 1. Take a clean capacity and poured water from the volume specified in the instruction.
Step 2.. Dry components are introduced with small portions, each time mixing the contents of the spatula.
Step 3. The remaining water is poured with a thin flowing, controlling the consistency of the solution. Intensively mix the mass until uniformity. The finished mixture should be a plastic, easily distributed spatula.
Step 4. Leave the grout for 8-10 minutes, after which it is well mixed again. Now the solution is ready for use.
Important! If the kneading occurs with a mixer, the speed of rotation should not exceed 300 rpm. For greater speed, air bubbles are formed in the solution, and it will weaken the monolith of the grout.
Method 1. The spatula applies grouting on the tile, take a grouting grater, apply it to the surface at an angle of 30 degrees and smooth movements diagonally distributed composition. Each site pass 2-3 times, with an effort rubbing the mixture on the seams.
The stronger you rub, the more dense the seams are filled. The liquid from the solution is extruded, and the remaining components are not compressed and form a solid reliable barrier from the penetration of moisture and pollution under the tile.
Rubber spatula
They scratch a slightly mixture with a rubber spatula and apply it to the seam with horizontal smears. Then put the spatula to the surface at an angle and fast movement parallel to the seam removed excess.
All strokes are made with an effort, thoroughly rubbing the mixture on the seams. If the solution is cooked correct, there will be no problems with filling seams. But if you make the composition more liquid than it is supposed, it will constantly get out and unevenly distributed by recess. After drying, this solution gives a strong shrinkage and has to handle the facing re-on. This is another reason that the trial portion should be small. When applying epoxy grout, it is recommended to use a small metal spatula, since rubberly grind a dense and very viscous mass is quite difficult.
First rub all the seams vertically, then horizontal, or vice versa. It is not necessary to process each tile around the perimeter - it will take longer, and emptiness can remain at the joints. If there are holes in the tile there are holes for the conversion of communications, circumference gaps are also close in a fugue.
Method 3. If the tile is fairly porous, and the impregnation of the poroid is not performed, it is best to apply the grout with a bag. It looks just like a confectionery bag, and the hole on its tip corresponds to the width of the seam. Instead of purchased, you can use homemade: take a tight plastic bag and gently cut the tip for the diameter of the resulting holes do not exceed the distance between the tiles.
Homemade "syringe" to fill the seams by the grouting composition
The bag is filled with a griming solution, the tip in the seam is inserted and the mixture is squeezed by simultaneously moving the bag along the recess. First fill the horizontal seams, then vertical. For the mobbing, the mass will need a branch or a segment of a smooth metal tube, the diameter of which is slightly larger than the width of the seam. After applying the mixture, it should be waited until it starts to be captured, and then proceed to the tamper, with an enhancement of a solution with an extender. Excess the grouts immediately remove the spatula.
Wet surface cleaning
Regardless of the grout method, after some time you need to wash the seams and the surface of the tile. Usually do it in 20-30 minutes, when the solution will grab well, but it does not completely open completely. For the clutch you will need only clean water room temperature and a dense sponge. The sponge is wetted with water and circular motions intensely wash off the marks of the grout. Note that the sponge need to rinse as often as possible as changing the water. You should not rub along the seam - you can wash off too much, and you will have to close the recesses.
At the experienced master after the hrying, all seams look perfectly even smooth and smooth, but a person without experience, as a rule, remains small defects. To eliminate them, you need to re-knew a little grout and carefully inspect each joint. Noticed the error - apply the mixture, but only a narrow spatula. Use for sealing small defects a grouting grater or bag is inappropriate. After that, once again rinse the facing of clean water.
Dry cleaning
With dry seam cleaning, smoothed and flatter using the bunch. You can also use a wooden wand with a sharpened end, a segment of a hard cable for these purposes, even the end of the handle from the toothbrush. The main thing is to spend exactly on the seam to remove unnecessary.
After that, the joints wipe the sponge. A few hours later, the entire surface must be thicker to wipe the dry clean cloth to remove the resulting flare. Since the dust rises, and it is enough caustic, it is better to work in the respirator.
Video - grout seams tiles in the bathroom with their own hands
Floor repair is always accompanied by styling finish coat. And this must be done so that it pleases the eye, it was practical and served a long time in different conditions: in apartments and houses, in enterprises, shopping centers, offices, various organizations. Here is a worthy result of work. Weed-wide technology and many years of construction of builders make it possible to successfully solve this task, to properly choose materials, for example, in premises with high humidity or high rates.
Tile is often used as a finish decorative coating Not only for the floor, but also for walls, countertops, other surfaces, for facade works. This is one of the most practical and durable materials. A variety of textures, the wealth of the palette of shades, the possibility of combining and creating various effects make it possible to designers create beautiful and stylish compositions, stunning imagination.
An important component of laying the decorative tile is grouting tiled seams.
Grout performs the following functions:
Grouts are sold as a dry mixture for water dilution or in hermetically closed banks in the form of thick paste.
The tile is laid, withstanding 7 days - time after laying, for which the tile glue is completely dried, now you can start a grout.
For this you need:
An important stage of preparation is right choice Grouting and calculation of consumption of material
Grouts differ in their composition and characteristics, features of use.
When choosing, such parameters should be taken into account:
The second subspecies contains cement, various plasticizing, polymer and slowing drying additives. Such a grout is used to fill narrower seams, 3-5 mm width. Strengthening the waterproofing properties can be separated by the powder not with water, but with liquid latex. The properties of the mixture allow it to be used on the glazed types of tiles, plasticizers in the composition make the filling of the seams are easier and better. Cement grouts are recommended to use in dry rooms.
This type of paste is not used in the effects of aggressive chemicals, constant exposure to water, for example, in production with the use of acids, in the pools. The finished mixture is quickly grasped, so it is necessary to use it within 2 hours after breeding.
Epoxy resin and hardener can be connected to sand, painting pigment, portland cement.
The cost of such a mixture above, but also the advantages are obvious:
Epoxy grout mixed immediately before working in small portions, the time of its grasp is from 5 to 20 minutes. This viscous material, its application requires fast work and skills.
The composition is selected, you can go to the store, buy a mixture and rub the stitches on the tile. There is a special formula for which the consumption of a grout mixture in kilograms per 1 m2 is calculated.
Consumption (kg / m2) \u003d (a + c) / (a \u200b\u200b+ c) xn x d x coefficer. x 10%
In this formula:
For dilution of a solution of dry powder, a small clean capacity and a drill with a nozzle mixer is needed. Breaks mixtures with water or liquid latex strictly according to the instructions on the packaging of a particular grout. Typically take 1 kg of dry components about 200-300 ml of water. We gradually add water, stirred, then add a portion, so gradually prepare the entire mixture. According to the consistency, it must resemble sour cream. If water pour more norms, too liquid mixture is cracking, and very thick - will not fill the entire seam, and the emptiness will remain.
The mixer thoroughly penetrate the composition before receiving a homogeneous mass. In epoxy and polymer, you can intervene colored pigment or various decorative additives according to the plan of the customer or designer.
The first batch is better to breed in small quantities to check the flow, the quality of the mixture, the slope rate. If a ready-made grout acquired, it is necessary to postpone part of the finished paste to another smaller container, hermetically closing the cover of the factory bank. For a long time to store the finished solution is not possible, as it is covered with a film and loses its properties. Then it is impossible to use it. Recommended to breed a portion so as to lose 1.5 m2.
Before rubbing the seams moisturized, wiping the wet sponge, do not need to handle the surface of the primer.
Moisture, which is applied to gaps between the seams, provides better adhesion when applied to the mixture. For glazed tile species, such a procedure is optional.
In the rooms of continuous use (in the toilet, bathroom, in the kitchen), it is possible to rub the seams in 1 day after laying the tile so as not to torment the tenants for a whole week. In other rooms it is necessary to wait 7 days, and only then make a grout. Before the main works requires the treatment of gaps with antifungal composition. After processing, the composition dries during the day.
The epoxy mixture is chemically aggressive to work with it, protection means are necessary. Epoxy putty need to close the seams very quickly and deftly, otherwise it will freeze and come into disrepair.
To apply polymer pastes, a syringe is needed, which can be done with your own hands. To do this, take a dense polyethylene package and cut off its corner so that it turns out a small hole for the output of the polymer. Then put a little mixture and squeeze, filling the intercutric seams.
To work, you should prepare the following tool:
To properly fug the floor and walls, you need to know the basic rules.
They are also suitable for cement mixtures and polyurethane:
After 5-15 minutes, the seams will die slightly, but do not hardly harde it, then you can align the seams with a rigid sponge, evenly pressed on it so that the grout layer is lower than the total tile level by 0.2 - 0.3 mm. The sponge should not be moisturized, so that dark spots do not appear on the surfaces of the seams. Against the background of a brighter main tone, they look inactively and can spoil the whole view of the finished tile. Wash the sponge is necessary after each formed seam. You can give the seam with a neat view using a molding or a piece of cable.
A special sponge needs to wash off the divorces, the residues of the solution from the tile, after the frozen it will make it much harder. Special detergents are used to remove excess polyurethane rates. A day later, the surface will dry completely and hardens. You can wash the tile full of any detergent.
Epoxy paste rub is harder, as it is more viscous and quickly freezes. If you do not have time to remove the remnants, you have to cut them with a knife. It is recommended to entrust the application of such pastes to experienced specialists. If you decide to apply independently, you can first work on a small area, test the mixture at the time of setting and cook everything at once auxiliary means for the cleaning.
After completely drying the grouts, it is treated with various impregnation to improve operational properties. The impregnations increase the water-repellent properties of the seams, strengthen them, prevent the appearance of mold and fungus, improve general form. You can apply impregnation with a thin tassel.
In corners and various hard to reach places Slit seams needed using a special small spatula. The gaps between the bathroom, washing, shower and tiled are recommended to lure the silicone sealant for reliability and better waterproofing. So that silicone does not blocked the tile, the edge is protected by paint scotch. Apply sealant and align the seam with a wet spatula. Then remove the surplus silicone, and to spare the greasy tape.
To achieve a glossy beautiful shine on a tile, it is possible to make an independent solution of the following ingredients:
30 minutes after fuggification, they take one or more components, mix and bred with water. Then weigh in the solution with a soft sponge and wipe the surface of the tile. With the slightest championship, the solution should be replaced, we take a new pure portion. Then additionally rub with a dry cloth after complete drying. You can spray on the tile to clean the glasses and mirrors.
The cracking of the grout may begin at any stage, even in the process of applying the mixture. Such deformation of frozen seams is most often occurring when the cement mortar is used.
There are several reasons for cracking:
In this case, it is necessary to urgently correct the situation, otherwise the entire gap with time will get out. You can clean the gap and update the seam, but the cracks will appear again. Experienced masters Recommend to rub a dry powder into a cracked rapid seam. Add dry components to the remaining portion, quickly strain.
To prevent destruction, when preparing the composition you need to achieve homogeneity, the viscosity must be average. After measuring the solution, it is necessary to wait 5 minutes, then re-stirred. You can not open windows and windows for ventilation, use hot water when wetting.
It is important to read the instructions carefully, comply with the specified proportions.
Ceramic tile - the best way Bathroom finishes, superbly coping with a wet medium of this room. It is protected from water penetration with a stable icing and serves 15-20 years even in such difficult conditions. However, so that the clutch of the tile with the surface of the walls was durable, and the dampness, dirt and fungus did not penetrate the gaps, the seams are needed. You can make the seal of the gaps with your own hands. This article will help you choose the composition for grouting, tell how to cook it and apply.
Focus on choosing grouts for tile seams in the bathroom for advertising is wrong. Decide necessary with the following parameters:
Tip! If you are not a professional in the area finishing workBut you want to cope with your own hands, you are suitable for cement grout for seams in the form of a dry mixture of light shades, chosen to tone to the color of the decorative coating of the bathroom.
The grout on a cement basis includes more plasticizers, dyes and sometimes fungicides protecting tiles from mold appearance. It is suitable for seams of any thickness, therefore it is considered universal. So that the seam looked neatly, the cement polo in the composition of the grout should be very thin, almost powdered. By consistency, a high-quality fugue is close to toothpaste. The more liquid will flow out of the seams, is overlooking - stick to the spatula, badly go to bed. Advantages of cement funds:
It is considered more economical to use a dry mixture for kneading with their own hands, since the shelf life of the finished major composition is only a few hours, after which it is free and use it in the future.
The composition for sealing seams based on the resin consists of a resin of one of two types (epoxy or furana) and a hardener that need to be mixed before applying. Its consistency is more viscous, pulling and sticky. It is much more complicated to work with it, an inexperienced master will not cope with your own hands, we will lose much time, but will remain not satisfied with the result.
Epoxy grout is optimally suitable for thin seams, a depth of 6-12 cm, it does not fit for slits of a larger size. Strengths of a cloud of this type:
The only shortcomings of this method of sealing are high cost, as well as the complexity of the work with your own hands.
To perform high-quality seams in the bathroom, it is necessary to prepare a place of work. For this, the following measures should be taken:
After the bathroom is ready for work, proceed to the preparation of the mixture for sealing seams. The required amount of water or silicone specified in the instructions is poured into the mixing tank. Then, with the help of a construction mixer or with their own hands, it is created on the surface of the water a funnel into which the dry mixture is slowly poured.
So that the mixture gained the desired consistency, the ingredients are mixed in the ratio of 1: 1, if the solution was too liquid, lower the usual brick into it, it will absorb excess moisture.
To make a grout with your own hands, prepare the tools and materials that will be required during:
When everything is ready to work, start the applying of a clutter composition, stirring the prepared solution from time to time:
Tiler-professionals operate according to the following scheme: first apply the filling with a spatter along the vertical seam, after which they go to horizontal.
After applying is over, you can estimate the result. If he does not suit you, eliminate the shortcomings with the residues of the solution and leave for drying.
Grout, made with your own hands, not only protects the tile and surface of the walls, but also will reveal the decorative potential of the finishing coating of the room.
The final moment in the design of the walls of the cafeter is always putting seams. After that, the finish acquires a complete aesthetic appearance. Putting the seams tiles in the bathroom with their own hands Does not require professional skills.
Sealing the seams between the tile is performed in order to impart the surface of aesthetic species and affects the provision of protection against fungal infections, and also increases the service life of the finish itself. What you need tools and materials for working and how to competently make the stamps of the seams in the bathroom own forces We will tell below.
So, it is decided to perform the suture of the seams on their own. To do this, pour some theoretical knowledge.
Putting seams tiles in the bathroom do not require professional skills
Installation of the tile always involves ensuring the distance between them. This is performed in order to protect tiles from crackling, which can occur from temperature drops in the bathroom and changing the water regime. Also, there are always gaps between the cafeter and installed sanitary and technical devices: bathroom, sink, plinths. These gaps need to be sealed, preventing dust and moisture from entering them.
For sealing seams, various types of grouts that have its purpose are applied.
Main types:
The costs of two kilograms of a dry mixture for the grout of the seams for the bathroom is about two hundred rubles. The price policy of cruise mixtures is influenced by the manufacturer, composition, color, packaging.
Marks that produce mixtures for tile and well-proven themselves are: Bauluks, Cerezite, Knauf, Atlas. I have been suitable for working with seams in the bathroom.
If the area that requires the sealing is small, can be used by liquid solutions.
Grout of ceramic tiles
Stage of preparation
Clean the seams from dust. It is easy to do with a vacuum cleaner. If there is no vacuum cleaner, use the grip with the middle stiffness. Clean the old seams from the former grout and pollution.
Tip: Select the tools and care products in advance will not leave scratches on the tile.
Water seams with water. You can do this by a household pulverizer for colors.
ATTENTION: Start twenty-four hours after tile stickers.
For the organization of work needed:
Slip out a dry grout into the cooked container. Water and get a mixture to the necessary consistency of thick sour cream. The proportions are indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging. Sweet the solution twice, with a break of fifteen minutes. It is necessary for its maturation. As an auxiliary tool for stirring, you can use a mixer.
As an auxiliary tool for stirring, you can use a mixer
Getting Started when preparatory procedures are made. Mind by the steel spatula from the tank ready to the grouting mixture. With it, take a small amount of solution and fill the seam. Remove excess grout. How much mixture, for the convenience of work, it is necessary to take on the rubber spatula for grouting the seam, will tell you experience. Also, alternately, fill the rest of the sections.
Tip: The mixture can give shrinkage. In this case, repeat the deposition of a fresh layer.
Having spent work, pass the thirty minutes - while the grout will dry up, after which you will spend the visual revision of the seams. Moisten the prepared rag with warm water, squeeze well and remove the surplus of the solution from the tile.
IMPORTANT! Remove excess mastic wide movements in a circle. You will ensure the preservation of the grouting in the seams. This is especially important for mosaic tiles.
After drying out the grouts are filled, fill out and let's dry. Next, wipe the tile with a damp cloth.
Tip: To avoid on the tile of divorces, periodically wash the sponge. Extensive mastic with tiles remove immediately, without waiting for her complete drying. Otherwise, to remove it, you will have to use the solvent.
After drying out the grouts unfilled, fill out and let's dry
After drying the grout, the entire surface of the tile wipe the damp cloth. Wait for complete grout drying.
Drying time The manufacturer indicates packaging. It usually is twenty-four hours:
A few years ago, mastic is always possible to refresh, and even change due to the selection of grouting contrasting with a tiled color, embody new ideas. For example, the black tile will be perfectly combined with a golden grout.
The question for many is very relevant. The joint protection can be made:
When the sink or bathroom is installed close to the wall, run work on the leveling seam sealant - it will protect against water from entering water. Before applying the sealant, the seam is purified from dust and cut, in order to form an imperceptible connection between the surfaces.
Before applying the sealant, the seam is purified from dust and cut, in order to form an imperceptible connection between the surfaces.
After a certain time, between tiled seams in the bathroom should be updated. The need is caused by both external aesthetics, and hygienic requirements. In old seams, when the premises are quite wet, a large number of bacteria and fungi accumulates, and this is very dangerous to health. A person may develop allergic reactions and skin diseases. Therefore, the content of the room in a pure and repaired state is necessary for the normal performance of its functional.
The reservation of the bathroom room is necessarily performed regularly. I carefully wipe and wash all the elements of ceramics and faience, as well as the gaps between them. A large arsenal of cafeterial care products, issued by our chemical industry, will help this. For cleaning the bathroom, it is better to use chlorine-containing solutions, they eliminate up to 98% of well-known bacteria. However, after the grouting between the seams, it can thread from a constant mechanical and chemical impact and a new grout is required. To determine the need for its replacement, consider the following features:
Tip: If any of the above feature, urgently spend the general cleaning of old mastic in the bathroom.
It is often happening when the usual purification is not enough - too "running" seams (rust, mold). In this case, use more serious measures: replacement of grouts between tiles. This makes it possible to carry out the placement of the room, change its grout color, which is generally a positive effect on the appearance of the room.
In this case, use more serious measures: replacement of grouts between tiles.
Using a spatula, get rid of the old clutter composition. To do this, moisten the seam by water, after thoroughly cast all the mastic. Work is particularly carefully, since there is a possibility to break the surface of the tile. To remove from the seams of epoxy material, resort to the use of a special solvent. After the seams are cleaned, spend antifungal treatment. It must be done both before applying the solution and after drying it.
IMPORTANT! Do not neglect antifungal processing. It is necessary to combat bacteria and prevent the destruction of the wipping of seams.
Application of stamps of seams between the tile in the bathroom is easy to cope with any newcomer. The sequence of all works has already been considered above. Dry mixture is stirred by water. Do it carefully, since there is a danger to get a solution too liquid. Normal grout consistency should reach the state of thick sour cream. Well mixing the solution. Leave it for fifteen minutes. Mix again (so the mixture is better dissolved) and begin to fill it with the seams between the tile of small strokes.
There is a chance that the string solution will crack so that this does not happen, while drying, spray the seams with ordinary water. When forming voids, repeat the process of stagging. After these works, set the seams with a sponge.
Avoiding the need to change the rapid layer of seams in the future, periodically induce general cleaning in the bathroom.
IMPORTANT! After performing all the work, before performing water procedures, wait for the seams completely dry, it will take at least five days.
Repeat that the best prevention of durable grouting of the seams will be coated with protective means. It will save from the influence of negative factors, will increase the service life of the grout, will avoid the appearance of cracks on the tile.
Thus, by performing the listed tips, you will not only enjoy your work done by your own hands, but also save yourself from financial spending in the future.
When the main work on the tile laying is left behind, you can proceed to its final stage - grouting seams. This work plays a very important role, because a qualitatively made grout will be able to disguise the defects of laying tiles in the event of their presence, and, on the contrary, the wrong grout will completely destroy the impression of flawlessly accomplished laying. In addition, empty spaces between tiles with poor-quality grouts are black with time from fungus and mold. Therefore, it is worth paying particular attention to the question of how to rub the stitches on the tile to improve the entire appearance of the coating, as well as provide its additional protection.
Grout for seams tile is two types:
Cement Zatirki. inexpensive and easy to use, and therefore the most popular in home use. They are represented as dry mixes with the addition of modified polymers and are bred by water or latex before starting work. Modified polymers give the ultimate material to the effects of moisture, and this allows it to apply it even on street open areas. Finished mixtures that do not require additional preparation are offered on sale, but they are usually much more expensive.
If the seam when laying turned out to be wider than 3 mm, it is better to purchase a cement grout with the addition of sand, and if the seams are lower than the width, then it is recommended to use a conventional cement-based grout.
Security Council: Cement grouts can cause inflammation of the skin, eyes and lungs. Therefore, when working with these materials, it is necessary to wear safety glasses, respirator and rubber gloves.
Epoxy grouts contain epoxy resin, as well as hardener. Such formulations exceed mechanical, chemical and thermal effects, they are much more stable and stronger than cement analogues, but also sit more. They are used mainly in industrial premises. At home, it is reasonable to use such a grout only if the width of the seams between the ceramic tiles is more than 6 mm (since it is quite viscous, in narrower seams it will not be able to penetrate).
Epoxy grouts represent a mixture of 2 components: pastes and catalysts that are mixed immediately before use. The proportions of these two components must be accurate, so you need to use weights.
What tile grout is better? Experts recommend buying an epoxy grout for seams of ceramic tiles, since it is more stronger, stronger and more reliable. It will last up to 50 years, perfectly protecting the cladding from moisture, fungi and bacteria, as well as from the effects of chemicals. If you still decide to buy grout on a cement basis, it is advisable to buy latex for her.
As for the color of the grout - this is a matter of taste: the grout can be chosen in the main color of the ceramic tile or prefer the classic light tone.
What should be the width of the griming seams? In many respects it depends on personal preferences. Some, for example, love narrow seams. Oversized wide seams suppress a tile visually. Square ceramic tile with a size of 10 to 60 cm will look carefully at 3-millimeter seams. The wrong shape of the tile becomes less noticeable with wider seams, but not more than 12 mm. Switch width more than 12 mm will be stronger if you add large sand to the grout, but even it does not always save him from cracking.
To the same extent, it is not recommended to make the seams too narrow, as it will be impossible to fill them as it follows, as a result of which the water will be able to lean inside the cladding. Good masters know that the quality of the facing will be on high level With sufficient width of the seams, when they can be well filled with grout. And this means that the seams will be waterproof, and they can still amortize the deformation of tiles when expansion or compression. These ability of seams decreases many times with their width of less than 1 millimeter.
How correctly puts the seams of ceramic tiles? First of all, check, is it completely dry glue. Then we carry out thorough cleaning of the seams from the residues of glue, dirt and dust, we remove the remaining remote separators. When working with a tight tile before grouting, it must be moistened, since otherwise it pulls water from a culinary mixture. The glazed tile is not needed.
All thicker materials need to withstand some time in the room where there will be thicker work. Optimal temperature For grouting - 18-25 ° C.
Details The grout process can be viewed in the videos placed below - grout of the seams of ceramic tile video. It consists of the following steps:
Grout mix with water or latex additives. Dry polymer grouts are mixed exclusively with water. In any case, add such a number of fluid so that the mixture obtained is easily distributed. It is important to remember because the excessive liquid will weaken the grout (adhere to the proportions specified on the packaging of the material).
Grout mixed by adding a dry component to liquid
Mixing We produce, adding a gradually dry component to a liquid (first we pour only three quarters from the total amount of fluid). After mixing all the dry components with a liquid, add small portions and the remaining liquid, constantly checking the grade consistency. Mixing machines with rectangular cells or electrometry. The mixer must be fully immersed in the solution so that the air does not fall into the mixture, because air bubbles weaken it.
All components are mixed, most lumps are broken. We give the solution to stand 10 minutes for wetting. Mix the grout again so that no lumps remain. If it is necessary to prepare a few portions of a cloud solution, then you need to be sure that their composition will be identical. Therefore, when mixing new portions, we try to observe the proportions and order of connection of the components, and so that the color of the grouting is constant, when mixing the subsequent portion, add grout from each package to it.
Tip! When buying multiple grout packages, you must make sure that they are all released under one serial number.
The finished grout must have sufficient density so that when distributing it is hidden.
We lay out the grout to the slide on the surface of the facing.
Grout lay down slide on the surface of the tile
To solve the solution, we use a culfish grater (respectively for walls or floor). We apply a grout on the tile diagonally, holding a grater at an angle of 30 ° to it. We try not only to cover the seam with a solution, but with the effort to press it into the seams to fill them tightly, because their strength depends on the density of filling seams.
Zatka is applied at an angle of 30 degrees to the tile
I do not make a grout over the entire surface right away. First, we distribute the solution on a small area (not more than 2 m square) to find out how this grout is quickly seized. If it grabs quickly, it is necessary to stop and do clean. Sometimes it is possible to distribute the grout on the square to 9m2, and only then to start cleaning, in other cases you have to cover only small sections and make them clean.
The first removal of the grout is dry.
To do this, we use the grater, holding it at a right angle to the tiles and moving diagonally to the clutch seams (so that the edge of the tool is not removed by chance a part of the grouting from the seam). When the surplus is removed, it is necessary to give grout to grab before cleaning. So far we wash and clean, do not forget to stir periodically rapidly so that it keeps its softness before applying to the following sections.
In the process of grouting periodically stirring the rapid solution so that it retains its softness
The second removal of the grout mixture is wet. When should it start? The time to complete the grouting solution to wet cleaning is very different. It can take 5 minutes, and can be 20 minutes and more. The rate of evaporation of moisture from the grout directly depends on glue and tiles, like base, as well as weather conditions.
Wet Cleaning Facing Surface
For wet cleaning, a bucket with water and a sponge is needed (it is desirable that the sponge is with rounded edges - the grooves in the seams will not form. Soft circular movements remove the sand and cement particles. We care carefully to avoid the formation of grooves in the thicker seams. At once we clean only small plot (1-2m2), wetting sponge quite often to wash off penetrating tiles of grout particles. Sponge we try to rinse well and press as stronger as possible, shake off the excess water.
In the second stage we inspect the grotting seams so that they all be neat. Using a branch, a toothbrush or a wooden stick with a pointed end, align and smooth the seams.
Using the pitch, align and smooth the seams
Then hang them to the edge with a sponge. Ideally, the seams should be smooth from above, not convex, although most of the seams become a little concave, but it is permissible. It is important that in the end they all turned out the same depth and form.
The seams were leveled, now it remains to carefully clean the surface of the facing from the remaining marks of the grout. We actually actually, so that the sponge does not wipe the grout from the seams. After this cleaning, the remnants of the grout should be completely removed from the surface of the tiles. Seams should dry out for 15 minutes.
The remaining tile on the surface of the tile from the grouts remove with gauze or soft, clean fabric.
The work is over, put the sheet of plywood on the floor and do not allow anyone to walk on the floor until the grout dry completely. Some grouts dry to two or more weeks (drying time we specify in the instructions of the manufacturer).
