Correct grouting of tile joints. Which grout is best to use in the bathroom, preparing the joints and applying it to the tiles yourself. Removing excess grout mixture

The joints between the tiles must be grouted correctly. To do this, you should find out what consistency the solution should be, how and when you need to remove excess solution. These nuances are revealed in this article. Once you familiarize yourself with them, you will definitely do everything right.

Tools and materials required for grouting tiles:

• Grout for joints;
• Paper tape;
• Metal spatula;
• Rubber spatula;
• Sponge, ice scraper;
• Bucket, clean rags.

Grouting ceramic tiles

Selecting a shade

Please pay attention Special attention the right choice grout colors. How often, when you come to visit someone, do you notice a discrepancy between the tiles and the joints between them? To prevent this from happening to you, take a piece of tile and go to a building materials store. Choose a suitable shade according to your taste.

Note: The color of the dry grout is 99 percent identical to the color of the finished joint between the tiles.

If you plan to highlight the seams, use contrasting shades. Otherwise, buy grout that is the exact color of the tile.

Surface preparation

Prepare the surface thoroughly, otherwise you will not achieve maximum results. Pay attention to any remaining adhesive in the grooves between the tiles. They will prevent you from doing the job perfectly. They should be removed.

First of all, use a damp sponge to remove all remaining adhesive from the surface of the tile. Then start cleaning the gaps between the tiles.

Remove and remove all plastic crosses that were used to cover the floor or. This can be done using thin-nose pliers or the edge of a metal spatula. Do not damage the edges of the tiles.

Note: Do not use the same cross stitches twice or thrice to adhere tiles. This is not something to skimp on.

After removing the crosses, you should start removing the glue from the grooves between the tiles. To do this, use a metal spatula. The free spaces between the ceramic tiles will allow you to apply grout throughout the entire space between the tiles.

Remove all loose adhesive residues from the surface of the tile and from the seams with a vacuum cleaner.

Use paper tape to protect all surfaces adjacent to the tiles. For example, door jambs, wooden floors. Such manipulations will save you a lot of time and effort when washing dried grout.

Only after completing the preparatory procedures can you begin to prepare the solution.

Preparation of the solution

Try not to use tile putty from untrusted manufacturers. The product should not be cheap - this will affect the hardening time of the solution, its plasticity and ease of use.

To mix the solution in the bucket, you will need a narrow metal spatula. To grout joints, two tools can be used, shown in the photo on the sides of a metal spatula.

IN in this case a rubber spatula will be used.

Pour into a bucket required amount water - see instructions on the grout package. Stir with a spatula, gradually adding the dry mixture. Allow the mixture to “ripen” for several minutes before final mixing to activate its adhesive functions.

Note: To avoid breathing dust while grouting tiles, use a respiratory mask.

Mix the mixture well so that not a single lump remains. In the photo you can see the correctly prepared grout consistency. It should not slide off the spatula like a lump, but it should not flow down it like water. Otherwise, the grout will not be strong.

Applying grout

Before applying the grout, thoroughly moisten the surface of the tiles near the seams. This can be done with a damp sponge.

Start applying grout from the corner of the room opposite the entrance and move gradually towards the entrance.

Only in this sequence will you and the corridor remain clean.

To ensure that the consumption of tile grout is not too high, use only a small amount of mixtures at a time.

So, use a metal spatula to spread some of the mixture evenly onto the end of a rubber spatula. Using a rubber spatula, start filling the seams at an angle of 30-45 degrees.

Walk over the same place several times until the space between the tiles is completely filled.

You will have to work with patience so that everything turns out neatly. As you will see, this is not at all difficult to do. Gradually move towards the exit from the room.

Remove excess joint grout from the surface ceramic tiles holding the rubber spatula almost vertically. At this point, you will appreciate the usefulness of the paper tape you pasted earlier.

If you had not sealed the objects close to the tiles, it would have taken a long time to clean them. Anyone who has met one-on-one with dried grout knows what we're talking about and how it is not easy to clean off any surface.

Cleaning up excess grout

20 minutes after finishing applying grout to the entire floor surface, remove excess grout.

Note: Make sure to complete this procedure on time. Otherwise, for the perfect look of the seams on the tiles, you will have to spend a lot of money on various means. Typically, after applying grout, wait 20 minutes and then wipe off excess grout from the tile surface with a clean, dry cloth.

Recesses in tile joints

Note: If you are making grout flush with the tile, skip this step and move on to the step of washing off the grout with a wet sponge.

5 minutes after applying the grout, take a piece of the tube and remove excess from the seams.

You need to work very carefully here. Whatever shape you make for the seams at this stage is how it will stay. Everything should be done quickly!

Remove pieces of loose grout with a vacuum cleaner. If this is not done, they may get on the seams and stick to them.

The first step in removing excess grout from your floor is to use a dry cloth to remove large chunks.

Then use a damp sponge.

Note: if you notice that a damp sponge is removing quite a lot of grout from the seams, wait another five minutes and then start the same procedure again.

After this the floor will begin to accept the right type(see photo). But there is still a colored coating on the surface of the tile, which cannot be removed at once.

Note: If you notice thick spots on the seams that cannot be removed with a damp sponge, use an ice scraper or the damp, abrasive side of the sponge in such areas.

After 10-20 minutes, wipe the floor damp cloth(with a mop). Do not press too hard on the mop - the grout has not yet completely hardened. The mixture finally hardens only after a day, sometimes longer, depending on the thickness of the layer and the humidity in the room.

After this procedure, plaque from the surface of the tile should completely disappear.

Now you can admire the beauty you created.

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.

Ceramic tile cladding

Tiling is not only about strengthening standard ceramic parts on the surface, but also about treating the seams between them. High-quality installation means obtaining a 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.

Preparing the facing for grouting

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.

Grouting materials

If the seams were rubbed down before homemade mixtures based on ordinary or white cement, which the tiler made with his own hands, is now used ready-made compositions. These mixtures are produced in two versions:

1. Compositions based on Portland cement.
2. Mixtures based on epoxy polymer compositions.

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 the tool - he will do light-colored grout with a white spatula, and dark-colored grout with a black one.

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:

1. High plasticity of the mixture, adhesion to ceramics and other materials.
2. Long-term preservation of working condition - within an hour.
3. Large selection of colors.
4. Strength and stability after curing.
5. Easy to use - even a beginner can use the grout.

Grouting

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 used ready mixture the master can update the portion, knowing how much he can consume 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:

• select the desired type of spatula;
• will establish optimal sizes application area and volume of mixture for it;
• learn to correctly determine the moment to remove excess.

How to choose grout

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:

1. It is important to consider not only the color, but also the lightness of the joints - will they be darker than the tiles or lighter
2. The use of white and very light tones requires caution - they become dirty easily, and even a moisture-resistant mixture will not withstand intensive cleaning and washing for a long time
3. When it is necessary to update the grout, the old one must be completely removed - thin layers of the new mixture will not provide the required quality
4. If the tiles are not laid very evenly, then it is better to rub them with a mass that is similar in color and lightness - then laying defects will not be so noticeable.

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 the labor-intensive process of creating a high-quality, beautiful and reliable surface.

Ceramic tile - the best option bathroom finishing, perfectly copes with the humid environment of this room. It is protected from water penetration by a durable glaze and lasts 15-20 years even in such conditions. difficult conditions. However, to ensure that the adhesion of the tiles to the surface of the walls is strong, and that dampness, dirt and fungus do not penetrate into the gaps, grouting of the joints is necessary. You can fill the gaps yourself. This article will help you choose a grout composition and tell you how to prepare and apply it.

Choosing the composition of the grout mixture

It is wrong to base your choice of grout for bathroom tile joints on advertising. You need to decide on the following parameters:

1. Purpose. Grout can be intended for thick or thin joints, or it can be universal. A seam is considered thick if its size exceeds 5 mm. If there is a small distance between the tiles, almost any composition will be suitable for sealing it. But large cracks are covered with fugues containing coarse sand;
2. Compound. Construction grouts are produced on the basis of cement, epoxy and furan resins. If you are going to work with your own hands, it is recommended to seal the tile seams in the bathroom using cement compounds;
3. Release form. Grout intended for bathroom tiles is available in the form of dry mixtures or ready-to-use formulations packaged in plastic buckets. Dry mixtures are packaged in paper or plastic bags, their dilution requires water or water-based silicone;
4. Color. Manufacturers add various pigments to the grout to give it color. The color palette of fugues is extensive; if you want to get a shade that is not in it, you can create it by mixing the composition white with a special color.

Advice! If you are not a professional in the field finishing works, but if you want to do it yourself, you can use cement grout for joints in the form of a dry mixture of light shades, matched to the color decorative covering bathroom

Cement-based grouts

Cement-based grout also includes plasticizers, dyes and sometimes fungicides that protect the tiles from mold. It is suitable for seams of any thickness, therefore it is considered universal. In order for the seam to look neat, the cement in the grout must be very thin, almost powdery. The consistency of high-quality fugue is close to toothpaste. If it is more liquid, it will leak out of the seams; if it is too thick, it will stick to the spatula and fit poorly. Advantages of cement fugue:

• Low price. Price cement composition for sealing lower than that of resin-based grouts, which is optimal if you are making repairs yourself;
• Diversity color palette. Even if you don’t tint the grout yourself, choosing the right shade from the available ones is quite simple;
• Ease of use. Even an inexperienced master can achieve an ideal result with its help. Appearance processed seams at the joints of ceramic tiles will be neat and sound;
• Versatility. Cement-based grout is suitable for application to the surface of floors and walls, for thin and thick gaps between tiles;
• Long service life, durability. A well-applied cement-based fugue will not fall out of the joint for a long time, securely fastening the tile joints in the bathroom.

It is considered more economical to use a dry mixture for mixing with your own hands, since the shelf life of the finished grout is only a few hours, after which it hardens and cannot be used in the future.

Resin based grouts

A resin-based joint compound consists of one of two types of resin (epoxy or furan) and a hardener, which must be mixed before application. Its consistency is more viscous, viscous and sticky. Working with it is much more difficult; an inexperienced master will not be able to cope with the application with his own hands, we will lose a lot of time, but will not be satisfied with the result.

Epoxy grout is optimal for thin joints, 6-12 cm deep, for cracks bigger size she doesn't fit. Strengths of this type of grout:

1. High resistance to aggressive chemicals, which make up modern household chemicals;
2. Fungicidal and antiseptic effect, which is given to it by natural essential oils, included in the resin;
3. Resistant to stains. The smooth, non-porous surface does not absorb dirt, but repels it;
4. The water resistance of the resin perfectly protects the base of the walls and floors from moisture penetration;
5. Durability. The service life of furan and epoxy grout is unlimited, it exceeds the time of use of ceramic tiles.

The only disadvantages of this method of sealing are the high cost, as well as the difficulty of doing it yourself.

Grouting process

Preparatory stage and solution preparation

To properly seal seams in the bathroom, you need to prepare the work site. To do this, the following measures should be taken:

• Inspect the seams, remove the mortar from places where excess remains, remove the crosses that were used to lay the tiles;
• Sponge with soft detergent clean the tiles from any remaining tile adhesive;
• Wet the tiles with a damp cloth for better adhesion with the grout.

After the bathroom is ready for use, begin preparing the mixture for sealing the joints. The required amount of water or silicone specified in the instructions is poured into the mixing container. Then, using a construction mixer or with your own hands, create a funnel on the surface of the water, into which the dry mixture is slowly poured in parts.

In order for the mixture to achieve the desired consistency, the ingredients are mixed in a 1:1 ratio; if the solution is too liquid, lower an ordinary brick into it, it will absorb excess moisture.

Grouting technology

To do the grouting yourself, prepare the tools and materials that will be required in the process:

• Cement grout;
• Water or an aqueous solution of silicone;
• Container for preparing the solution;
• Production mixer;
• Rubberized spatula or wooden spatula;
• Plastering trowel;
• Pure matter, sponge.

When everything is ready for work, begin applying the grout, stirring the prepared solution from time to time:

1. Use a spatula to pick up a small amount of mortar and apply it onto the seam with a firm rubbing motion until it is completely filled. In this way, treat an area of ​​1-1.5 square meters. m, then remove the excess, since after drying it is much more difficult to do;
2. Use a plaster trowel to rub in the applied mortar so that there are no gaps in the seams. The trowel should be held at an angle of 45 degrees to the seam;
3. Immediately remove excess grout from the bathroom tiles with a damp sponge. The more time has passed since application, the more difficult it is to eliminate the solution. After the surface is cleaned, it must be wiped dry with a soft, clean cloth.

Professional tilers operate according to the following scheme: first they apply grout with a spatula along the vertical seam, after which they move on to the horizontal ones.

After the application is completed, you can evaluate the result. If you are not satisfied with it, eliminate the defects with the remainder of the solution and leave to dry.

Do-it-yourself grout will not only protect the tiles and wall surfaces, but also reveal its decorative potential finishing coating premises.

Video - step by step instructions

After completing finishing work on laying tiles, mosaics, and tiles, gaps remain. To improve the tightness of the surface, protect the base from moisture and give the finish a finished look, the tile joints are grouted. Work begins with the selection of material, tools, and surface preparation.

For finishing walls and floors use tiles, ceramics, glass, porcelain stoneware, mosaic, clinker, smalt. The gaps need to be filled - this gives the coating an aesthetically attractive appearance and allows you to create a monolithic sealed plane. Various mixtures are used to grout tile joints:

• Cement. The component composition includes Portland cement, additives, fine sand, and polymers. The mixtures are easy to work with and are suitable for final processing of tiled surfaces in living rooms and bedrooms.

• Epoxy two-component. Two components are used - resin and hardener-catalyst. The finished paste has a short lifespan of up to 60 minutes, so the grout solution must be produced immediately.

• Polyurethane solutions. The composition of the mixtures includes polyurethane resins in the form of aqueous dispersions. In terms of quality and properties, polyurethane sealants are similar to epoxy sealants; they have a limit on joint thickness of up to 6 mm.

Special materials are used to grout tile joints if the tiles are laid on a complex surface or are exposed to aggressive environments. In this case, silicone sealants, heat-resistant solutions, and compositions with furan resins are used.

Important: A high-quality mixture, in addition to the main binder component, must contain impregnations, additives, minerals, latex or other fillers that improve the performance properties of the composition.

Tools for work

In the building environment, grouting ceramic or other tiles is called jointing. The master’s task is to evenly fill the gaps with the prepared solution. To grout ceramic tiles with your own hands, use the following tools:

1. Stirring the solution is done with a drill with an attachment or a construction mixer.

2. To fill gaps, you need a set of rubber spatulas; for epoxy compounds, use a hard rubber tool.

3. Buckets or other containers in which it is convenient to stir the grout mixture, a tank with clean water.

4. Preparatory work and cleaning of tile joints is carried out paint brush, knife, special solvent.

5. If two are used component composition epoxy based, grouting tiles perform with a foam sponge.

Since the substances included in the mixtures belong to the category of chemical components, you need to work with gloves, preferably using a mask or respirator. To remove excess mass, keep a dry, lint-free rag on hand.

Surface preparation

An important advantage of pastes on any basis is good adhesion to any surfaces.. This is true when the surface being processed is completely free of contamination. Therefore, before applying grout to the tiles, you need to remove dust and debris. How to prepare for grouting:

Some solutions set better on a slightly moistened surface, but these conditions do not need to be observed when grouting ceramic tiles. two-component mixtures. To avoid scratching fragments of the cladding, the glue can be removed with a wooden stick rather than sharp blade. If you need to sand seams on a porous surface, craftsmen recommend covering the joints on both sides masking tape so that less grout gets on the tiles - it leaves stains on the porous material.

Attention: The joints can be grouted no earlier than 8-24 hours after laying the tiles. The time indicator depends on the drying speed of the tile adhesive.

Preparation of the solution

To simplify the work of grouting tile joints with your own hands, you can purchase a ready-made mixture. The shelf life of such compositions is limited, and the cost is much higher. If dry powder is used, then depending on the product chosen (cement-based, epoxy-based, polyurethane-based), you need to mix the components or dilute them with water in the proportion indicated on the package:

1. Dry grout is diluted with water or hardener in a clean container using a drill with an attachment.

2. The tool must be turned on at low speed and mixed until a homogeneous mass is formed.

It is important to strictly follow the proportions specified by the manufacturer, otherwise the composition will lose its beneficial features. Grouting of joints is carried out on a prepared surface, and you should simultaneously grout 1-2 squares of tiles and immediately clean the surface of excess mass. Liquid cement mixture can be stored for 12-24 hours, and epoxy compounds are produced within 45-60 minutes.

Application of mixtures

Before grouting the seams of ceramic tiles, you need to allow the time necessary for the adhesive to completely harden. The drying speed is affected by the composition of the adhesive, temperature and humidity. environment. When using cement grout, the joints are pre-moistened with water for better adhesion, and epoxy solutions are applied to dry joints. How to grout tile joints:

• The gaps can be additionally treated with an antiseptic or antifungal primer.
• When grouting tile joints on the floor with your own hands, apply the mixture with a wide spatula in a diagonal direction.
• For jointing on a wall, you can use a smaller tool, filling the gaps from top to bottom.
• Take a small amount of the mixture onto a spatula and fill the joints, pressing the solution with some force.
• If the spatula no longer fits into the joint, it means that the gap is completely filled with mortar and there are no voids in it.
• After grouting the joints on the floor and wall with an area of ​​1-2 m2, they begin shaping and jointing.
• The plastic grout is trimmed with a piece of cable of the appropriate diameter, and the excess mass is removed.

When working with epoxy compounds, the seams are formed with a sponge or trimmed with a finger. The tiles are immediately cleaned, and when the product hardens, clean it with a special solvent. If after jointing there are problem areas (lumpy areas, pits), they are carefully sealed with fresh paste.

Note: The grout should be a fraction of a millimeter below the tile level. You need to form beautiful joints with a damp, clean sponge so as not to deform the joints with the remains of grout that has dried on the foam rubber.

After grouting tile joints with your own hands in the bathroom or kitchen facing material you need to clean off any remaining mixture before the paste dries completely. A suitable cleaning method for this is using a damp foam sponge or a clean rag. Excess cement mass is removed 20-30 minutes after filling with the solution. When working with two-component compounds, the surface must be cleaned immediately. Recommendations from the experts:

3.You can prepare solutions with the addition lemon juice, vinegar, toothpaste.

After cleaning, carefully inspect the condition of the seams. If necessary, prepare a new portion of the mixture and smooth out the deformed joints. The final treatment is carried out the next day - polish the ceramics with a dry rag and impregnate the seams with colorless silicone sealant. It prevents the formation of fungus and mold, and additionally protects tile joints from moisture.

On video: The best way grouting tiles

Dry cleaning

In the process of grouting joints in the bathroom or kitchen, even with the most careful application of the paste, excess mass is formed. If cement grout is used, the remaining substance can be wiped off with a dry rag after drying. Some craftsmen polish non-porous tiles with a grater with a rubber nozzle. Epoxy and polyurethane compounds are removed immediately before the mixture hardens.

With the dry cleaning method, particles of dried paste are not allowed to fall on the seams. Use a grater to work diagonally, constantly cleaning the tool from hardened pieces of grout. Relief tiles are cleaned with an old toothbrush. For large volumes of work and the use of epoxy mixtures, professional builders use electric monobrushes with removable felt discs.

For processing joints flooring Cement or epoxy mixtures are used. The compositions are resistant to mechanical damage and are not subject to abrasion. To increase service life, after grouting joints floor tiles the joints are coated with silicone sealants - not necessary, but reliable. The technology for grouting joints on the floor between porcelain stoneware tiles is practically no different from processing vertical surfaces with your own hands:

1. Prepare tools - a set of spatulas, a drill, construction knife, grater, foam sponges, container for mixture and water, rags.
2. Remove the fastening crosses, clean the floor, and “sweep” it with a paint brush.
3. Prepare the solution: add the cement mixture to water or latex, gradually mixing.
4. If you are using a drill, you need to turn the tool on at 300 rpm so that there are no air bubbles in the paste.
5. Before applying cement grout, the joints are moistened for better adhesion of the composition to the base of the floor.

The next process is to fill the gaps between the tiles. Grouting of floor tiles at the seams is done diagonally, and you need to start work from the far corner of the room, moving towards the entrance to the room. The mixture must be rubbed in with pressure, completely filling the voids between the fragments of the floor covering. After preparing the base, grouting the tiles in the bathroom with your own hands is done as follows:

1. A square meter of tile is wetted at the joints, but there should be no drops of water.

2. Use the grout prepared for the joints between the tiles to fill the gaps, gaining required quantity mixture onto a spatula.

3. Some masters rub in the composition special grater, others use a spatula - it depends on the tile (porous, textured).

After treating one or two squares of the flooring area, the area is cleared of grout warm water or by special means. You can use a construction bag (cone) to fill the solution. The required amount of paste is placed in it and squeezed into the gaps, smoothing the mixture with a grater or spatula. After 15-20 minutes, go over the seams with a damp sponge to level the mixture and complete the jointing. While the composition dries, begin processing the next square. If used epoxy material, knead the paste in such an amount to produce a solution within an hour. The seam is considered ideal if it is recessed relative to the joints of the tiles and has a smooth structure.

Differences from grout on walls

There is no significant difference between how to properly grout tiles on the wall and on the floor. The technology remains unchanged, and the work is performed in the same order - drying the tile adhesive, preparing the surface, preparing the solution, applying the mixture, cleaning the tiles from excess grout. Minor differences in operation:

• The floor composition should be more resistant to mechanical damage.
• On the wall, grouting the tile joints is done vertically from top to bottom; it is more convenient to work with a spatula.
• The floor covering is processed diagonally; you can use a spatula, grater, or construction bag.

After the mixture has completely dried, you can treat the seams with silicone sealant. The transparent substance reliably protects the grout from moisture absorption and gives the composition dirt-repellent properties. The tube of sealant has a nozzle or brush for easy application.

Width of grout joints

A controversial issue that professional builders do not give an exact answer to is the width grout joints. Need to be guided simple rule– a wide gap between the tiles reduces solidity and mechanical strength coating, but visually gives the surface a strict geometric lines. Recommendations from the experts:

1. The length of the tile on one side is less than 10 cm - the seam is 1-3 mm.
2. The size of the material is more than 10 cm on the side - the joint will be 2-8 mm.
3. For clinker tiles, it is correct to grout joints of 8-15 mm.
4. Between small fragments of the mosaic you need to leave 1-3 mm.
5. Extruded tiles with large edges (up to 30 cm) are grouted with joints 4-10 mm thick.

Between irregularly shaped products they leave big gap(up to 12 mm) so as not to draw attention to the geometry of the products. The seams on the floor can be made wider than on the walls. To restore the old coating, you can re-process the joints. This applies to cement grouts, which are susceptible to cracking if the technology for preparing and applying the solution is violated. Old seams are treated sandpaper, carefully clean out dust and grout residues, cover with fresh mixture. In some cases, it is more convenient to restore tile joints by painting. To completely replace the sealant, a special cleaner is poured onto the old grout. When the grout softens, it is removed with a joint compound. After cleaning the gaps, you need to grout the ceramic tiles again, adhering to the technology described above.

Finishing tiles using grout mixtures requires care and skill. Not all craftsmen will be able to get the grout right the first time. impeccable quality. It is important to carry out the work gradually, filling small areas walls or ceiling so that mistakes remain possible to correct. Result painstaking work will exceed expectations masters - after grouting the joints, the tiles acquire a beautiful visual effect.

Simple methods for grouting tile joints (2 videos)

Types and methods of grouting tile joints (20 photos)

Today, most bathrooms are finished with ceramic tiles. This finish looks beautiful and allows you to solve the problem of mold spreading on the walls and floors due to high humidity. But in order for this problem to be solved, high-quality grouting is needed. This article will tell you how to grout seams on tiles and what tool to use.

The joint between the tiles is the most vulnerable place for moisture penetration. High-quality tile grout can protect the lining from dampness and destruction for a long time. Often grouting is not required, since many people choose rectified ceramic tiles (laid end-to-end), but this is far from the most reliable way protecting the bathroom walls from steam penetration, sealing is not performed.

How to choose grout? It's dry mortar on a cement base. There is also silicone grout. Sealing of joints must be done on a completely dry base.

The main advantages of laying tiles using grout:

• the ability to hide unevenness and errors formed when laying tiles;
• preventing the development of fungus and mold;
• compensation of deformation during thermal expansion and contraction;
• beautiful and neat appearance, grouting of joints has different color, so it's easy to pick up.

Typically, the following mixtures are used for grouting tiles:

• Epoxy moisture resistant. The basis of the mixture is cement and various additives that impart plasticity. It is used for tile joints less than 5 mm wide, as it shrinks when drying. Epoxy tile grout is recommended when tiling a bathroom.
• Grouting joints based on sand and synthetic resins is used when sealing wider gaps.
• The silicone mixture is the most moisture-resistant, therefore it is used when sealing places where the lining comes into contact with plumbing and sealing the connection is ensured.

When choosing a grout mixture for the bathroom, always pay attention to the antifungal properties of the material. The grout can be matched to the color of the tile, a tone or two lighter, since it tends to darken after hardening. The most common brands are: "Atlas", "Knauf", "Ceresit". If you can’t decide which grout to choose for your bathroom, contact a store consultant for help.

It is convenient to use a tile marker to paint over the joints. Thanks to its antibacterial formula, the marker is able to protect seams from fungus and mold.

Applying grout mixture

Process steps:

• preparatory work;
• grouting tiles;
• washing.

On preparatory stage The seams between the tiles in the bathroom must be cleaned of glue and dirt, the entire surface of the tile must be thoroughly washed. Prepare a rubberized tool and soft rags in advance to protect the tiles from scratches. The jointing of the tiles is carried out no less than 24 hours after laying the tiles. Before grouting the tiles, the grout should be slightly moistened.

Tools, materials and devices necessary for grouting joints

• container for preparing tile grout;
• water;
• rubber spatula;
• steel spatula;
• grout gun;
• sponge.

The mixture is prepared according to the instructions indicated on the package. The solution must be mixed until smooth. Use strict proportions to ensure the color of the tile gaps is the same. After mixing, you need to wait the time required by the manufacturer, mix again and you can proceed to the next step.

If you don’t know how to grout tiles, it’s better to turn to experienced professionals. However, grouting bathroom tiles with your own hands is not a difficult task.

Joining seams

Dial rubber spatula a small amount of the mixture, and then rub the seam without leaving any empty areas. You can remove the remaining grout mixture using the same tool, running it perpendicular to the cladding. Rub the gaps over the entire area in the same way. If the material shrinks, reapply on top of the seam. thin layer mixture, it is important to maintain the same color.

After filling the gaps, wait 30 minutes and proceed to correcting the seams and cleaning the tiles. To do this, moisten a soft sponge with water, squeeze it lightly and remove excess material from the surface with light, circular movements. ceramic surface. It is important to clean in a circle so as not to wash the grout material out of the gaps.

Correction of joints is carried out if, after removing excess material, unfilled areas remain. In this case, these areas simply need to be rubbed down again. After complete drying (1 – 2 days), wash the tiles well. To give the tiled surface a more aesthetic appearance, varnish can be applied to the joints.

Many craftsmen do jointing not with a rubber spatula, but with a piece of rubber-coated cable. There is also a special tool for this - a seam spreader, but it is used in rare cases.

When using a cable, simply run it along the joint; the seam will be formed better and more accurately, unlike working with a spatula. The wire must be selected larger in diameter than the gap size. All other procedures are performed similarly.

The grout for tile joints hardens completely within a week; this must be taken into account when putting the room into full use after renovation.

Replacing old grout with new one

The need to perform this work may arise when the design is changed (the color of the grout material is not suitable), the work is performed poorly, or when repairs are necessary. When the existing grout is destroyed, the seal of the seam is broken, and moisture gets under the tile.

Tools and devices used to remove material:

• softener;
• hard sponge;
• scraper;
• scraper.

The work takes place in several stages:

Renewing grout using a marker

Grout marker is used quite often. Even beginners can grout joints with a marker. The disadvantage of the method using a marker is its fragility and the impossibility of sealing. After some time, the tile grout will lose its color and begin to darken and deteriorate again.

The process of updating seams using a marker consists of the following steps:

1. Preparation of joints. Old grout Wash well with detergent to remove mold and mildew. Fill the damaged areas with a grout mixture; this process is performed in the same way as jointing. Rub the seams with fine sandpaper, without touching the surface of the ceramic tiles. Rinse the seams again and let them dry thoroughly.
2. Marker coating. The procedure is quite easy, but after a while the joints will again lose color and take on an unsightly appearance.

You can buy a marker at almost any hardware store. A marker is not only a tool that allows you to update the state of gaps, but also helps to provide various design solutions(adding shine, bright color).

Application of coloring compositions

Special paint will not only give the bathroom walls the new kind, but will also help remove mold. Using paint you can get a brighter and more saturated grout color.