Grout for tiles in the bathroom: selection rules

The tile is undoubtedly the most popular material for wall and floor finishing in the bathroom. And for this there are many objective reasons: it is easy to wash, it is resistant to moisture and direct moisture, it is hygienic and environmentally safe. The selection of floor and wall tiles is always very responsive.

However, how ultimately your bath after repair will look like and how long the tiles will serve you depends not only on the quality of the tile itself and the skill of the builder who will lay it down. The final result largely depends on the quality of the related products, such as grout for tiles. Anyone who has never dealt with laying a tile may not even know its purpose. In this article we will tell you what is needed for grouting for tiles, what kind of trowelling mixes are and how to use it.

Grout for tiles is a dry construction mixture, which can be either cement or epoxy based. Grout is used to fill the seams between the tiles. This is done not only for aesthetic reasons, but also to prevent moisture from entering the seams and mold and bacteria to accumulate.

Before you go to the store for grouting, note that the grout is divided into two main types, depending on the of the main component of the mixture: grout on cement base and grout based on resins( in particular epoxy).

Cement base is more popular with consumers. This is primarily due to its lower cost. In addition, it is easier to work with cement grout. It is sufficient only to dilute the dry mixture with water or latex on a water base to the desired consistency. However, in some cases the grouts are sold already in ready-to-use form in plastic buckets.

Among grouts on the basis of resins the most common is a grout based on epoxy resin. There are other grouts, for example, based on furan resin. However, they are rarely used in interior decoration. For example, grouts based on furan resin are used mainly in industrial plants in difficult production conditions. Epoxy grouts are used everywhere.

The criteria for the choice of cement and epoxy grout are somewhat different.

Cement grouting can be designed for work with narrow seams( up to 5 mm) or with wide seams( more than 5 mm).If you have to work with wide seams, you will need to purchase grout with sand. And the wider the seam between the tiles, the larger the grains of sand in the mixture. In some cement mixtures, special chemicals are also added, designed to fight the formation of mold and fungi - fungicides.

Most experienced tilers advise nevertheless to give preference to epoxy bathtubs in the bathroom, , as they, unlike cement grouts, are not destroyed by chemical agents and are more resistant to all kinds of pollution. However, cement floor grouts are suitable for floor tiles.

As we have already mentioned, among the resin grouts most , the optimum option is grouting on the basis of epoxy resin .It consists of 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 used, as a rule, on the facades of buildings.

The color of the grout is selected based on the color of the tile.

Cement grout can be either natural gray or any other color, from white to black, depending on the color pigment used. If you could not find the desired shade of the finished mixture, you can create it yourself, by purchasing a white grout and a color shade to it.

The choice of epoxy grout is much wider, but it is impossible to paint the grout on an epoxy basis independently. Thanks to the addition of shiny components, manufacturers were able to achieve the effect of gold, silver, bronze, and metallic. The assortment is really impressive.

When choosing the grout color, two simple rules should be followed:

• Use dark and contrast grout only if you are sure that the tile is perfectly positioned. The fact is that such an opposition of colors emphasizes the pattern of laying tiles.
• If, during the laying of tiles, some errors occurred, it is better to use a light trowel. In this case, the darker color of the tile will visually obscure the existing irregularities.

In case you use a combination of several colors in the bathroom decor or decide to buy a mosaic tile, the transparent grout is ideal for you. It is made on the basis of glass and is ideal for grouting art and glass mosaic seams. Transparent grouting is called very conditional - it does not let light pass and takes on the color of the tile to be rubbed. However, in itself it is not transparent. This grout is used only on narrow joints up to 2 mm wide.

The proper life of a tile depends in many ways also on the manufacturer. Better to trust proven manufacturers. Among the most popular manufacturers of grout in the Russian market, mention should be made of:

• Ceresit( cement-based mixes, one-component silicone grouts, two-component grouts)
• Atlas( mixtures on cement and epoxy basis)
• Weber Vetonit( mixes on cement basis)
• Unison cement basis)
• Litochrome( cement-based mixes and two-component epoxy mixes)
• Knauf( cement-based mixes).

Porous ceramic tiles possess high moisture-absorbing properties, therefore it is not recommended to use it in rooms with high humidity. To ensure that the tile does not suffer in the process of exploitation, it is covered with a special glaze or varnish to improve water resistance. This varnish is also often used to create decoupage patterns on the tile. Although this varnish is expensive, it gives the tile a number of very useful properties:

• protects against stains, moisture, dirt and dust
• facilitates tile care and cleaning
• prevents the fading process
• gives a glossy surface.

During work, always use rubber gloves, a respirator and safety glasses.

• Depending on the type of grouting used, open the bucket with a ready-made mortar or add the liquid component to the dry mix( hardener for epoxy grout and water or water-based silicone for cement grouts).The consistency of the grout should resemble toothpaste.
• Remove the crosses and any foreign elements from the tile joints.
• Fill the joint space with a grout. To do this, use a special rubber spatula. At a time, you need to wipe the seams on an area of ​​not more than one square meter. It is better to rub the seams first in the direction from top to bottom, and then from left to right - so usually professionals work. The denser you fill the seams - the stronger will hold the tiles.
• Clean joints from excess grout. The faster you do it - the easier it will be deleted.
• Gradually move further along the entire area of ​​the room.

As the grout will dry up, the grout residue on the tile itself can be wiped off with a rag. Epoxy grout is easier to wash off with warm water with a small concentration of detergent.

Of course, the process of laying tiles - laborious and very troublesome. However, laying the tiles yourself, you have the opportunity to save considerably, because the cost of laying tiles sometimes exceeds the cost of consumables.

Perhaps, you will not succeed smoothly the first time, but you should not be afraid of difficulties. The main thing is to follow the instructions in everything.