What is a spatula for grouting joints?
The main purpose of the trowel, which was not known in Soviet times, is the grouting of the interlacing seams. This determines a number of its features. Firstly, such a product has a longer length than its traditional paint analog, which creates a certain convenience in the work. The larger the width, the faster the grouting is carried out.
Secondly, the spatula most often has a wooden or plastic handle, which is due to the ease of these materials. Thirdly, his canvas for work is usually quite thin and has a rounded sharpening from the butt for relief grout. It is usually made of rubber.
A traditional spatula spatula is also available for sale, however it is not very convenient to work with.
So, the most preferred tool for performing the trowelling is a rubber spatula, for which there are a number of reasons. When kneading the grout, this product avoids damage to the surface of the used container, so you can be sure that foreign objects will not get into the structure.
In addition, a certain degree of flexibility and softness of rubber makes it possible to effectively and accurately fill the grout in the seams. Practice shows that a black rubber spatula for grouting is more convenient to work than white, since white rubber is too soft.
We carry out the preparatory work of
So, you have chosen the most convenient tool for grouting your joints, now you can start working directly. The technology of grouting is quite simple and includes five main stages:
- Cleaning of intertitic joints.
- Preparation( kneading) of the trowelling compound.
- Direct application.
- Jointing.
- Surface cleaning.
It's no secret that after laying tiles or artificial stone, the glue often remains in the joints. If it was not removed during the installation process, then it is worthwhile to do this before proceeding with the trowelling. To remove it you can use a spatula, a stationery knife or even a screwdriver. Remember that the work must be done carefully, otherwise you risk damaging the cover! After cleaning the joints, you can start mixing the grout.
It should be noted that it is a quick-setting composition, so do not mix a lot at once. Take a suitable container, fill in the grout and add water. As a rule, 0.3 kg of pure water is enough for 1 kg of grout. Errors in proportions are not terrible, as the volumes of components can be easily adjusted. Mixing must be carried out extremely carefully, since unmixed particles deteriorate the appearance of the finish.
Tool for grouting joints - use correctly
After completing the preparatory work, you can safely start filling the seams with grout, which is why you need a spatula. At an angle of approximately 30 ° it is lowered into a container with a composition that readily adheres to the spatula in sufficient quantity. After that, it is brought to the seam on one side or the other, so that a sufficient amount of grout comes directly and immediately into the seam. Experts argue that this is sufficient for two verified movements.
The first movement of the compound is rubbed into the seam, and the second removes its excess. The application of grout on the surface is carried out only after the tile adhesive has completely dried out!
Immediately after the application of the trowelling compound, it is necessary to weld the joints. To do this, they are carried out with a rounded end of a rubber spatula, which gives the seams the final relief. It can be corrected even with your fingers, if the composition has not had time to dry out. If the grout must be carried out in hard-to-reach places, it is recommended to use a narrow spatula on a long wooden handle. The application of the composition is carried out by the tool web, and the scraping by the handle.
The final step in the processing of inter-part joints is surface cleaning. You can start it 1-2 hours after the barking. Getting started before, you risk breaking the seam relief, and if you stay a little longer, the composition will be harder to remove from the surface of the tile. For cleaning, you need to stock up on two rags - dry and damp.