Mosaic grout: selection and application features

Grouting after installing the mosaic will help to make it look more attractive, ensure the integrity of the coating and protect against moisture, dirt and fungus in damp rooms. Grout, in fact, is a separate decorative element, therefore, due attention must be paid to its selection and installation.

A feature of the mosaic is a large number of seams that must be covered with a special compound. In this regard, the consumption of grout will be greater than for the same area with tiles.

In general, all grouting can be divided into two large groups:

• Traditional sand-cement mixture. It has been used as a grout for a very long time and successfully. The availability and low cost of components, as well as satisfactory indicators of strength and durability, make it a universal grouting material for joints with a size of 3-5 mm. For more comfortable work, plasticizers and stabilizers are introduced into such a mixture, and to obtain more moisture-resistant seams, they are kneaded on a latex basis.

The advantages of cement grouts are:

1. Low cost.
2. Ease of working with materials.
3. Ease of removing excess grout from mosaics or tiles.

However, there are a number of negative points:

1. The grout is not moisture resistant enough for rooms with high humidity.
2. The presence of porosity in the seams, which leads to the accumulation of dust and dirt in them.

• Epoxy grout. Having appeared not so long ago, it has firmly taken its place in the market, thanks to its durability and aesthetics. It is also called "two-component" due to the presence of the catalyst, packed in a separate bag. Before use, it is necessary to mix the components of the grout with a catalyst to accelerate the curing reaction and quickly fill the joints between the mosaics.

This option should be considered especially carefully when laying mosaics for several reasons:

1. Significantly longer service life compared to cement grouts.
2. Excellent moisture resistant characteristics. Such a coating is not afraid of fungus and dirt.
3. More attractive appearance. The mixture can be left transparent, or it can be tinted in any color, add glitter or a light-accumulating additive, which will, as it were, illuminate the mosaic from the inside.
4. The grout is also resistant to sunlight, has excellent strength and wear-resistant properties.

However, the use of such a mixture without the skills of a master can ruin the entire appearance of the surface.

It is important to consider the following features of epoxy grout:

1. Very fast drying of the mixture. Literally after 15-20 minutes, it hardens on the surface of the tile and it is extremely difficult to clean it.
2. Expensive compared to cement grout. However, unlike the first option, you will not have to refresh the epoxy joints for several years.

Also, when working with epoxy grout, it is necessary to ensure the ventilation of the room, since there is a risk of toxic poisoning.

In order to emphasize the beauty of the mosaic or tile, it is necessary to consider the color of the grout compound.

A few tips will help you find the right tone:

• The general rule for processing joints is that the grout should be one or more shades darker than the base color of the mosaic. Such a choice will provide a harmonious and pleasant appearance to the walls or floor;
• Light shades of grout should be avoided on kitchen surfaces or on the floor, as they will quickly get dirty (especially when using a cement mixture) and will look sloppy;

• For glass mosaic or photopanel, it is advisable to choose a colorless epoxy grout. She will not be conspicuous, and all attention will be focused on a beautiful wall;
• Before applying the compound to all seams, it is necessary to try the composition on a small area of ​​the area and evaluate the appearance. The result may be different from what is expected.

There are quite a few color and shade options for grouting compounds. An epoxy-based composition has a particularly wide range. You can find compositions with monochrome, gold or even black mass on sale. However, it should be remembered that the grout is designed to emphasize the aesthetic appearance of the mosaic, serving as an important, but secondary element of decoration.

The choice of grouting compound depends on several factors:

• Room type. Traditionally, the mosaic pattern on the mesh is present in rooms with high humidity - baths, swimming pools, saunas. But also the mosaic looks good as a cladding for fireplaces, and in some cases its presence is appropriate not only on the walls, but also on the floor. Another option for using mosaics is decorating garden ponds, paths and decorating a personal plot.

• Transparency. Modern grout does not have to be color. It can also be colorless. The colorless composition gives special beauty to the mirror or marble mosaic, without distracting attention to itself. However, only epoxy-based mixtures have transparency.
• Durability. When comparing the two groups of grout, epoxy undoubtedly wins in durability. If the cement one after a few years requires cosmetic repairs and refreshment, then the epoxy mixture can be removed only with tiles or mosaics during a new renovation. And the choice in favor of an epoxy compound during the renovation stage can save a lot of time and nerves in the future, especially for kitchen wooden surfaces and floors.
• Trademark. The market abounds in both types of trowels. Some of them have added components that improve the physical and mechanical properties of the grout, make it easier to work with them, reduce material consumption during work, or make it easy to remove the remnants of the composition from the mosaic surface. Experienced craftsmen and novice specialists willingly share their feedback, thanks to which you can choose a grout to your liking.

• Temperature conditions. The choice of the composition can also be influenced by the temperature regime of the room in which the repair work is being carried out. In warm and hot weather, epoxy is easier to work with as it takes longer to cure and cure. In cold rooms or in winter, it is better to use a cement mixture.

The approximate grout consumption depends on the geometric parameters of the mosaic - the length, width and height of each element, as well as on the size of the joint between the tiles.

The initial calculation can be made according to the formula:

Consumption (kg / 1 m2) = (l + b) / (l * b) * h * t * e,

• l is the length of the tile, mm;
• b is the width of the tile, mm;
• h is the thickness of the tile, mm;
• t - seam width, mm;
• e - density of grout, kg / dm³. Usually this parameter ranges from 1.5 to 1.8.

Add 10-15% to the resulting expense. This will be the required amount of materials.

It should be recalled that on the same area for a mosaic, the consumption of grouting materials will be higher than for a tile. This is due to the large number of elements. Epoxy grout is consumed more economically than cement grout. This is due to the fact that a large amount of sand-cement mixture remains on the surface of the mosaic and must be removed.

Also, the expense is influenced by the qualifications of the foreman performing the work. The more experienced the worker, the more economically he uses the material.

In the absence of experience in laying and grouting tiles and mosaics, it would be wise to trust a qualified master: he will do the work in such a way that the seams on the wall or floor will delight for a long time with their impeccable appearance. However, after a while, it may well be necessary to wipe the damaged or lost appearance of the finish. A situation may also arise in which it is necessary to replace a cracked element. In this case, do-it-yourself grouting skills will come in handy.

Here are some tips to help you get your little repair done right:

• From the time of fixing the mosaic to the application of grout, at least a day should pass. During this time, the glue will have time to dry, and it will be possible to grind the seams without the danger of peeling off the mosaic.
• Before applying the grouting compound, the surface must be cleaned of dirt and residues of cement or glue. For this, water and a sponge of medium hardness are used, which will not damage the mosaic.
• The composition should be applied with a rubber spatula in diagonal movements from top to bottom. This will eliminate scratches on the decorative tiles. In addition, a rubber tool, unlike a metal one, allows you to deepen the grout by 1-2 mm from the level of the mosaic, which gives a more refined and aesthetic appearance to the finished coating.

• In the process of work, it is necessary to constantly moisten the grouting joints in order to prevent cracks. Usually a spray bottle is used for these purposes.
• No more than 20 minutes after grouting, it is necessary to remove the remnants of the composition from the surface. In the case of a cement mixture, repeated wiping with a damp sponge is sufficient. The epoxy compound is easier to remove if the mosaic is pre-treated with a special compound that forms a polymer film.

Additional instructions depending on the type of grout can be found on the packaging. If you do everything according to the manufacturer's recommendations, then a good result is usually guaranteed.

For one of the easiest ways to grout mosaic joints, see the next video.