How to expand the seams of ceramic tiles?

Grouting gives the surface an aesthetic appearance, protects tiles from moisture and dirt. To get a good result, you need to know certain subtleties of this process. How to embroider the seams of ceramic tiles will be discussed in detail in this article.

The final stage of finishing works on laying the tiles is the jointing. Seamless installation is no exception; with this finishing method, small gaps are also formed between the tiles. Joining means the sealing of tile joints with a special grout.

This material has several main tasks:

• Prevention of bacteria and dirt build-up between tiles.
• Strengthening the cladding.
• Protection against moisture penetration.
• Facilitation of further maintenance of the coating.
• Cladding decoration.

Special components are added to the grout mixtures that prevent the spread of fungus and mold. Tiles with embroidered seams are much easier to clean. Without grouting, dirt will constantly accumulate in the grooves between the tiles, which is quite difficult to clean out.

On the market of finishing materials, grouting mixtures are presented in a wide range. Grouts differ in composition, manufacturer and color.

According to the composition, the following mixtures are distinguished:

• cement-based;
• based on epoxy resin;
• silicone;
• based on furan resin.

Cement putty is the easiest type of mix to use. Such material is produced in the form of a ready-made mixture, as well as a free-flowing substance, which must be diluted before use. The cement mixture is only suitable for processing narrow joints (less than 0.5 cm). For seams more than 0.5 cm wide, a mixture of a similar composition with the addition of sand is produced.

It is necessary to work with a cement-sand grout extremely carefully., as sand particles can scratch the tiles. Cement grout is available in a wide range of shades. The advantages of the material include low cost, versatility and good strength. However, the mixture has its drawbacks, among which poor resistance to pollution is especially relevant. The use of household chemicals for cleaning tiles can lead to the destruction of the trowel.

Epoxy grouts are highly durable and of good quality. This material is excellent for rooms with high humidity levels. It is indispensable for surfaces that are regularly exposed to various types of contamination (kitchen apron).

The advantages of a mixture based on epoxy resin include:

• excellent strength indicators;
• long service life;
• aesthetic appearance;
• mold and mildew resistance;
• resistance to pollution;
• resistance to fading in the sun (the mixture includes colored quartz sand);

Silicone grouts are mainly used for tile joints. The process of working with such a material is complicated by the peculiarities of the silicone, which is part of the mixture. It is almost impossible to fill the seams with silicone without staining the tiled coating.To prevent grout from getting on the tile material, the edges of the tile must be covered with masking tape.

Furan grouts are mainly used in industrial premises. This is due to some peculiarities of working with such material. At the very beginning of work, the tiles are covered with wax. Excess putty on the surface must be removed immediately with hot steam. At home, it is quite difficult to perform this procedure. The positive qualities of the furan mixture include high resistance to chemicals. This grout is produced only in black.

The color of the grout is selected depending on the place of application (floor or wall) and the color of the tiles.

Consider some recommendations for choosing a shade:

• If it is necessary to embroider the seams of the floor tiles, it is better to choose the grout two shades darker or two shades lighter than the tile.
• To join wall tiles, the color of the grout should match the shade of the tile or be slightly lighter.
• It is not necessary to seal the seams of light-colored ceramic tiles with too dark grout.
• If ceramic tiles of different shades are used for cladding, the grout should be combined with the lightest color.

When applying grout, you will need the following tools:

• rubber paint spatula or trowel;
• metal spatula;
• a jointer or a universal jointer;
• a rag made of cotton or linen;
• rubber gloves;
• bucket;·
• a special spatula for forming seams;
• construction syringe.

Most often, a rubber trowel is used for grouting. The tool is easy to use and does not damage the ceramic coating. Alternatively, you can use a trowel or a construction syringe. The seam spatula is required to form the seams. This tool can be replaced with a cable of a suitable diameter.

It is undesirable to start grouting immediately after laying the tiles. Some types of tile adhesive mixes allow grouting on the fifth day after installation, but it is better to wait up to seven days. You can remove the crosses for tiles on the second day after laying. If an adhesive mixture appears between the tiles on the surface, it must be carefully removed with a knife or a special scraper. All surfaces that are adjacent to the tile covering should preferably be glued with paper tape to protect against contamination.

The procedure for applying the trowel is not particularly difficult if you use a cement-based mixture. The inter-tile space is filled with the mixture using a rubber spatula. The tool must be held at an angle of 30 degrees to the ceramic tile. Use a construction syringe to apply epoxy grout.

The grout should be pressed lightly to completely fill the gaps between the tiles. Excess grout must be removed with a spatula and re-spread over the seams. When the inter-tile space is completely filled with the mixture, you can start finishing another area. Approximately five minutes after grouting, the joints should be treated with a special trowel or a piece of cable of suitable size.

Such manipulations will remove excess grout mixture and form a beautiful seam. After 20 minutes after grouting the joints, it is necessary to wash off the remnants of the mixture from the tiles. Otherwise, the putty will dry out completely and it will be problematic to clean it. The surface can be cleaned with a damp cloth or sponge.

How to seal the seams between tiles, see the next video.