Why do you need tile grout

Tags:Bathroom and toilet, Kitchen, Finishing

Ceramic tile (tile, porcelain stoneware, glass mosaic etc.) is a very popular finishing material due to its practicality, durability and resistance to moisture. However, all these benefits can be nullified by improper use. The ingress of moisture into the adhesive layer and the ends of the tile is one of the main reasons for the cladding to peel off from the base and the appearance of chips. In addition, high humidity combined with warmth is an optimal breeding ground for mold, fungus and other pathogenic organisms. To prevent negative consequences, it is imperative to grout tile joints with special materials (fugue). This article will describe the various compositions of grout, their properties, scope and application technology.

Any tiled surface, regardless of the type of finishing material, needs grouting
PHOTO: stroy-podskazka.ru

The content of the article [Hide]

1 Appointment of grout for tile joints
2 Grouting tiles: classification by composition
3 Color selection features
4 Main manufacturers
5 Grout for joints - choose the right composition
6 Instructions for self-grouting of tile joints
- 6.1 Video instruction for grouting tile joints
7 Grout cracking and how to deal with them
8 conclusions

Appointment of grout for tile joints

Tile grout has two main functions:

protectiveallowing to prevent moisture seepage into the adhesive layer and the ends of the tiles, which significantly increases the duration of the facing;
decorative - tinted grout can visually emphasize the color, texture or pattern of the tile, and can also hide defects stacking and unevenness of the tile itself.

One of the functions of tile grouting is decoration, therefore special attention is paid to the choice of color
PHOTO: stroy-podskazka.ru

Grouting tiles: classification by composition

On the market of building and finishing materials, there is a wide range of grouting, differing both in composition and cost. Manufacturers offer the following varieties based on:

cement;
polymers (epoxy, polyurethane, latex, acrylic, silicone);
furan resins.

The main operational characteristics and advantages of the presented materials need to be considered in more detail.

Cement based grout has a limited range of colors. However, using a white base, you can color it yourself using special pigments.
PHOTO: stroy-podskazka.ru

Cement

Cement grouts are among the most common and affordable. The composition includes high-quality white or gray Portland cement of the M600 brand and above with fine fillers. As additives, many manufacturers use:

fungicides - prevent the formation of mold;
latex - imparts water-repellent properties.

When sealing wide joints in a cement binder, it is allowed to add washed and sieved sand
PHOTO: stroy-podskazka.ru

Cement-based grouts are sold in the form of dry mortars. It is recommended to use it for finishing technical rooms with a low load. The optimum joint width is 5 mm. If the joint is wider, it is recommended to add sifted sand to the grout yourself.

Table 1. Cement grout

Advantages	disadvantages
Affordable price	Mediocre moisture resistance
Affordable price	Low frost resistance
Ease of preparation	Low resistance to mechanical stress (when cleaning, it is quickly removed from the seams)
Ease of preparation	Difficulties in application, scratches on the surface of glazed tiles

Polymer

Polymer grouts are characterized by higher performance parameters than cement ones. As a rule, they are sold as ready-to-use formulations in buckets or in special tubes. However, there are also dry mixes.

Epoxy grout base
PHOTO: tver.diymall.co

Epoxy... Epoxy-based grout is characterized by high strength, absolute water resistance, resistance to chemicals, including aggressive ones. However, its use is associated with rather great difficulties, especially for inexperienced craftsmen. Like any epoxy adhesive, grout consists of two components: base and hardener. They must be mixed in a strictly defined proportion. The main difficulty lies in the fact that the ready-made mixture is suitable for use for no more than 30-45 minutes. In addition, leftovers epoxy mortar on the tile surface is quite difficult to remove.

When mixing epoxy grout with metallic glitters, the seams acquire a special visual effect

When mixing epoxy grout with metallized glitters, the joints acquire a special visual effect
PHOTO: stroy-podskazka.ru

Table 2. Epoxy grout

Advantages	disadvantages
High performance and decorative characteristics: strength, wear resistance, moisture resistance	High price
High adhesion to all types of tiles, including metal, stone and glass	Preparation of the composition requires great precision
Long service life up to 50 years	Short period of use

Related article:

Epoxy tile grout: scope and composition, pros and cons, instructions. Review of prices and reviews of real consumers who have used the most popular brands of epoxy grout.

Polyurethane... They have high elasticity and moisture-repellent effect. They are sold in the form of a ready-to-use white paste mixture in 1.5-5 kg buckets. The filler of polyurethane grouts is very small, so they can be used for processing thin joints 1-5 mm thick. Coloring is carried out manually using pigment dyes from the same manufacturer. At the same time, it is recommended to paint the entire volume of the mixture at once so that the tone in different parts of the treated surface does not differ. After the start of use, the mixture is suitable for use for a rather long period, provided it is stored in a closed container.

When filling wide joints (more than 5mm), it is recommended to mix with finely dispersed quartz sand
PHOTO: stroy-podskazka.ru

Table 3. Polyurethane grouts

Advantages	disadvantages
Moisture-repellent effect and resistance to most household chemicals will ensure easy cleaning	Quite high cost
High elasticity in combination with fine base mortar filler allows filling the narrowest joints	Quite high cost
The duration of the life span of the composition	Do not use chlorine-based products for cleaning
The remains of grout can be easily removed from the surface of the tile	Do not use chlorine-based products for cleaning

Acrylic... In rooms with high humidity, as well as on surfaces in direct contact with water, many craftsmen use acrylic sealants as a grout. They are sold in tubes, so a special squeezing gun is required for use.

Acrylic grout is sold in tubes and tubes as a ready-to-use, already painted composition
PHOTO: stroy-podskazka.ru

Table 4. Acrylic grout

Advantages	disadvantages
Versatility	High price
Ease of use	Low resistance to mechanical damage
Absolute tightness	Limited color palette
Resistance to household chemicals	Limited color palette

Latex... Pure latex-based grouting is used quite rarely due to its high cost. As a rule, they are used as modifying additives for cement grouts. The compositions have high elasticity both in liquid and solidified form. Therefore, they are recommended for use on movable surfaces subject to bending and compression.

Excellent for cladding that is constantly in contact with water and subject to thermal deformation
PHOTO: stroy-podskazka.ru

Table 5. Latex grout

Advantages	disadvantages
High elasticity, does not crack under mechanical and thermal effects	High price
UV resistant	High price
Not subject to chemical and biological corrosion	It is necessary to immediately remove its remnants from the surface of the tile, otherwise cloudy traces will form
Filling of wide joints without fillers is allowed

Silicone... It is used in rooms with high humidity for grouting tile joints and sealing joints of sanitary equipment. Differs in good adhesion to various materials, including porcelain, faience, glass, as well as enameled and stainless surfaces. Available in both buckets and pipes. At the same time, the mixtures in buckets, as a rule, are white and can be tinted independently. Silicone grout in tubes is painted by the manufacturer.

Transparent silicone sealant can be used both as a base grout and as a repair compound on a colored base
PHOTO: dekoriko.ru

Table 6. Silicone grouts

Advantages	disadvantages
Ease of application	High price
Minor shrinkage parameters	Exposure to high temperatures is not allowed
High adhesion to almost all materials	Exposure to high temperatures is not allowed

Furan

Furan resin based grouting materials have very high performance parameters. They are extremely resistant to any type of chemical attack, including strong acids and alkalis. They are produced both in pure form and in mixtures with Portland cement and latex. The most common brands are intended for outdoor use, in technical rooms they are black. They are rarely used for household needs.

Furan grout joints
PHOTO: budmaster.by

Video about the main characteristics of grout and the features of their use

Color selection features

As mentioned, one of the main tasks of grouting is decorating the tiled surface. For this, various colors are used, in harmony with the background color or tile pattern:

white, gray, beige. For tiles of these colors, white or gray grout is suitable. It can be used for almost all light colored tiles.Also for light tiles, a dark brown fugue can be used.
black, purple, dark blue. Silver, golden or pearl grout with appropriate glitters will be appropriate here;
tiles in green colors from light green to dark green are combined with a fugue of white, graphite and light gray shades;
for tiles of bright saturated colors, grout of the same shade is suitable, but several tones darker;
for mosaic tiles, which are usually installed on white glue, it is recommended to use a transparent joint;
for grouting tiles under a tree, a fugue is used several shades lighter (for walls) or darker (for floor) base.

For gray monochrome tiles, it is better to use a white fugue
PHOTO: kupiplitku.kz

Black tiles and monochrome mosaics work best with light fugue
PHOTO: rem-stroitelstvo.ru

The graphite color of the fugue is combined with different tones of the green color palette
PHOTO: modernplace.ru

Glass mosaic tiles are combined with clear or white grout
PHOTO: klademplitky.ru

When using ceramic cladding imitating wood, the tile joint should be minimal and filled with a joint that is as close as possible in color to the general background
PHOTO: youtube.com

Important! It should be remembered that all kinds of dirt are clearly visible on a light fugue, therefore the seams will often be exposed to rather strong mechanical stress when cleaning using a variety of household chemicals.

Main manufacturers

As a rule, the grout is produced by the same manufacturers as the tile adhesive. Therefore, when choosing, you need to focus specifically on their brands.

Ceresite... Part of the Henkel concern. It has production facilities throughout Europe, including Russia. Produces a full range of grouts, including two-component grouts, as well as a wide range of modifying and decorative additives.

Cerezit cement-based grout
PHOTO: roof-n-roll.ru

Related article:

Ceresit tile grout: the choice of the type of mixture, colors, consumption and mixing rules, how much the material costs, reviews and recommendations of practitioners - read in our publication.

LITOKOL... Italian manufacturer of dry building mixtures. Has production facilities in Russia. Produces high quality premium products. It includes grout mixes and decorative additives, including reflective and photoluminescent.

The color palette of the fugue collection based on Litokol Litochrom epoxy resin
PHOTO: laraceramica.com

Mapei... Italian company for the production of building materials and dry building mixtures. It has 67 factories in 32 countries of the world. Products, including tile joints, are of the highest quality. Offers both dry polymer-cement and ready-to-use polymer grouts in a wide range of colors.

Mapei two-component epoxy grout
PHOTO: 3.com.ua

Weber-Vetonit... A company for the production of dry building mixtures located in Russia. It is part of the international Saint-Gobain holding based in France.

Grout for joints - choose the right composition

The building materials market offers a huge selection of grouts, the cost of which can vary significantly. To select the correct composition, a number of characteristics must be analyzed:

Shrinkage coefficient - shows the decrease in the volume of the fugue upon drying. Not only the required amount of grout depends on this indicator, but also the maximum joint width that can be processed without cracking.
Adhesion - strength of adhesion to the surface. You should pay attention to the materials recommended by the manufacturer: ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware, clinker, majolica, bicottura, etc.
Time of use of the ready-made solution. For inexperienced craftsmen, it is better to choose ready-to-use formulations with a long life span.
Performance characteristics: water resistance, frost resistance, resistance to mechanical damage, resistance to chemicals, resistance to biological corrosion. The combination of these parameters is selected depending on the field of application: floor, wall, for outdoor or indoor use.

Table 7. Grout characteristics

Requirements	Application area
	For interior work		For outdoor work
	For floor	For walls	For outdoor work
Strength	+	-	+
Water resistance	+	-	+
Frost resistance	-	-	+
Wide operating temperature range	-	-	+
Resistance to chemicals	+	+	-
Resistant to biological corrosion	+	+	+

Instructions for self-grouting of tile joints

The grouting process itself does not present any particular difficulties, adhering to simple rules, you can completely perform it yourself. To do this, you need to purchase a minimum set of tools:

rubber spatulas;
knife for cleaning seams;
paint brush or long-bristled brush;
foam sponge;
tank for mixing the fugue - if necessary.

Rubber spatulas are usually sold in sets
PHOTO: stroyday.ru

You can purchase a special knife for cleaning seams - with replaceable blades, or you can use an ordinary kitchen knife.

Special tool for removing tile adhesive residues inside seams
PHOTO: stroyday.ru

After the end of the tile laying process, the technological pause, depending on the type of glue used, can be from several hours to a day. After that, you can start grouting tile joints.

Table 8. Instructions for self-grouting of tile joints

Illustration	Action Description
PHOTO: stroyday.ru	Seams are thoroughly cleaned of the glue that has filled them with a scraper or knife. It is better to use a special tool, as it eliminates the possibility of damaging the face of the tile. The crushed glue mixture is swept out with a narrow paint brush
PHOTO: stroyday.ru	If necessary, the trowel mixture is diluted with water. At the same time, the dry construction mixture is added to a container with pre-measured water, and not vice versa. The amount of liquid must meet the manufacturer's requirements indicated on the package. The fugue is thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous mass is obtained.
PHOTO: stroyday.ru	Using an ordinary household spray or brush, the tile joint is moistened with water. The grout is applied with sharp short strokes across the joint. At the same time, you must try to squeeze it as deeply as possible into the space between the tiles.
PHOTO: stroyday.ru	After the seam is completely filled, the spatula is cleaned and carried along the seam, collecting the excess fugue
PHOTO: stroyday.ru	Until the grout on the tile surface is completely dry, it is removed with a sponge or damp cloth.

Video instruction for grouting tile joints

Grout cracking and how to deal with them

Sometimes, after drying, the grout in the joints, especially wide ones, cracks. There may be several reasons:

violation of the proportion of water and dry mixture when mixing the fugue. Too liquid grout, when dry, gives a large shrinkage, leading to cracking;
porous ceramic tiles with high hygroscopicity;
movable unstable base (wooden surfaces, drywall) affected by the shrinkage of the building;
wrong choice of grouting composition.

To avoid cracking the fugue, you must strictly adhere to the following rules:

thoroughly clean the seams from the remnants of tile glue;
observe the proportions of water when mixing or use ready-made compounds;
fill the seams to the full depth.

conclusions

Despite the apparent simplicity, grouting tiles requires careful adherence to the instructions. Otherwise, the formation of mold and peeling of the cladding cannot be avoided. In addition, we strongly recommend purchasing a fugue only from trusted manufacturers.

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