DIY: grouting tiles with their hands
Grouting - how to do it yourself?
The final stage of laying ceramic tiles is the grout joints, which is designed to preserve and stability masonry, giving an attractive appearance, etc. Perform these works can be independently. How - below.
Grouts are cement and epoxy. Cement grouting similar to other mixes, but they added a variety of curing agents and plasticizers. There are dry and ready to grout, that have their own characteristics of application, application, etc. epoxy grout more resilient, durable, and resistant to shock loads and are used for the seams of a width exceeding 6 mm. To protect the seams of browning and moisture absorption, they are treated with sealant and silicone-based varnish, which prevents the formation of mold.
The width between the tiles may be 3-12 mm, this value is set at the beginning of the work and does not change in the process, and if changed, the various factors taken into account, which are not allowed to break the appearance and geometry surface. Special crosses for tiles, which is determined by the width of the seam and are typically used. If the tiles are stacked with the seam of less than 3 mm, it will not cause the trowel mixture, and if more than 12 mm, the mixture may crack during drying and thereafter. Tile large size is considered optimal seam of 6-12 mm, for a smaller - 3-4 mm. In the first case, use epoxy grout in the second - a cement.
As for the color of the grout, you can use a transparent blend or mixture of a certain color, which is combined with the color of the tiles.
Grout need to "arm themselves" prepared solution, squeegee, trowel, sponge, wipes and water. The work should be carried out in protective glasses and gloves.
First prepare the surface: clean the joints, remove the crosses, we see that the glue or cement is dried out. If was laid glazed tiles, immediately proceed to the grout if the usual - water-wet tile edges to make the process of adhesion of the mixture and the tiles more intense. Then we put in a solution prepared by seams rubbing movements, making it firmly and confidently. For the application can be used with a silicone tube grouting or pastry bag. Then you need to go to pieces with a spatula, then clean the surface of the tile, but not the seams of the solution remains. When the grout has dried, the tiles wipe with a damp cloth and brush, causes sealant layer, align it with a brush, subject to dry. After a while, we get great wall or floor, and rejoice the work done.
More information and examples of work performed, can be found on our website: https://dachamaster.org