How to choose a grout for tiles in the bathroom and other rooms, types, purpose

Anyone who has dealt with tiles knows that without grouting its appearance will be imperfect. If in ordinary life we ​​do not think about such materials, then during the repair, the question of how to choose the grout for the tile becomes relevant. In order not to run into a stupor in a building store, you need to know what kind of tile you have and what kind of grout it will fit. It is also important not to lose with color.

Why is grouting

Previously, people used ordinary cement mortar to seal seams between tiles. With the appearance of brittle facing materials, there was a need for more soft and pleasant-looking formulations. In fact, grouting is a colorless or colorless mixture of polymer materials designed to process the tiled coating. Grout performs the following functions:

1. Aesthetic - smooths out uneven walls, minor errors of the installer.
2. Can adjust the tile itself if there are errors on it.
3. Decorative function - the appearance of the coating becomes more accurate and interesting if the grout is in harmony or effectively different in color.
4. Tightness - makes the tile stronger.
5. Protects surfaces from dirt, moisture, fungi, mold and germs. This is especially important for places with high humidity: in the bathroom and in the kitchen.

Types of the trowelling mixture

The trowelling for tile is divided into 4 types according to the type of material:

• based on cement,
• based on resins,
• latex,
• silicone.

Each of the groups has its own technical characteristics. Select the grout should be, relying not only on the type of facing coating. It is necessary to take into account its color and width of the seams. Let us consider in detail the types of grouts.

Cement

Cement-based products are the most popular. This is explained by a low price and a wide range of applications. Cement mixture is used for all coatings, well fills all the space between the tiles. The recommended joint width is up to 0.5 cm.

Pure cement grouts are used for narrow joints, and cement grouts with the addition of sand for wide joints. However, here it is necessary to take into account the stability of the cladding. If it is fragile and enameled, then such a tool can spoil it. Another disadvantage of cement and cement-sand grouts can be attributed to low resistance to water. And the choice of color for this species is relatively small.

Smooth

Virtually no minuses and expensive mixes - grouting on the basis of resins. These funds are for professionals, so do not use resin mixtures, without first having studied their features.

Important
Resin based products require skill or at least a little experience.

There are two types of resin grout:

• epoxy,
• furan.

The main advantage of epoxy grouts is durability. They are used for lining pools, saunas. Epoxy resins give the trowelling mixture resistance to chemicals. Also, the remedy will protect the tile from mechanical damage. Such a product preserves the freshness of the color for a long time. It is chosen for processing seams from 6 mm and more.

The agent is difficult to apply due to the increased viscosity. If you carelessly handle it, it can get on the lining and it will be difficult to wipe, so entrust the work with the epoxy trowel to a specialist.

In furan grouts application technology is even more complex than epoxy ones. They are used for facing work in large-scale production facilities.

Silicone and latex

Representatives of this group favorably differ from others in a rich color palette.

Silicone mixtures have antiseptic properties. They are easy to use and are inexpensive. Choose this species should be for ennobling hard-to-reach places on the tile. However, they do not have the proper stability, therefore they are used only in special cases, for example, for an interesting bathroom design.

Latex is the last word in the production of grouts. The modern material is highly resistant to moisture. The palette of colors at latex grouts is the widest among all kinds. Such a mixture can be used in places with a temperature different from room temperature. Choose a latex for a warm floor, a balcony or a loggia.

The increased resistance to high and low temperatures and water of latex material also explains its cost. It is higher than the usual cement mixture. To save the family budget, the magazine "Miss Purity" recommends using not completely latex grout, and additive based on latex. It increases the stability of the cement product.

How to make a choice

Finally, you began to repair the bathroom. Which grout to choose, which is better? First of all, the determinant, what is more important for you: price, reliability, and maybe an unusual color palette? To make the right choice, rely on the following points:

• combination of grout and lining material,
• joint width,
• grouting function,
• manufacturer,
• color,
• moisture resistance.

Basic selection rules:

1. For enamel tiles and other brittle materials, choose a trowelling mixture without the addition of sand.
2. Do not use tar pitch if you have no experience. In pursuit of the durability of repair, you can simply ruin the tile.
3. If you have chosen a cement mix, then it can be given additional properties - moisture-repellent, antimicrobial, firming or frost-proof. In these cases chemical admixtures are added to the trowel mixture. Decide on the goal that you want to achieve, and not stint on additional chemical components. They can be found in the same building store.
4. The most safe material for self-operation is latex. Such grouts and a palette of colors are various, and the application process is quite simple.

How to choose a grout color for tiles

So, you have decided on the material of the trowel. Now it's up to you to choose a color.

Board
To go to the store, stock up a sample of the lining material to compare the colors, and not take them at random.

There are several design techniques that will help you decide on the color choice:

1. The principle of contrast. To select the tile pattern, the mixture is selected with a contrasting hue. It should be borne in mind that such a coating will attract attention, so you should bet on tiles, not furniture in this room. Accent in the room is selected one.
2. Principle of homogeneity. To make a neat wall or floor, choose a grout in the tone of the tile. It will be a good background for interior items.

Color is one of the most important points in choosing a trowelling mix, because it can correct the errors in the wizard's work. With the help of color, it is possible to visually hide the roughness and small defects of the facing material. A carefully selected shade can accentuate the beauty of the tile. To make the lining homogeneous, shades are chosen lighter than it is. Conversely, in order to isolate the tile, the mixture is contrasted or dark in color.

Tip
Use contrasting colors only if the tile is laid out perfectly evenly. Dark seams will make all errors even more obvious.

There are also colorless grouts. They are used in the case of a mottled pattern on the tile. The bathroom looks good in the grout in the tone of the plumbing.

A few more tips:

1. Take your time with the choice of the means, it's better to think carefully than to correct the failure.
2. Try to build on your own taste. Fashion for artsy combinations will take place, and you will have to live in an apartment with an irrelevant cladding, which quickly bothers.
3. For an harmonious interior design there is an unspoken rule: no more than three colors. This room will be elegant and neat.

To improve the appearance and strengthen the tile in the room, it is not necessary to resort to the services of interior designers. Armed with knowledge, and successful repair!