Tiling or laying floor tiles in the kitchen, bathroom or other rooms is always finished with grouting – i.e. filling the gaps. As with the tiling itself, you can do it yourself. Now you can learn grouting on floor and walls at home.
Grouting, i.e. gap filling, has a very important role, which is not only of aesthetic importance. The grouting material protects the surface of the floor or wall against the penetration of external moisture, biological substances, and mechanical damage. That is why it is very important to grout precisely, so you can avoid the joint coming out later.
Grouting – what supplies will you need?
Before you start grouting on floor and walls, you need to decide what type of grout you want to use. The available varieties are:
- epoxy (synthetic resin-based) grouts – they can be used in rooms that come into constant contact with water, for example, for ceramic tiles under the shower, around the bathtub, near the sink, as they do not allow water vapor to pass through and do not discolor, but they are only suitable for indoor use,
- cement-based joints – the main component is Portland cement, as well as crushed stone and coloring pigments, they do not leave stains, they are ideal for tiles installed on floor heating,
- sealing acrylic joints – their shade can be adjusted to the color of the tile, they can also be used outdoors, but only on vertical surfaces and must not come into intensive contact with water.
You will also need the right tools to apply the gap fillers. You will need to purchase supplies such as:
- rubber sponge smoothing pad
- mixing stem
- grout cleaning sponge
- water bucket
- wrapping kit
- mixer.
- position indicators
Also Read: What is epoxy tile grout? What are the Advantages?
How to grout wall tiles?
The installation of wall tiles must be started by mixing in the gap-filling mortar and grout. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations. In this way, the proper consistency of the joint can be ensured. It is worth using a mixer with a not too large mixing shaft to mix the completely lump-free joint. Apply the grout to the tiles with a rubber trowel. This way you can avoid scratching the sheets. Apply the prepared mortar to the joints between the tiles. Firmly press the trowel into place when applying the joint, so that the bonding agent penetrates deep into every gap.
Then spread the excess mortar so that it remains in equal amounts in the gaps between the tiles. After 30 minutes, continue the work with the first backwashing, i.e. smoothing the joint. Repeat this process, then wipe the entire surface of the wall with a dry cloth. Then repeat these steps on the next wall. Finish laying the tiles by filling the cracks in the plane of the wall with grout. Then move on to the inner and outer corners – these need to be grouted with silicone. You have to press the silicone into place evenly from top to bottom. Then spray the whole thing with washing-up liquid – this will remove the excess silicone. You can use a special grouting spoon or your fingers to work out the corners.
Are you looking for grouting services in Melbourne? There are many companies offering a variety of options to suit your needs.
How to grout a paving slab?
Grouting pavers is very similar to grouting wall tiles. Mix the grout first, of course following the manufacturer’s recommendations. After that, apply the mixed grout to the floor tiles with a rubber trowel. Start from the corner of the room, then move towards the center of the room. If you have a larger floor, divide it into smaller areas. In this way, you avoid that the grout dries out during work and forms a hard and difficult to remove layer.
When grouting paving slabs, just as with tiles, the finished floor surface must be sponged twice, but unlike tiles, silicone is no longer required for grouting paving slabs.
