Grout color for light gray tiles. How to choose the perfect grout for tiles by color: we study the nuances. The main effects created using grout

You can choose any grout for tiles by color. With its help, it turns out to give the finish the finishing touch, create a single composition from disparate tiled elements and achieve a harmonious and neat design.

How to choose a grout color?

A few basic rules that are taken into account when choosing:

• When using multi-colored or two-tone tile finishes and mosaics, grout should be selected in a color close to the lighter tone used in the decoration or a colorless fugue.
• It is advisable to choose mixtures of a dark or contrasting shade only if the tiled material on the floor or on the wall is laid perfectly even. In case of errors and irregularities on the surface, putty in light colors is better.
• To visually expand the room, light tiles are selected in combination with a similar grout, dark tones, on the contrary, visually reduce the space.
• putty for floor tiles it is better to choose in darker colors, as it is quite practical and less prone to contamination.

Color combination options

Due to well-chosen color combinations, you can get three options for effects:

• One color. It is the simplest tandem, which is a single whole. A one-color combination, perfect for lovers of a laconic, not too flashy design, and also allows you to mask some of the imperfections of the finish in the form of uneven joints or chips.
• Contrasting grout. Gives the atmosphere a special expressiveness and favorably emphasizes the geometry and laying of tiled elements, giving them a deeper and richer look.
• Shades. With the help of such a solution, it is possible to unobtrusively highlight the geometric shape, pattern and color of the cladding, thereby forming a calm, not devoid of expressive design.

The photo shows a bathroom interior with contrasting grout for wall and floor tiles.

Currently, there are collections of tiled models that already have a tint putty solution. Most often, such a color palette is particularly original, for example, black finishes are complemented by a pearl-white fugue, beige - with grout in chocolate tones, and olive - in graphite.

What grout is suitable for light tiles?

For classic white tiling, you can choose a contrasting black or brown grout. No less bold and spectacular look is the combination with red, burgundy fugue, as well as combinations with pastel peach, mint, pink, blue or blue grout. Beige tile goes well with neutral chocolate, gray, milky tones or darker puffer black.

The photo shows a white wall tiled finish with a fugue of blue color.

Light blue tile finishes can be accentuated with white, yellow or dark blue.

Pictured is a bathroom with tiled walls blue color with white grout.

What grout to choose for dark tiles?

Brown ceramic products will be harmoniously complemented by light beige, white or plain brown putty, and a combination with yellow or black fugue will also look quite interesting. The borders of the lining are blue, the grout will outline in creamy brown, gray, white, azure blue, fiery red, orange, yellow or blue.

For black finishes, it is better to choose pearl white, mother-of-pearl, beige, red or yellow putty. Such a monochromatic combination is used very carefully and is not suitable for decorating small rooms.

The photo shows a combination of white grout with gray tile trim in the bathroom interior.

For a calm and harmonious look, a gray tiled finish with seams made in white, dark or light gray colors will be appropriate; you can add originality to the setting using dark red, dark blue, blue, yellow, purple, lilac, pink and coral colors. .

Pictured is the interior modern kitchen with working area decorated with black tiles with white grout.

The choice of grout for tiles of different textures

For light-colored wood tiles, you can choose gray, beige, sand or milky putty, cladding with imitation of dark wood, such as wenge, is perfectly combined with seams made in light shades.

Marbled products look harmonious with joints that have black, dark gray, white and even reddish tones. To maintain the interesting texture of the brick finish, special compositions with small fractions are selected.

Popular grout and tile combinations

The most commonly used color combinations.

White tiles with black grout

A dark grout composition looks especially advantageous in combination with contrasting white tiles or mosaics, which allows you to achieve a simple, but at the same time quite effective and elegant design solution. However, this option is appropriate only in the case of a perfectly even and accurate application of tiles on a plane.

The photo shows a white tiled cladding with black grout on the wall in the interior of the kitchen.

The black and white combination is classic, strict and sophisticated. In addition, using this technique, you can visually enlarge the room.

White

Snow-white putty is a versatile option that harmoniously combines with both contrasting dark and calm light tile finishes. This design always has a very beautiful and neat appearance and is perfect for any interior.

The photo shows a white grout in combination with a diamond-shaped tile yellow color in the design of the working area in the kitchen.

Also, the white fugue is an ideal binder when using multi-colored tile material.

The photo shows a kitchen apron, lined with glossy tiles, a black boar with white grout.

White tiles with colored grout

White finishes with color joints or fugue in two or more shades look dynamic, creative, give the interior a special uniqueness and set a certain mood for it. For example, yellow putty can fill the room with warmth and make it more sunny, while green and turquoise grout can significantly refresh the atmosphere.

Gray tiles with black grout

When using a gray finish with a contrasting black fugue, it turns out to divide the plane into separate segments and thereby achieve a rather original effect that perfectly complements a certain area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe interior.

Combining colors in the interior of rooms

Options for color combinations in rooms for various purposes.

Choice of grout for the kitchen

In a given room, tile is a particularly favorite design solution in the design of the working area with a kitchen apron. As a joint filler, a moisture and vapor-tight epoxy fugue is chosen, which can differ in the most unexpected color scheme. Also, this grout composition is often supplemented with shiny components and glitters, which allow to achieve an interesting effect in the form of silver, gold, metal or bronze joints.

The photo shows a kitchen with a working area tiled in brown with a white fugue.

Ideas in the bathroom

Putty for joints, not only gives the cladding a complete and integral appearance, but also prevents moisture and dirt from getting under the tile, which in the future does not contribute to the appearance of mold. Depending on the design of the bathroom, the fugue can have any color scheme or, due to special additives, be distinguished by a pearl-pearl luster, sparkling and glowing in the dark.

The photo shows a bathroom interior with blue tiles in combination with a golden shade fugue.

Hallway examples

In the hallway, putty is mainly used for the floor, which is often laid out with porcelain stoneware. Here you should select compositions in non-marking gray, black or brown tones, since light seams get dirty quickly enough.

Photo gallery

When choosing a grout for tile joints, it is important to take into account not only its constituent components, but also the tint range, due to which it turns out to give the formed plane, integrity, completeness and special harmony.

No matter how expensive the tiles in the bathroom or in the kitchen are, but without grouting, they will look inferior. The decorative effect is not the only thing for which the joints between the tiles are rubbed. Which grout is better, and what should be chosen for tiles in different rooms- Find answers to your questions below!

The best grout - options for tiles

The fugue, also known as grout, is a special material that fills the voids between individual tiles, in other words, the seams. Putty or ordinary cement-sand mortar will not work in this case - the flooring is subjected to constant loads, moisture and household chemicals. Here you need to choose only special grout compositions. They perform not only a decorative role, but also protect the space between the tiles from debris and dust. Durability floor covering, made in accordance with all the rules, increases significantly compared to tiles, the seams of which, for some reason, they forgot to wipe. In addition, competent selection of grout and skillful use will mask defects.

All types of grouts can be divided into two groups:

• cement based;
• epoxy based.

In no case do not look for a replacement for the fugue among other building materials, even if they are left in excess after completion repair work in the apartment. For example, homegrown craftsmen very often use silicone sealant as a grout - a tool with a completely different purpose. The sealant is simply not adapted to the tests that the tiled fugue has to withstand.

Selection of grout - cement compositions for tiles

If you decide to do the laying work yourself, we recommend choosing cement grouts. It's simple - working with them is easy even without special skills. Cement grouts, as the name implies, consist of extremely finely ground cement, as well as various additives, plasticizers and pigments that improve the quality of the material.

Cement grouts can be selected as already ready-made, and in the form of a dry powder, which must be dissolved in water or a special latex base. Plus, the finished grout in the absence of any kneading manipulations - I opened the bucket, collected the mixture on a spatula and began to seal the seams. That's just the composition must be used entirely in one approach - after air has entered the sealed container, the grout will begin to harden inexorably. The exact shelf life of the composition after depressurization is indicated on the package - on average it is 3-6 days.

Most often, builders buy dry powders - it is much easier to store them and at any time you can knead the required volume. The main thing is to ensure the correct storage conditions. Finely ground cement is very sensitive to moisture - even humid air can cause the composition to harden. A mixture that has turned into one piece of hardened cement is no longer suitable for its intended use - even if you manage to crush it and dilute it with water, such a grout will be very short-lived.

For seams up to 5 mm, masters use standard formulations, where the main role is played by cement and plasticizers, which prevent cracking. But for wider joints, there are special grouts, which include sand of different fractions. The wider the space between the tiles, the larger the fraction should be. The grains of sand also prevent the cement from cracking.

Cement grouts are easy to pick up, they are versatile, but short-lived. Constant exposure to household chemicals leads to the rapid destruction of the compositions. In addition, rough seams eventually fill with fine dust, which “paints” the grout in a dirty color. Every housewife faces this problem - against the background of clean tiles, dirty gray seams look depressing. They can only be washed with hot steam or very hard friction.

But you can do it differently - instead of crawling on the floor on your knees with every cleaning, we will do it only once, but thoroughly. You will need a narrow paint brush (according to the width of the seam) and a clear polyurethane varnish. This composition dries quickly, but has an unpleasant odor, so buy a good respirator and send your family to relatives for a couple of days. It is better to apply at least two coats of varnish on tile joints. Try not to walk on the tile - it will be clearly visible in the light. Keep a rag with you to wipe off any stray brushstrokes past the seam. You will be happy with the result!

How to choose an epoxy composition - professional tile grout

With epoxy grouts, we recommend working with your hands, not with a spatula, especially if you are new to this business. Fingers are the most sensitive tool, and epoxy is quite difficult to handle. Epoxy grout is very viscous, which makes it difficult to apply. Yes, and the price of the material is an order of magnitude higher. By rubbing the seams with your fingers, you will significantly reduce material consumption and reduce the amount of unnecessary pollution. True, on large volumes of work you will have to forget about this advice and return to the spatula - the fingers simply cannot withstand such a load.

Why is epoxy so good? It is good, first of all, with high strength after solidification. Epoxy resin, which is part of the grout, after hardening is able to withstand constant exposure to moisture, household chemicals and even acids without consequences. That is why such compositions are recommended for use on kitchen aprons, in pools and even in laboratories.

In addition to epoxy, the grout contains fine quartz sand and hardeners. As a rule, manufacturers offer components separately - they must be mixed together to obtain a working composition. The result is an elastic mass of sufficiently high density. As already mentioned, working with this mass is one "pleasure", but you can be sure of the quality of work. Epoxy compounds retain their original appearance for several decades! The seams are not clogged with fine dust and do not lose color, mold and fungus have no chance to take root between the tiles.

Please note that the hardened grout is very difficult to wipe off the tiles, so the surface should be cleaned immediately after grouting.

The building materials market has recently replenished with grouts based on furan resin. They have increased resistance to aggressive substances and have high strength. But it is unlikely that such tests will fall on the tiles in your house. In addition, these compounds are very difficult to work with - it is extremely problematic to wipe off the stains of this grout in unnecessary places. That is why the tiles are waxed before grouting, and the seams are sealed very carefully.

We paint grout for tiles - how to choose a color?

Having dealt with all the characteristics of different compositions, each buyer will certainly get stuck on choosing a color. Cement compositions can be painted in any color and shade - just add a little ordinary gouache to the grout mixture and mix everything thoroughly. However, do not rush to do a large batch at once - it is better to experiment on a small amount. When the color of the grout is visually in harmony with the tile, apply the composition to several joints and wait until it dries. The intensity of the color often changes as it dries, and the shade you like may evaporate with the liquid. If you really find fault, then do not forget to evaluate the color of the dried grout in different lighting conditions.

The color range of epoxy grout is limited to ready-made proposals - colored quartz sand gives color to the composition. However, this does not prevent choosing interesting solutions. Particularly popular are grouts with sparkles, transparent compositions and mixtures painted in bronze or silver.

If you still can’t decide on a choice, stop at win-win options. For walls, this is white, and for the floor, any dark shade that matches the color of the tiles. The main thing is not to confuse - white on the floor will very quickly turn into dirty gray.

Laying tiles in the bathroom or in the kitchen is an essential step overhaul, with which each person encounters no more than one or two times during the entire period of living in the apartment. In this regard, the master must be aware of the entire burden of responsibility placed on his shoulders, and treat each stage of repair with the utmost care, having thought through every little thing. Laying ceramic tiles considered one of the most difficult types of repair finishing works, during which it is also important to pay attention to details. It would seem that having laid the tiles, it's time to relax, but at this stage, most masters are just starting to think about the question: "How to choose a grout by color?", And the loss of vigilance at this moment can lead to irreparable consequences. When choosing a grout for a tile, it is important not only to know its composition, but also to decide on its color, which will give the wall a finished and harmonious look, and the composition - integrity. In addition, it is important to take into account many factors - the microclimate in the room, the moisture resistance of the composition, as well as its resistance to fungal and mold damage. Based on this, it becomes clear that the correct selection of grout for tiles is a rather complicated process, the results of which largely determine the decorativeness of the finished surface and the integrity of its perception. To facilitate this task, in this article we will consider the main types of grout, and tips from professionals on choosing a grout color will help you make right choice.

What is grout for tiles: the main functions of grout mixtures

If earlier only cement mortar was used to seal joints between tiles, today the construction market offers consumers a large number of varied grouting compounds, which not only reliably mask the gaps between the tiles, forming an airtight coating, but also transforms the appearance of the base material.

Tile grout is a homogeneous dry or pasty mixture, for the manufacture of which polymers are used, as well as white or gray cement. There are certain features of the production of a particular group of grout mixtures - some of them are made only in white and gray colors, and tint dyes are added to them only before starting work, others are already produced in ready-made color options.

What is tile grout for?

Filling the tile joint, tile grout protects the joints from the penetration of moisture and dirt into them and thereby prevents the destruction of the adhesive composition. Due to this, moisture is not absorbed into the wall, and the likelihood of mold and fungus formation on it is minimized;

Using a tile grout matched to the tone of the tile, you can hide cladding defects, such as uneven joints and chips;

Tile grout allows you to combine disparate tile elements into a single picture, and, performing the function of the final touch, gives it a sense of completeness;

If you are not a connoisseur of pastel colors in the interior and want to give it expressiveness, use tile grout in contrasting shades with it. Thanks to this technique, you will emphasize the geometry of the picture, making it deeper and more saturated;

Using grout for tiles, you can combine disparate elements of the interior and thereby create a coherent composition, which is especially important if various pieces of furniture and cladding "arguing" with tiles that contrast in color.

Types of grout for tiles

Before we talk about how to choose a grout for tiles in the kitchen, consider the main types of grouts, taking into account their composition. Depending on the composition, the following groups of grouts for tile joints are distinguished:

Cement-based grout, the composition of which may vary slightly depending on the inclusion of one or another component (modifiers, polymer additives) is the most common option on the construction market. Despite slight differences in composition, they can be used when working with tiles of different colors and qualities. As a basis for cement grout, both a cement-sand mixture and a special type of cement - Portland cement can be used. The disadvantages of cement-based grouts are a limited range of colors, most often represented by shades of white and gray, and low resistance to moisture;

Epoxy grout, distinctive feature which is the presence of a hardener in the composition, which ensures long-term preservation of the color of the grout. Due to the fact that the application of epoxy grouts requires certain skills and experience, they are rarely used in the process of repairing typical apartments;

Grout in the form of silicone sealant, characterized by ease of use and a variety of colors, so you can easily match the grout for tiles of any color and texture. This grout is resistant to high humidity, as well as to mold and other fungal infections, which is due to the presence of antifungal components in the grout.

Important! Experts do not recommend using silicone sealant as a grout, since the latter, in contact with moisture during operation, turns yellow and also shrinks significantly. If you still prefer sealant as a grout, choose polyurethane compounds, but remember that they do not differ in a variety of colors and are produced in mostly monochrome colors.

The main effects created using grout

The correctly chosen color of the grout directly determines the appearance of the room, for the design of which ceramic tiles are used, its integrity and visual perception. There are a number of rules that must be observed in the process of choosing a grout.

To facilitate the process of choosing a grout, designers divided all possible effects created in the process of combining tiles and grout into several groups. By giving preference to one or another visual effect, you will facilitate the process of choosing a grout and creating an interior concept.

Consider each of the three options for effects that can be created by choosing the right grout color options.

• Imitation of a single surface - a technique, the implementation of which is possible provided that the grout of the same color as the ceramic tile is chosen. By giving preference to this effect, you can visually expand the room, which will be especially relevant for small bathrooms in standard apartments;
• Selection of tiled elements using a grout of a contrasting color - a technique involving the use of a grout mixture of a contrasting shade with the tiles. This technique it is considered one of the most spectacular, especially in cases where tiles of bright colors or non-standard shapes are used, which can be emphasized by preferring contrasting colors of grouts;
• Selection of the grout mixture to match one of the shades of the tile - a technique thanks to which you can not only create a coherent composition, but also unobtrusively designate the geometry and shade of the tile. By adopting this effect, you will create a calm atmosphere in the room, devoid of unnecessary expressiveness.

Experts with extensive experience in interior design share some nuances and secrets, thanks to which you can achieve the desired effect in the interior.

Let's consider some of them:

• Using light colors of tiles and grouts, you can visually expand the room;
• Preferring dark tiles and grout of the same color, you can unite the room, however, the use of dark tones in the interior of the room will contribute to its visual reduction;
• Using light-colored tiles in conjunction with grouting in a contrasting dark shade will divide the wall into separate segments. This is an original effect that will be the perfect complement to certain areas of the interior;
• If in the process of finishing a small room you use tiles whose colors include several shades, choose a grout whose color is close to the lightest shade in the tile ornament;
• If you use mosaic tiles to finish walls or horizontal surfaces, give preference to grouting in soothing shades, such as beige or light gray;
• Among the colored grouts, the most versatile is the white grout. Thanks to this property, it can emphasize or mask the boundaries between tiled elements. However, experts do not recommend using white grout for finishing the floor, as it will soon lose its original appearance and acquire an ugly dirty gray tint. To avoid this, for finishing horizontal surfaces, use a grout to match the tile or a shade that is closest to the color of the tile;

• In the process of finishing small rooms, experts recommend not using more than three shades of tiles, and therefore grout mixtures. Otherwise, the color scheme of the room will be chaotic and scattered, which will make the room visually cramped.
• When we choose the color of grout for the bathroom, we often try to choose a shade that is as close as possible to the color of the tile, but today, a wide variety of colors for tiles and grout adds other, more often contrasting color combinations to the designer's arsenal.

Important! Today, manufacturers present collections of tiles, to which color solutions of grouts have already been selected. As a rule, these color combinations are as original as possible: black tiles are complemented with pearl white grout, beige with milk chocolate or cocoa grout, olive with graphite grout, and gray with mahogany grout.

If earlier the presence of good taste could be demonstrated by choosing a grout of neutral shades, today the situation is the opposite, and experts recommend using a grout of bright colors - red, green, orange, turquoise, etc. for finishing the bathroom. This advice will be especially relevant if you have chosen a white tile, as all colors are combined with it. However, if you are combining white tiles with grout bright color, try to choose it in such a way that it matches the color of the furniture or other interior elements as much as possible.

What is a universal grout?

Contrary to popular belief, white grout is not universal. Despite the fact that it is in harmony with the material of any color, together with dark-colored tiles, it forms contrasting combinations that do not fit into the framework of classic interior concepts.

The modern construction market offers an alternative to white grout - a colorless grout made on the basis of epoxy resin with the addition of glass. The versatility of the grout is provided by its light-absorbing characteristics, due to which it becomes colorless. It is often called a "chameleon", due to its ability to adapt to the color of ceramic tiles.

Important! Colorless grout - universal material produced with innovative technologies. It has high wear resistance, it is easy to apply and also easy to clean off. Chameleon grout is characterized by resistance to mechanical and chemical influences, high resistance to mold and other fungal infections.

Colorless grout is indispensable when working with various types glass mosaics and in the process of creating tiled panels.

We tint the grout with our own hands: if the desired color is not on sale

Often, even in large building supermarkets, it is not always possible to find a grout of the desired shade, since a modern manufacturer does not cover the entire color palette. If you are unable to find the grout of the desired color, do not rush to abandon your original decision and choose a different shade. You can solve the problem by choosing a color scheme of a suitable shade.

In this case, you have the following options in stock:

• The use of special tinting paste;
• Acquisition of a conventional water-soluble color;
• Application as a tinting color gouache or watercolor.

Using any of these components, you can color your white grout any color you want or make the grout more saturated.

Important! If you plan to tint the grout, remember two important nuances:

• Try to paint the grout in one day. Otherwise, the grout will dry out, and you are unlikely to be able to pick up the desired shade the next day;
• Remember that after drying, the grout becomes lighter, and therefore, it is necessary to use a color scheme a few tones darker than planned.

Options for color combinations of tiles with grout

Experienced craftsmen know that even after applying a color sample of grout to a tile, it is quite difficult to imagine how they will look together on the surface. In this regard, before proceeding with the surface finishing, study the photos of the interiors, illustrating typical combinations.

Using grout in multiple colors

The example illustrates the use of grout in two colors - white and red. This option will be relevant if you use tiles of several contrasting shades, and to create a single plane and a harmonious transition between shades, you need to choose a grout to match the tile.

The surface, for finishing which one-color tiles were used, looks like a single plane, and only the presence of a small relief makes it possible to distinguish individual segments in it. The effect of a single plane is achieved through the use of grout, the tone of which is perfectly matched to the color of the tile. However, the perfect fusion of materials depends not only on the color, but also on the composition of the grout used. For example, the surface of epoxy grout, after hardening, has a noticeable resemblance to the glazed surface of ceramic tiles.

To harmonize the transition from white to colored segments, white grout is used, which focuses on the contrast between light and dark.

Thanks to this technique, the interior looks thought out to the smallest detail. For example, a tile with a photo pattern, located between a white and a red tile, has in its color scheme shades similar to the colors of the surrounding tiles. Due to this, despite the abundance of color shades, the composition retains its integrity and original appearance.

Using a grout that is close in tone to the tile

If you do not plan to add expressive notes to the interior, and, on the contrary, want your eyes to rest when looking at the surfaces of soothing shades, give preference to this option. Thanks to this technique, the wall covering will also look uniform, and at the same time, the seams between the tiles will emphasize the origin of the material.

Selection of grout and tiles of the same shades

This option will be the most preferable if you plan to create the most uniform plane. The option proposed below illustrates how you can combine separate planes that divide the wall surface into two parts - the upper decorative and the lower panel.

The division of the wall was made with the help of a border tape, the pattern of which includes bright blotches. Despite the fact that they are radically different from the main color scheme, they are designed to enliven the interior and create a coherent composition. To eliminate possible randomness and fragmentation of the plane, it is necessary to use a grout, the tone of which is as close as possible to the tone of the tile.

Using grout and tiles in contrasting colors

This section presents two options for selecting contrast materials. The first one is classic and involves a combination of black and white colors. Thanks to this combination, a cold and restrained interior is created, which does not always find its admirers because of its excessive severity.

The following example also illustrates a contrasting but more cheerful color combination. Contrasting white grout adds freshness to a room decorated with ultramarine tiles. This combination will be ideal for decorating a bathroom and creating an optimistic mood.

Choice of grout for tiles video

Carrying out repairs in the apartment, each owner hopes that in this form the dwelling will stand for a very long time and you will not have to repeat all the work done in the near future. In order for these hopes to come true, it is necessary to approach the issue of repair responsibly, carefully selecting Construction Materials. At the same time, not only the quality of the materials, but also the right colors play a significant role.

Nowadays, few renovations are complete without tiling. Many refer to the choice of grout color rather superficially - they just buy the first one that comes across. Therefore, it often happens that an expensive tile completely loses its attractiveness from a combination with a poorly matched grout. So when creating individual design it is very important to pay due attention to this material.

Choice of grout color for tiles

The classic option is the selection of a color that is 1-2 tones different from the color of the tile. This jointing will provide maximum harmony. In order for future repairs to please the eye, you need to decide on your own color preferences.

The choice may also be influenced by the pattern on the tile and its structure. In order not to make a mistake in choosing, it is best to take a tile or part of it with you to the store and apply it to all grout samples.

Advice. Apply to all colors, not just to similar shades. Quite unexpectedly, you can find an interesting combination.

Not so long ago, a contrasting grout color has become popular. This method allows you to shade and emphasize the color and structure of the tile. The most common combinations are:

• black - pearl;
• beige - cocoa;
• olive - graphite;
• gray - mahogany.

The contrasting combination looks bold and spectacular, but there is a rather thin line in the selection, crossing which you can get ridiculous and disharmonious combinations.

Standard grout colors

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a grout. White color will match any tile color if it is a wall tile. It is always appropriate for light tones, and with dark ones it will create a good contrast. However, for grouting floor tiles, a white fugue will not work in any way, because after a while the color will turn into a dirty gray. And here grey colour grout is suitable for the floor, no matter what shade of tile you plan to put there.

Types of grout by composition

But choosing the right color is not always enough. It is necessary to pay attention to the composition and properties of the grout, because in different rooms there are various conditions. At the moment there are three main types of fugue:

• cement based;
• using epoxy resins;
• silicone grout.

The most common at the moment are cement grouts. They have slight differences in composition, and depending on this, they are used for tiles of various colors and qualities. These grouts have a small color range and also do not tolerate water well.

Cement grout for tiles

For different joint widths, different grouts must be used. So, the cement fugue for wide joints contains sand in its composition, which does not allow the cement to crack after drying, and retains its shape.

You can buy such a fugue ready-made in buckets or in the form of a dry powder.

Fugue from plastic buckets can be used immediately, however, despite the ease of use, this also has its drawbacks: the mass dries out quickly enough, therefore it is necessary to use it all at once.

Grout in powder form must first be mixed with water or latex. The advantage of such a fugue is that you yourself determine the volume you need, and you do not have to worry that the contents will dry out.

To virtues such a grout can be attributed:

• low price;
• ease of use;
• universality;
• strength.

disadvantages:

• collapses under the influence of household chemicals;
• resistant to pollution.

Epoxy grout

Grouts using epoxy resins contain a hardener in their composition. This allows it to retain color for a long time and not be washed out by water. However, experience is required to apply such a grout, therefore, with ordinary apartment renovations they are not often used with their own hands.

Epoxy grout can be used in baths, swimming pools, as well as in places where tiles are often exposed to household chemicals: kitchen walls, countertops, laboratory rooms.

Such a fugue is sold in the form of two separately contained components:

• epoxy resin filled with quartz sand;
• hardener.

To work, you need to mix two components. At the output, we will get a viscous mixture, which is difficult to work with even for experienced craftsmen. However, the result will not upset you - epoxy grout can retain its appearance for several decades. It will not change color, brightness or structure.

Advantages such a fugue:

• resistance to chemicals;
• frost resistance;
• water resistance;
• invariance of a decorative look;
• durability;
• strength;
• resistance to fungus and mold.

disadvantages:

• laboriousness;
• high price.

Silicone grout

Silicone sealants have a huge variety of colors and you can choose such a grout for any type of tile, regardless of color and texture. Besides, this species grout has an antifungal composition and increased resistance to water, which makes it possible to widely use it in rooms with high humidity, such as a kitchen, toilet, bathroom.

If the desired color is not available

Sometimes it happens that the store does not have the required color in stock, or you simply do not like the colors that exist in the standard offers of manufacturers. In this case, you can create suitable shade on one's own. This can be done in two ways: by mixing white grout with grout of a different color until the desired shade is obtained, or by using color.

Colors are sold at any building materials store. You can experiment with shades by adding different colors to the white grout until you achieve the desired result. The saturation of the color depends on the amount of color, and the shades are only on your imagination.

Primers and additives

Various primers and additives will be a good help. There are additives that make the grout from ordinary moisture or frost resistant, or give it anti-deformation and antifungal properties. In general, it adds to it the characteristics that you need.

If for some reason it is not possible to purchase a puffer with the desired properties, you can get them using special additives. For example, you need a tile putty suitable for underfloor heating, but the desired color with such properties is not available. This is where building chemicals come in handy.

Advice. It is worth remembering that when using a dry mix, after you fill it with water, it may seem to you that the color does not match the one you chose. Do not worry, after the grout dries - the desired color will return.

Experienced designers advise not to overdo it with the number of colors and adhere to the principle of "three-color". You can choose the grout to match the tile or the pattern applied to it, as well as to match the plumbing or furniture elements. But you should not use more than three colors in one room.

The choice of color depends entirely on your capabilities and preferences. We hope this article has helped you figure out how to choose the right color and what to look for when choosing a putty for tiles.

Do-it-yourself grouting: video

Grouting between tiles: photo

Tiles are perhaps one of the most common ways to decorate bathrooms and toilets, as well as special corners of kitchens. It is not difficult to indicate the reasons for the nationwide popularity: ceramic cladding perfectly protects the walls from the penetration of dirt and moisture, it is easy to clean and wash.

Besides, modern tile able to radically transform the look of the room. But competent finishing for masters home comfort, relying on themselves and preferring to make repairs on their own, suggests the right approach.

It begins with thoughtful design, careful planning of the process, continues with the implementation of the stage of its competent professional implementation, and ends with grouting joints between tiles.

The last stage, it would seem, is not so important compared to the total amount of work. However, having laid the tiles and looking at the results of fruitful work, it becomes clear that without the final stage, it is impossible to achieve perfection.

Only this procedure gives the opportunity to give the cladding, impressive in its accuracy, a complete aesthetic appearance. It hides defects (when they exist), formed due to incorrect actions during installation.

In addition, if the space between the seams is protected from moisture penetrating into each slot, then layers of disgusting mold and colonies that are hazardous to health and pathogenic will not grow on the walls, ceiling and floor.

But since grouting is necessary, the question arises: which one is better to use, and how to do it using a technology that guarantees a neat, beautiful, high-quality appearance of the room after repair?

In the photo, the seams between ceramic tiles without grout

The choice of material is not an easy and responsible matter, depending not only on whims and one's own desire, but on necessity, based on many indicators. First of all, it is important to evaluate the size of the gaps left during the finishing work when laying the tiles.

The space between the modules must necessarily exist so that the integrity of the cladding is not violated, because as the glue dries, the tile begins to mix and shrink slightly. The tile "breathes" through the space left, and this circumstance cannot be ignored.

• Wide seams, exceeding half a centimeter in size, usually occur when using porcelain stoneware floor tiles, the dimensions of which are not small, and therefore must be designed accordingly.

For grouting floor tiles it is better to choose mastics made from resins. They will provide excellent protection and satisfy aesthetic tastes.

• Narrow seams, not exceeding 5 mm in size, are usually formed during facing works to protect against dirt and decorate walls. Here it is better to use moisture-resistant mastic compositions produced on a cement basis.

Additives, additives, plasticizers only improve the properties of this material. In stores, such grout is purchased in the form of a powder mixture, having a very affordable cost.

• Joints in the corners of the bathroom, where excellent waterproofing is required due to constant high humidity, it is recommended to process silicone sealant. It is he who is able to perfectly protect walls and floors, especially in places where plumbing is located, providing competent sealing and grouting bathroom tiles.

This part of the finishing work also performs decorative functions, so the choice of shade is so important. And here a whole range of options is possible. You can make your own material.

True, this task is notable for some difficulties. In the process of creation, achieving the necessary color range, it should be borne in mind that when drying, the grout sometimes becomes lighter by a couple of tones.

• The white color of the grout is very useful if the tile design is made with some defects. Such a shade does not differ in flashy brightness, because of this, it will not be too striking for observers. This is a great way to compensate for the lack of professional skills, and is often very useful to use.

• It is advantageous to choose a contrasting shade with the general background of the laid tiles if, in contrast to the previously described, the lining is perfectly executed. Such a play of colors will only emphasize the quality of the work.

• Transparent grout, which does not reflect tile light and in color resembles thoroughly diluted milk, finds its best use in the version with multi-colored tiles.

Such ideas are often implemented in interior design when complex color mosaic solutions are implemented. But transparent grout is usually used if the dimensions of the joints between the modules do not exceed 2 mm.

Making grouting tile joints It is most convenient to use a ready-made color scheme, because the major manufacturers of these products, presenting new collections, offer an excellent choice of materials.

A variety of quality and color characteristics is obtained through the use of new technologies. The seams between the tiles can be filled under the metal, make the joints bronze, silver and gold.

According to your own taste and design fantasies It is always possible to pick up something interesting, unusual, impressive.

Types of grout

To finish the seams, mastics are used - special putties purchased as a ready-made composition or in the form of a dry powder. In the second option, which is more suitable for do-it-yourself tile grouting, when used, the mastic has to be pre-cooked.

It is diluted with water and stirred with a construction mixer. This is not difficult to do, since the proportions necessary to comply with this procedure can be found on the packaging.

It is possible to buy ready-made fugues already diluted, but in order to save money, this is not entirely advisable, but tile grout price will increase significantly.

• When using a material, it is necessary to take into account its initial properties. The convenience of cement-based mixtures, the qualities of which are only improved with the use of additives, lies in the rapid drying.

But in the absence of appropriate skills that slow down the work, such a circumstance should be taken into account. We have to try to use the material as soon as possible.

Otherwise, the substance will soon harden and become unusable. And when making repairs, it is necessary to dilute the components in exactly the amount that may be required.

• When using resin-based mastic, it is best to pay attention to epoxy grouts that are popular among experienced repairmen.

The line of such products offered in stores is endowed with a high viscosity, therefore it is extremely in demand when finishing moisture-resistant rooms. This material has many advantages, and negative indicators are practically minimized.

After drying, such a material surpasses plastic in strength, it washes well and rarely gets dirty. In this case, any means are perfect for cleaning tiles, such a grout is not afraid of even the most aggressive chemistry, although soapy water is often enough to keep tiles with a similar finish in order.

Epoxy fugues are not afraid of heat and significant frosts and, unlike cement-based products, they do not crumble over time, although they fade. Fugue with furan resin components, often used for finishing work in factories. Such material is very stable and not affected by chemistry.

Among the main disadvantages of epoxy grout: high hardening speed (only about an hour). This feature undoubtedly makes such a composition unpleasant for use by non-professionals who find it difficult to get rid of the problems that arise due to the specified property of this grout.

If the material costs do not bother the master, it is undoubtedly more convenient to use finished products for grouting tiles: buy and to avoid the time and effort spent on preparing material for repairs, since everything necessary is done in an industrial way.

But opening the container, you first need to inquire about the shelf life. Otherwise, a huge part of the product may disappear into the void, which will never happen in the variant if dry formulations are adopted. Such a mixture tends to be stored for an indefinitely long time.

• When finishing facades, special materials are used, which means that it will be required grouting clinker tiles. It is produced with the calculation of compensation for the undesirable effects of temperature fluctuations, so that the brittle does not crack.

It is more convenient to grout in a dry form and turn the finishing material immediately before work. The proposed range of colors of joint fillers is extensive, but there are no special recommendations for choosing a tone. Here everyone should be guided by their own tastes and priorities.

Grout application

When the right choice of material is made, the next step in the repair should be the preparation of tools for work. First of all, you need a rubber flexible spatula for grouting tiles.

This tool can be replaced with a pastry bag, which will help to accurately and efficiently fill the joints between the modules with a fugue if the distances between them are too large. In addition, you need a sponge for rubbing and a brush.

Finally, you can go to the main stage. The grouting procedure itself does not have any particular difficulties, only a simple algorithm should be followed.

1. Dust and dirt, as well as adhesive residues, are carefully removed from the tile. Next, you should knead the composition in small portions to seal the gaps between the tiles and wait about ten minutes so that all the processes in it are brought to full readiness.

2. With a wet sponge, before starting work, each seam, previously treated with antifungal compounds, should be abundantly moistened. A similar ritual is necessary for disinfection and so that the moisture from the grout is less sucked out.

3. Application starts from the farthest edge of the room. To do this, the gaps between the seams are jointed with a spatula until the voids are completely filled. Next, excess grout mixture is removed to the boundaries of the tile modules.

4. To prevent cracking of the grout, at the end of the work, moisten the filled joints with a wet sponge. This should be done when the solution dries a little.

For experienced craftsmen, the entire described work takes a little more than a quarter of an hour. But we should not forget that as the grout dries, the space between the joints sags. For this reason, the procedure takes place in two, sometimes even in three steps, and the boundaries of the wall and tiled lining are sealed with silicone sealant.

5. After the grout has dried, the joints are treated with an antiseptic and epoxy resin to protect the tiles from water penetration and extend the life of the finish.

6. Next, with a damp sponge, all dirt remaining after finishing work is removed. And then it remains only to look after the seams, maintaining cleanliness using a solution of soapy water, vinegar, citric acid or a suitable disinfectant for cleaning.

How to prevent cracking?

At the joints between the modules, the grout may begin to crack. How to avoid it? First you need to understand the reasons, and then it is possible to draw conclusions.

• This may be a consequence of a violation of technology when mixing the solution. With self-dilution, all the rules must be observed, and the resulting substance must be settled for at least five minutes before use, then mixed again.
• In some cases, cracks begin to appear already during the grouting process itself. This becomes a signal that the solution prepared for work is not thick enough. Using too liquid material is an unpleasant, but correctable mistake.
• To eliminate its consequences, the dry powder ingredient should be rubbed directly into the cracks formed. The composition of the solution also has to be changed, bringing it to a favorable consistency. It should have medium viscosity and be homogeneous.

• Cracking can be caused by the condition of the seams. It should be ensured that they are wide enough and during preparatory work be thoroughly cleaned.
• Cracking can be caused by external factors. For this reason, the grout should not be used in abundance indoors during the drying period (especially in the bathroom) hot water as well as ventilation.

Summing up and making a final conclusion, it should be concluded that the main rule in the work when conducting grouting ceramic tiles- this is a clear implementation of all requirements.

It is better to follow exactly what is written in the instructions on the package, taking into account information about the width of the seams, the application of the material and the conditions for its drying. Then there should be no problems, unless, of course, the tile itself is superimposed on an unstable, for example, wooden base.

How to update the seam between tiles?

After completing the finishing work, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor. However, in some cases, the feeling of satisfaction is short-lived. And after some time, the grout loses its freshness, and the appearance of the finish becomes not at all as wonderful as it was after installation.

• There are several ways out. To update, the grout is bleached using hydrogen peroxide and soda. After mixing these two components, the resulting substance is applied to the seams using an ordinary toothbrush. But it is better and faster to update the openings using a steam cleaner.

When the appearance of the tile ceases to please completely, you should not rush to dismantle it or run to the store for a new one in order to urgently make another repair.

Often the cause of the unsatisfactory condition of the ceramic finish is the contamination of the joints. In some cases, it may be sufficient to simply grouting old tile joints. There are several ways to carry out the plan.

• The most practical and easy method is staining. However, in this case, the appearance of the tile will change for no more than six months. In addition, difficulties may arise with the search for a paint composition suitable for a humid environment.

It is also possible, on top of the outdated one, to apply a new layer of grout. But this makes sense if the seams between the modules are sufficiently voluminous and have recesses of at least two millimeters.

• Toward radical, and therefore effective, measures to renovate appearance cladding includes a complete replacement of the contents of the joints. But how to remove grout from tile joints?

Fresh grouting material, no more than a day old, can simply be soaked with water if for some reason it has become objectionable. And after a thorough cleaning of the inter-module openings and complete drying, there is a second chance to do everything in the best possible way.

It is possible to use the sandpaper folded into a tube when the grout has had time to grab, but not much time has passed since the repair work. If the surface of the tile is contaminated with old grout, you should resort to using ordinary sunflower oil, which will help remove unpleasant residues.

When the described options are not suitable for eliminating obsolete grout due to a long service life, there is nothing left but to resort to a mechanical method of getting rid of the contents of the inter-module openings.

1. Before starting work, a sharp object (you can use a knife) should be drawn straight along the tile seam, and then, changing the angle of inclination, do the same two more times, only a little to the left and to the right of the original line. Then proceed with a drill and an electric drill.

2. If tile came into complete disrepair: it broke off and almost does not stay on the surface, it will no longer be possible to manage with light repairs and cosmetic measures.

3. The mechanical method of removing the old grout will adversely affect the condition of the old tile, and it may well happen that it will simply crumble. The most correct decision in this case is to change the old finish to a qualitatively new one, which will be more beautiful and more convenient.