The purpose of the article is to tell the reader how to grout a mosaic with grout. This facing material is valued for its practicality and beauty. Mosaics decorate bathrooms, kitchens, corridors and other rooms. However, the originality and integrity of the composition depends on the grout.
Shade, technical properties and application quality are indicators that determine the type of coating. You can close the seams yourself, since special skills are not needed to complete this work. However, the slightest deviation from the technique will spoil the surface, so you must first study the information provided in the article in order to get a high-quality decorative coating as a result.
Grout: Features
A characteristic feature of the mosaic is a large number of gaps, so they will have to be filled with a special compound. If this is not done, the coating will quickly become unusable. Overwriting the mosaic, as you know, is necessary for the following reasons:
- Forprotection of the wall and flooring in a room with a high level of humidity (for example, in a shower room) from the negative effects of moisture. If you do not fill the seams of the mosaic, mold or fungus will form in them over time. In addition, dirt will constantly accumulate in the joints.
- To mask bumps, seams, adhesive residue, chips and other defects.
- For surface decoration.
The durability of the coating lined with mosaics depends on the quality of the grouting.
Requirements
Before overwriting the mosaic, you need to study the basic requirements for mixtures:
- The grout should not crumble and crumble after application. Therefore, it is recommended to use only high-quality material and follow the proportions indicated by the manufacturer when mixing the composition.
- The finished mixture should be in such a condition that no drips form on the wall during grouting. However, the solution should not be made too thick, as it will be difficult to apply to the surface. Modern mixes remain elastic even after hardening, so the seams will not be damaged when the tiles are moved.
- Mosaic joints must be protected from bacteria and contamination. Therefore, you need to buy grout mixtures with high water-repellent qualities. This is especially important if you need to sheathe walls or floors in the bathroom.
When choosing a placeholder, you need to consider the following parameters:
- humidity level in the room;
- aggressive environment(presence of acids and alkalis);
- width of seams;
- color and size of the mosaic.
There are two main types of grouts: cement and epoxy. They have features that should be considered in more detail.
Cement based grout
This material is susceptible to mechanical and chemical stress, and also does not tolerate moisture well. However, dried joints can be treated with a special impregnation (eg Atlas Delfin) or polymer varnish to provide them with additional protection. In addition, the mixture must be kneaded with a latex base using a plasticizer to enhance its hydrophobic qualities.
Sold cement grout in the form of a dry powder. As a rule, pure cement compositions are used to fill joints whose width does not exceed 5 mm. The advantages of this material include the following qualities:
- low cost (minimum price for 2 kg - 112 rubles);
- ease of application;
- plasticity;
- presence in some compositions of sand, which increases the strength of the mixture.
However, before grouting mosaic tiles, it is necessary to study the disadvantages of cement-based grout:
- Low moisture resistance.
- Porosity, due to which dirt will constantly accumulate in the seams.
- The presence of small grains of sand, so the mirror mosaic cannot be overwritten with this composition.
According to the advice of the masters, a stabilizer should be added to the solution to increase adhesion, water absorption, abrasion resistance, etc.
Epoxy grout
Compared to a cement-based mixture, such a joint compound has a high price (average cost per 2 kg is 2000 rubles). Grout of this type will not fade over time, since colored quartz sand, which is also a filler, plays the role of a dye. Epoxy mixture has the following advantages:
- durability;
- high moisture resistance;
- UV resistant;
- immunity to dust, water and chemicals;
- good wear resistance;
- no additional processing and addition of a plasticizer to the solution;
- large selection of colors.
However, the applied solution dries in 25-30 minutes. Therefore, before rubbing the mosaic with epoxy grout, you need to prepare a special cleaner, with which you can quickly remove traces of the mixture. In addition, the masters recommend kneading the solution in small portions. If, nevertheless, the epoxy grout dries up, you will have to use a gel remover to remove it from the surface of the mosaic. But even with these difficulties, the mixture is considered a priority material for grouting.
If the question arises of how to overwrite a mirror mosaic, the answer is: for these purposes, you need to use a special epoxy mixture - Kerapoxy Design, provided on the market in 32 different colors.
Grout consumption
The following factors influence this indicator:
- Mosaic size. At the surfacetiled, the dimensions of which are 30 x 30 cm, there will be more seams per 1 m2than a covering sheathed with a wider and longer material. The same applies to the thickness of the mosaic: the higher this parameter, the deeper the gaps between the tiles. The grout must be applied so that it fills all the voids.
- The width of the seams is an indicator that directly depends on the parameters of the tile. A small mosaic looks better framed by narrow joints. In turn, for a large tile, you can leave seams equal to approximately 3 mm.
- Composition density. As a rule, this parameter is 1.5–2 kg/dm3.
Grout consumption must be indicated on the packaging of the material. In addition, much depends on the skills of the craftsman doing the work. The more experienced the master, the less grouting material he will need.
Color selection
If you choose a grout with a suitable shade, you can eliminate the roughness. However, one should not forget about the properties of the mosaic: facing material with a glass or mirror coating requires careful handling. In this case, a clear epoxy grout is the ideal choice. In addition, after drying, the mixture may become slightly lighter or, on the contrary, darker. If the reader is interested in what color to overwrite the mosaic, to resolve this issue, you need to focus on the following recommendations:
- The light coating completely merges with the hardened mixture, so that the lined surface will appear monolithic. This way is perfectoption for hiding defective areas.
- A grout that has a dark shade will come in handy when you need to perform zoning of the room (for example, in combined bathrooms).
- If it is necessary to rub the seams of the floor mosaic, it is customary to use a mixture of brown for this purpose.
- The use of bright colors is appropriate only in combination with the design of the room.
Before overwriting the mosaic, it is necessary to choose its color, taking into account the mentioned recommendations. This nuance needs to be thought out in advance, because the appearance of the room will deteriorate due to an unsuccessful shade.
How to grout the seams of a mosaic tile: tools needed
It is necessary to prepare the following devices:
- a small container for diluting the solution (such as a plastic bucket);
- hand spray gun;
- cellulose sponge and foam grater;
- rubber spatula (recommended width - 150 mm);
- electric drill with mixer attachment.
The last tool is not needed if you need to dilute a small amount of the mixture. A trowel will perfectly replace it.
Applying process: instructions
Work can be started after 24 hours from the moment of laying the tiles. This time is enough for the adhesive on which the facing material was fixed to completely harden. This requirement should not be neglected, otherwise moisture will destroy the mixture with which the seams are filled. The craftsmen came up with the best method for how to grout the seams on the mosaic:
- There should be no residue of tile adhesive on the wall,therefore the surface must be treated with an acid cleaner.
- Wipe the mosaic with a sponge or terry towel.
- Mix the solution according to the instructions on the package.
- Rub the seams with the finished mixture, moving obliquely from top to bottom. The main thing is to fill all the seams at once.
- Remove excess mortar with a rubber spatula.
- After some time (usually, the drying time of the mixture is 30 minutes), wash the tiles. To complete this step, wipe the mosaic with a cellulose sponge to remove excess mortar.
- Wait a few days. During this time, the coating must be protected from drafts, moisture, UV rays and temperature extremes.
- Wipe the surface with a foam grater.
To avoid cracks, during the work it is necessary to moisten the seams with water using a spray bottle.
Recommendations
To properly grout the seams, you need to consider the following tips:
- Rinse the mosaic several times.
- If there is no way to choose the right shade, white grout is a mixture that goes well with almost any mosaic.
- The area worked at a time should not exceed 2 m2.
- Before overwriting the mosaic, you need to experiment with applying it in an inconspicuous area.
- Tiles may move out during work. To fix it, you need to move the edge of the mosaic with a spatula. The main thing is that the mixture does not have time to harden, otherwise the material will have to be dismantled and laid again.
- Make the seams of glassmosaic is recommended with a colorless solution, as it will not stand out. Thus, the coating will gain integrity.
- Epoxy grouts are easier to clean if you pre-treat the surface with a protective film forming agent.
How to care for stitches: tips
The surface must be periodically cleaned of dust and other contaminants. It must be remembered: clean seams are a guarantee that harmful bacteria will not multiply on the coating. You have to clean it several times a month. For this purpose, use soapy water, vinegar, citric acid or household disinfectants.
You can bleach the surface with peroxide and soda, and disinfect it with bleach. Seams can be washed with a toothbrush, and dirt and germs can be removed with a steam cleaner. If the light seams have darkened, then a fungus has formed on them. In this case, you need to clean the old layer and treat the coating with an antiseptic, and then apply a new solution.
Conclusion
The article described the best option, how to overwrite the mosaic. Correctly performing work, as a result of which the seams must be filled, is not an easy task. The main thing is to choose the right mixture and clean the surface regularly. Taking into account the information given in the article, everyone will be able to rub the seams of the mosaic with their own hands so that it not only decorates the interior, but also improves the performance of the surface.
