Sooner or later, everyone has to redecorate their bathroom. An important element is the replacement of tiles and baths. However, after the installation procedure, a certain gap forms between them. This is the main place for the development of mold, plaque and dirt accumulation. To avoid such situations and prevent the appearance of mold, high-quality sealing of the joints should be performed. But how to make the junction of tiles to the bath correctly? Consider the most popular ways.
Application of foam
To date, this is the easiest and most effective way. However, it doesn't always look pretty. Mounting foam costs mere pennies, and a dried seam can be painted over with ordinary oil paint. But there is a limitation here. In this way, tiles can be adjoined to a metal or cast iron bath. Polyurethane foam is not suitable for plastic panels and acrylic structures.
Howis the tile adjoining the bath? The operation is performed in several stages:
- First, the area where the docking will be performed is cleaned and washed.
- Next, an antiseptic is applied. We need to wait until it dries.
- Then the side is sanded with sandpaper for better grip.
- The surface is degreased with any solvent.
- The seam is sealed with foam. It is applied slowly and gently. Remember that the material will increase in size over time. Therefore, you need to squeeze out the foam little by little.
- Waiting for the material to dry. Next, using a sharp knife or blade, excess foam is cut off.
- The seam is painted over with nitro paint in white or to match the tile.
Cement mortar
Professionals close the joint of the bathtub and tiles with cement mortar. To do this, prepare a thick solution that will fill all the cracks. But before you prepare it, you need to prepare the surface itself, because the solution dries very quickly.
Alternatively, you can use a plaster mixture. If the joint between the acrylic bathtub and the tile is wide, it is recommended to putty on a serpentine tape for strength. The essence of the work is simple. The seam is cleaned and the mesh is installed so that it goes a little on the tile. Further, the gap is densely filled with putty mortar. But after application, additional waterproofing is necessary, as the cement gets wet. And in the bathroom there will be moisture all the time. For waterproofing,you can add a polymer additive or latex to the solution. And for easy cleaning of the seam, an additional water-repellent impregnation or epoxy is applied.
Sealant
Experts say this is the easiest way. He's quite popular. But you need to understand that the sealant is used only for small gaps. How it works:
- The required area is degreased and cleaned. It is important to apply sealant only to a dry and non-dirty surface.
- The gap is filled with sealant. This can be done with a mounting gun by inserting a tube into it. When applying sealant, it is important not to stain the tiles and the bath itself. The composition is very difficult to wash off.
- Next, the mixture is leveled. This can be done with a rubber spatula. It should be small in size.
- The sealant dries, and you can start using the bath.
If this is a bathroom, experts recommend using compounds with water-repellent and antibacterial properties. They are easier to care for, as a lot of dirt and mold do not form on the surface. As for the color, it is better to choose a white sealant.
Plastic corner
Also, to close the gap, you can use a plastic bath plinth. This method is great for any type of bath:
- cast iron;
- acrylic;
- metal.
In order for the plastic skirting board to hold securely, it is necessary to additionally process the placesfasteners with transparent sealant. For this, "liquid nails" are quite suitable. We also note that such skirting boards already have a self-adhesive base. But as practice shows, this adhesive tape is not always reliable (especially on Chinese-made products, which are the majority on the market). What can I do if the adjoining of the bath to the wall is small? It is allowed to use corners for lining.
Ceramic bath corners
How else can the gap be closed? Among the reliable and proven methods, ceramic bath corners should be noted. This is a kind of plinth, which looks much more aesthetically pleasing than the plastic counterpart. There are many colors and patterns on the market today. Therefore, you can choose a skirting board for every taste and design of the room.
Thanks to the smooth shape, the transition from bath to tile will be negligible. Also, ceramics is a natural material and perfectly withstands high humidity. Mold does not appear on the surface even without additional processing. And you can take care of any detergents that are also used to clean tiles. In addition, the service life of ceramic plinth is higher - up to 15 years.
But there are also flaws. Even though ceramic is a very hard material, it can shatter under strong impact. Also, the corners of this material are not so plastic, and therefore they cannot be used if the connection is uneven (or the bathtub has a special shape). Another downside is the cost. Ceramic products will beorder more expensive than ordinary plastic.
Installation of the product is as follows:
- The joint is cleaned of dirt and dust, primed.
- The gap is filled with silicone sealant. The composition is leveled with a spatula.
- Glue "liquid nails" is being prepared. The composition is applied to the back of the corner.
- The element is pressed into place.
If necessary, you can cut the ceramic plinth. But you need to perform this operation only on the reverse side. And all chips on the ceramic surface are cleaned with sandpaper or with a grinder.
Tile border
This option is the most reliable among others. However, a tile border needs a certain distance between the tile and the edge. Now in assortment there are borders with an original ornament. So you can decorate the look of the bathroom.
But it will be difficult to connect tiles to the bath in this way. The angle of inclination must be observed. Therefore, this is thought out even at the stage of installing tiles.
Use ribbon
This method is as convenient as using sealant, but more expensive. You also need to know that cheap self-adhesive tape will not differ in high-quality waterproofing. Therefore, the mold will develop perfectly under it, moving partially to the tile and bath. Beforehand, the joint between the tile and the bathroom can not be painted. But it must be degreased, otherwise the adhesion quality of the tape will deteriorate significantly. Depending on the size of the gap in the store, you can find both wide and narrowribbons. Their cost is from 600 to 1200 rubles per meter.
Experts recommend additionally using a transparent sealant or "liquid nails". This composition must be applied over the adhesive base of the sealing tape. As in the previous cases, the joint surface must be clean and free of grease.
Grout for tiles
If the side is almost close to the tile, it is allowed to use classic grout. It can be ready-made (sold in tubes) or dry. In the latter case, it is prepared independently - it is mixed with water to the consistency of a thick slurry. The method of using grout is very simple, while the gap looks neat. How is grout used? To begin with, the surface is degreased. Then a small gap is covered. If it is a ready-made composition, it is applied like a regular sealant - using a mounting gun. Grout colors may vary, but in most cases white is chosen. This is a win-win. By the way, if it is a dry grout, stains may remain after its application. They must be removed with a clean, damp cloth. Otherwise, the composition will dry out and it will be almost impossible to remove it from the glazed surface without damaging the tile.
Among the positive aspects of grouting, reviews note the presence of antifungal additives that are already in the composition. On such a surface, fungus and mold will not actively develop. You can also additionally process the joint with a fugue gloss. Thanks to water-repellent additiveson such a coating there will be no yellow stains from rust and plaque.
However, it is worth noting that this method is not suitable for use in large gaps.
Combination method
Recently, more and more owners began to use polyurethane foam in combination with a plastic skirting board or with a sealing tape. How is the junction of the bathtub and the wall sealed? The work is done as follows:
- First, the gap between the wall and the tub is filled with foam.
- Next, a tape or a plinth is installed on the composition. The first option will be cheaper, but you need to remember that a tight fit of the tiles to the bath will not work.
Additionally, the plinth (if it was chosen) is treated with a transparent adhesive. After five minutes, the surface will firmly grab. By the way, some use pieces of plastic instead of plinth as decoration. But experts recommend using a one-piece skirting board - it's easier and more beautiful.
Recommendations
Before working with any building materials (especially cement mortar), you need to cover the tub with a piece of cloth or cellophane. It will be difficult to wash off glue, sealant and other compounds if they get on the glazed surface, so do not be lazy and look for a piece of film. Of course, it is enough to close only the part that is in contact with the wall (that is, where the work will be carried out). So we will protect ourselves from getting trains onbath surface.
