After the repair in the bathroom, the question inevitably arises of how to close the gap between the plumbing and the coating on the wall. After all, if you do not take any action, water will get here every time you bathe. She will accumulate behind the bathroom. As a consequence, after a very short period of time, the formation of fungus behind the bath can be expected. And this, as you know, is not the best neighbor.
To avoid he alth problems and the destruction of finishing materials, you need to know how to seal the joint between the bathroom and the tiles. There are many options. Which one to choose depends on several factors. In order to carry out such work with high quality, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the main features of its implementation before starting it.
Why does this problem occur?
Repair in the bathroom, many owners do on their own. This allows you to significantly save money in the family budget. However, not having sufficient experience in carrying out such work, novice mastersmay make some mistakes. Because of this, the bath does not fit snugly against the wall surface.
Even when repairs are carried out by professionals, the gap between the plumbing and the ceramic coating will be small, but sufficient for water to penetrate. To be on the safe side, installers most often close the joint in various ways.
A wide gap is obtained if the tile was laid before the installation of the bath. Also, uneven walls, unsuitable dimensions of plumbing can lead to the formation of a wide gap. But even with a quality installation of the bath, the joint should be sealed in one of the following ways.
The oldest way
Studying how to close the joint between the bathroom and the tiles, you should consider several ways to solve this issue. The most ancient is the use of cement mortar. To give it moisture resistance, the surface of the seam was covered with a special agent.
Before the procedure, the surface of the bath and the wall must be thoroughly cleaned of various contaminants, degreased. To prevent cement from getting behind the bath, the gap from below is closed with any convenient improvised means.
Working surfaces are moistened with water. So the solution will set better. The joint is filled with mortar. The cement must be sufficiently viscous to adhere evenly to the surface. After complete drying, the cement joint can be painted or glued with a special tape.
Modern ways
Modern bathroom renovationperformed using superior materials. They extend the life of plumbing and decoration. Cement mortar is now used very rarely.
To get the job done quickly and efficiently, you can use waterproof sealant, mounting foam or grout. These materials are simply applied to the work surface. They are easy to correct if necessary, until the material is dry.
Also on sale is a wide selection of different tapes and skirting boards. They securely close the joints. To improve the result, some masters use a combined approach. In this case, you can be sure that water will not seep under the bathtub, will not accumulate in the seams between the bathtub and the wall.
Apply grout
When deciding how to cover up the joint between the bathroom and the tile, first of all, you should pay attention to the grout. It is a durable, water resistant material. Its advantage is a large number of shades. This allows you to perfectly match the color of the seam to existing interior elements.
The most popular, in spite of everything, remains white grout. The bath most often has this color. Grout is used when the gap to be sealed is small. This substance does not require special skills from the master. Everything happens simply and quickly. The seam will be moisture resistant and retain the original shade for a long time.
The grout is applied with a spatula. Then the layer is treated with a special anti-accumulation agentdirt on the material. However, if the gap is quite large, this method will not work.
Mounting foam
If the gap is no more than 1-2 cm, craftsmen often use a material such as waterproof foam for the bathroom. This is a pretty good way. Mounting foam with moisture-resistant components will be durable and will reliably protect the bathroom floor from water ingress.
But when using such a tool, accuracy is required. Otherwise, the end result will be unsatisfactory. Once the foam gets on other surfaces and hardens, it is very difficult to remove it. Therefore, tapes of masking tape are glued along the joint. The floor should be covered with newspaper or plastic sheeting.
To carry out the work, the master must wear a robe (or things that will not be a pity to get dirty), a mask and gloves. Work surfaces are cleaned of dirt. The joint is filled with foam. After it dries (in a day or two), the excess material is cut off. Next, you need to close the seam with a plastic corner.
Applying sealant
If the gap between the plumbing and the wall is small, you can use acrylic, silicone sealant for the bathroom. This is one of the most modern and reliable ways. Colored sealants are available, but white varieties are most commonly used.
Acrylic sealant is used less frequently. Silicone varieties are more suitable for the bathroom. They include special components. This prevents the formation of mold, fungus andmicroorganisms. Sanitary white sealant is ideal for the purposes presented.
To carry out the work you will need a special gun for sealant. But it can be bought at any hardware store for a fairly small cost. The gun can be used for economic purposes in the future. Even a master without experience will be able to perform all the actions well.
Apply sealant
When studying how to seal the joint between the bathroom and the tiles, you should consider in detail the procedure for applying sealant to work surfaces. They should be degreased and dried. To do this, you can use any solvent. To prevent the material from protruding far onto the bathtub or wall, masking tape is glued on them.
A can of sealant is inserted into the gun. After removing the protective cap from the tube, a small amount of substance is squeezed out. It is carried out throughout the junction. Sealant is an elastic substance. Therefore, it will close the cavity well. The required sealant layer is applied in one pass.
The substance is first smeared over the joint surface with a spatula. Next, you need a brush and soapy water. With the help of such means, the material that has not yet hardened is qualitatively leveled. Excess can be removed with a damp cloth.
Application of skirting board
Sometimes it is impossible to close the seam between the bathroom and the tile only with sealant or foam. This is due to the large distance from the bath to the tiled surface. In this case, you should resort to the help of special skirting boards. They often come with tiles.
If the gap is more than 4 cm, you can use ceramic, plastic, polyurethane borders, as well as self-adhesive tapes. Before starting work, work surfaces are prepared accordingly.
After measurements, the required length of the plinth is cut off. An adhesive is applied to the inner surface of the product. You can use liquid nails. After that, you need to wait a few minutes. Then the plinth is installed in the place allotted for it and pressed firmly. Particular attention is paid to the corners.
After fixing the baseboard, its upper and lower edges are treated with sanitary silicone sealant.
Flexible tape
The gap between the tub and the tiles can be closed with a flexible self-adhesive tape. This is a simple option, suitable even with a fairly large gap. Such products are quite flexible. Tapes are available in various sizes. This allows you to choose the best product for your bath.
The reverse surface of such tapes already has a special adhesive layer. This makes installation very quick and easy. In the center, such tapes have a bend. This adds to the ease of installation.
It is required to thoroughly clean and dry the base of the wall and the edge of the tub. The protective layer is removed from the reverse side of the tape. Now it can be glued to the surface. To get a good grip, the tape can be slightly warmed up with a hair dryer. The product is applied to the gap and pressed.
It's sealed andaesthetic joint. However, its strength is inferior to hard baseboards. Also, the service life of the tape border will be shorter.
Combined approach
Considering the main means of how to seal the joint between the bathroom and the tile, a few words should be said about the combined approach. In this case, several of the approaches listed above are used at once to create an airtight seam.
Initially, the joint is closed with mounting foam. The whole procedure is carried out according to the scheme presented above. After cutting off excess dry foam, a layer of sanitary sealant with water-repellent qualities should be applied to its rough surface.
After all layers have dried, a semi-rubber flexible tape is glued to the surface. You can also use a hard plinth. The basis of foam and silicone sealant will create a high-quality sealing of the gap. A border or ribbon placed on top creates a beautiful decorative effect.
Having considered how to seal the joint between the bathroom and the tile, each owner will be able to choose the most suitable method for themselves. By following all the steps in accordance with the instructions, you can get a high-quality sealed seam that is resistant to moisture and the formation of fungus.
