Bucket for grouting tiles. Tools for grouting. Epoxy Grout Tools

Grouting – final stage when laying tiles. The aesthetics of the cladding depends on how carefully and competently this action is performed. This process in professional jargon is called jointing and is performed using rubber spatula, called a fugue. The market offers a choice of these products and you should not make a mistake when selecting a tool, since the final result depends on how high-quality the spatula is chosen for the job and on the ease of use with it.

Dependence of performance on form

This product is highly specialized. It is used only for grouting joints and removing excess sweep when facing. It is made of rubber, since only this material has the necessary properties that are needed for million-dollar operations. The spatula has several sizes and is selected depending on the work and the skill level of the person performing it.

Rubber soft spatula for finishing seams

A popular product is rectangular or trapezoidal in shape.

The performance of such a spatula depends on the width.
With plastic or wooden handle or without it.
To maintain the rigidity of the rubber, the working surface does not exceed 10 cm in height.
It is made from recycled materials, so they check whether the spatula is suitable for the job. The tires should be:

hard;
medium elasticity;
with elasticity.

Tools are available in widths from 5 cm to 50 cm. To work, you need one that is comfortable to hold in one hand or in two.
Difficult seams between tiles are sealed with an angle trowel. However this tool does not allow you to work at high speed.

Attached to tile joints a certain form tool round shape. The spatula is inconvenient for grouting tile joints and is used only for its intended purpose. Visually resembles a piece of wire .

Tools and materials for laying tiles

Professional tools

To perform large volumes of work professional builders use other designs.

These tools are similar to construction floats, but with rubber soles.
The width of the tool reaches 120 mm, and the length is 250 mm.
To apply a large volume of the mixture to the surface, a spreading spatula more than half a meter long is used. After it it is necessary additional cleaning tiles from mortar.
When filling joints with putty with a liquid consistency, use a jointing gun. If the amount of work is small, then replace it with a bag with a cut end.
To shape tile joints, professionals use special tampers and levelers. They are a long stick with a ball attached to the end. Used to form seams with a width of 0.3 to 1 cm.

Price professional tools higher than ordinary spatulas. However, they can be used for a long time without worrying about the quality of work. While a cheap product may not be enough for one job.

Set of rubber spatulas

Canvases for restoration work

A rubber spatula is used both during construction and restoration. Therefore, increased demands are placed on the material from which it is made and on the instrument itself.

It is made from a material with an integral structure so that no marks are left on the surface, and the putty is applied in an even layer.
For the manufacture of the tool, plastic rubber is used, not composite materials. This is monitored, since pieces of abrasive materials contained in the putty and joint grout will scratch the surface.
When carrying out restoration work, foreign grouting material should not be allowed to enter the surface to be restored, therefore small-width tools are used.
If the tool has a handle, it should be comfortable and facilitate filling the seam with the mixture without additional pressure on it.
The shape of the working spatula blade should not be convenient for collecting excess construction mixture from the treated surface.

Using a rubber spatula when working gives best result than using rubber.

Differences between a modern spatula and older models

Tool differences

Since grout for joints comes in different consistencies and differs in the components it contains, when working it is better to use spatulas that are suitable for it. They are of different shapes:

trapezoidal;
rectangular;
rectangular with rounded edges;
wedge-shaped;
in the shape of a figure eight;
round for compaction.

Silicone model for finishing seams

The color of the spatula depends on the hardness of the product:

black is used when compacting the mixture, when laying floor tiles or if there are voids in the space between the tiles;
The white spatula is made of soft elastic rubber. Convenient to use when restoration work, when grouting joints on thin tiles;
Depending on the work being performed, hard and elastic spatulas may be needed at the same time.

Applying grout between tile joints

For convenience, the tools are equipped with handles, which differ from manufacturer to manufacturer:

plastic trapezoidal - popular look pens and cheap option for the manufacturer;
a staple-shaped handle is common. This convenient device which helps increase productivity.
wooden handles are comfortable professional work with a spatula, as they do not wear out for a long time;
holders for replacement blades are used by professionals. Used when working with rubber spatulas due to rapid wear.
spatulas without a handle with a special blade shape that makes it comfortable to hold in your hand.

Grout trowel using epoxy mosaic compound

For jointing, it is more convenient to use a rod-shaped spatula. However, this spatula is used only when forming joints from soft grout.

The nuances of working with a rubber spatula

Performance grouting works should not be done before the tile adhesive has completely dried, as it will cause deformation of the tile surface.

At what angle and how to apply grout with a rubber spatula

Before grouting, you need to prepare the materials that will be needed to remove excess grout from the surface of the tiles.

The grout is applied to a clean, dry surface. The temperature in the room in which the work is performed is not lower than 10-15 degrees. Maximum air humidity is no more than 55%. Dust is unacceptable. It is not advisable for the grout to be exposed to direct sunlight until it is completely dry.

The tip of the spatula must be rounded or sharpened before use. If used new tool, then manufacturers do this when releasing products from the assembly line.

High-quality grout between tile joints

The ideal spatula can be bent into any shape, then it will return to its original position. This is a result of the elasticity of the rubber from which the product is made. If the tool cannot be reshaped or it is difficult to do so, it means that it is made of pure rubber or of poor quality. composite materials. It is better to refuse to work with such a canvas.

The putty spatula and the grout spatula are different, so they cannot replace each other when working.

Tools must be washed after work, as the remaining mixture destroys the structure of the spatula blade and may cause further difficulties during use. Once the composition has dried, it is difficult to clean off the spatula.

Cleaning tiles from excess grout

The tool is easy to manufacture, so there are many products on the market made from low-quality raw materials. To avoid problems during operation, you need to try changing the shape of the canvas during purchase, checking its elasticity.

By grouting the joints after laying the tiles, you can achieve two significant results. Firstly, a harmonious surface is created that will fully comply with the design ideas. Secondly, the possibility of mold and mildew occurring is neutralized, and overall contamination is reduced. Naturally, the work must be carried out in compliance certain rules.

There is a certain period that must be waited before carrying out the necessary activities. Yes, grouting ceramic tiles carried out one day after laying the material. Much depends on the glue used. Why can't we wait longer? There are several reasons for this:

On the second day, the mixture used for cladding retains slight elasticity. This means that it will be easy to remove when cleaning the seams. Subsequently you will have to put in a lot more effort.
The moisture remaining in the solution promotes better adhesion. Of course, it is possible to additionally wet the gaps. But this can lead to some disadvantages: it becomes liquid and less elastic. Working with such a mixture is much more difficult.
Open seams quickly become dirty. Small particles of dust and dirt quickly get into open holes and clog them. This makes it much more difficult to apply the solution.

It becomes extremely clear that such work must be completed on time. Then it will be possible to obtain a coating that will meet all the necessary requirements.

Grouting of joints after laying ceramic tiles is carried out after 24 hours

Preparation of the solution

For work, you can use a ready-made mixture, which is sold in construction stores. It just needs to be mixed well before use. There are also dry solutions; they have to be diluted in advance. To prepare you will need the following:

Water room temperature. It is allowed to pre-settle so that possible inclusions settle to the bottom of the bucket.
Container for mixing. It should be convenient to work with and also be larger than the intended amount of mixture. It should be borne in mind that the amount of material prepared should be such that it is used up before drying begins.
Spatula or trowel. This tool is necessary for kneading. Of course, you can use a drill with a mixer attachment, but given the small amount of mixture being prepared, this will be a pointless exercise. It’s better to do everything by hand to get the desired result and not collect the solution from the walls of the container.

The grout solution is best mixed using a spatula or trowel.

The cooking process looks like this:

Each grout for tile joints contains instructions from the manufacturer. It indicates the amount of water required to prepare the required volume of the mixture.
Water is poured into the mixing container. Next, a small part of the material is poured. Now you should mix the composition well. If it turns out too dry, then add more water, or vice versa.
All components must be diluted to a paste. After which the grouting solution is left for about five minutes. Then stirring is repeated.

The result is a homogeneous substance that has sufficient viscosity and elasticity. She is very comfortable to work with. But after some time, the properties will begin to deteriorate.

After mixing all the components, a viscous and very elastic mixture is obtained.

Grouting technology

It should be taken into account that grouting tile joints with your own hands is carried out in several stages. The area of continuous work should be two square meters. This is how we manage to do everything efficiently. Of course, when there is sufficient experience, the process speeds up much.

Before grouting the tiles, prepare necessary tool: rubber spatula, grater, rags, sponge, spatula for forming a seam (smoother).

Immediately before applying the grout, you must prepare the necessary tools and rubber gloves

Further activities are as follows:

When unglazed tiles are used, they are pre-moistened. This is done using a sponge, which helps water penetrate deep into the joints. But this must be done very carefully; drips and excess moisture must not be allowed to occur.
Advice! It is better not to use tile sponges that are used for washing dishes. There are other options, they are sold in car service departments.
The pre-prepared mixture is applied to a grout grater. The tool is placed at an angle of thirty degrees to the surface and begins to move it diagonally. This method is used because when moving horizontally or vertically, it is not possible to apply the composition evenly.

When applying grout to the tiles, you must move diagonally

The procedure for grouting tile joints requires some effort. You need to press down on the grater to fill all possible voids. You can also use a rubber spatula for this work. But then the process will take much longer. After all, you will have to press the solution in small portions throughout the entire work area. The spatula is great for hard to reach places and corners.
On a note! Corners are a very noticeable area that is often overlooked. Therefore, work in such areas must be carried out very carefully.
Having filled all the gaps in the selected area of work, begin grouting using the dry method. To do this, clean the grater from any remaining mixture and place it at an angle of eighty degrees to the surface. And again, all movements are performed exclusively diagonally. This makes it possible to remove excess composition. It happens that the solution is unintentionally removed from the seam - then the mixture is reapplied.
The surface is left for fifteen minutes. During this time, you can wipe down another area. Now it's time to use wet method. To do this, moisten the sponge in water, very generously, and begin to move it diagonally. But before proceeding with these manipulations, check that the putty is no longer removed from the seam. You should experiment a little first.

Coming next stage. It resembles the previous one, but the differences are that the sponge is wrung out well. And the movements should be circular. Excessive pressure should be avoided. This is how you can remove the grout material. You must remember that the sponge must be constantly washed and wrung out well.
On a note! This process can quickly ruin the sponge, rendering it useless. Therefore, you should have a spare product.
The sealing of the seams between the tiles is not completed. Next, it’s time to use special devices to form beautiful spaces between adjacent elements. It is convenient to use a special spatula; it looks like a small round stick. When the procedure is completed, the next turn of the sponge begins. It is carried parallel to the seam - erasing all excess. It is possible to obtain a rounded seam. If this is not required, then the gaps are simply leveled flush with the tiles.

It seems that DIY ceramic tile grouting is coming to an end. In fact, it should be taken into account that this event is quite long and requires further continuation. Now you need to wait until the suture material has dried sufficiently, and you can begin to remove the remaining excess, which will be everywhere present on the front side of the product.

For work, an indispensable sponge is used, which is washed and wrung out well. With quick movements it is carried along the surface to the length of an outstretched arm. Each next pass must be parallel to the previous one. If you do everything correctly, then in this way you can remove all the remaining solution. Of course, it will be difficult to do this completely, but it is not necessary. The main thing is to remove large excesses from the tiles, which will dry quickly.

Sealing

Sealing – necessary process, which is performed immediately after completion of the grouting work. It is needed to give the seam increased strength. This will protect it from exposure to various chemical substances and water. The choice of material is approached with the utmost care. For work, it is better to use compounds that are completely transparent. They are made on the basis of silicone.

On a note! This solution has a rather specific odor, similar to ammonia. Therefore, it is better to perform work in a respirator.

The sealing process makes the seam more durable

Before sealing joints protective compounds, are determined with further actions, which will be focused on the type of ceramic product:

Material with applied glaze. All activities must be carried out very carefully. Such a surface is very easy to damage or even completely ruin. Therefore, the work area is additionally pasted over masking tape. And for work they use sealant in tubes, which is applied with a special gun.
Products without glaze. Many craftsmen advise covering the entire surface with a protective composition, including tiles. Of course, you will get a layer that will protect it from various influences, but this will ruin the whole appearance. In addition, there is a high probability that such a layer will peel off.

It becomes clear how to use grout and protective compounds. It is sometimes believed that such work does not require compliance with many of the steps described. You can apply the mixture and quickly form a seam. But the result will be quite disastrous. Therefore, only strict adherence to all technological processes– a guarantee of reliability, quality and attractive appearance.

VIDEO: how to properly grout seams on tiles

It remains to analyze in detail what tool is needed for this.

Tools for stirring grout.

The easiest option is to mix the grout in the buckets that are sold in grout mixture with hydrophobic properties. Regular is sold in paper bags.

You can stir by hand using a trowel. The spatula should be long and rectangular. With this shape of the tool it is easier to stir and remove from the bottom. A narrow metal spatula is less productive.

Mixing the grout manually with a trowel.

Videos often show stirring grout with a drill or screwdriver.

Possibly at low speeds. But this is another one additional tool. Which needs to be washed, stored, purchased, transported. The time gain is small. Except when grouting tiles on a supermarket floor.

At this stage, another important tool is needed - a brush for washing the trowel and bucket.

If you leave it without washing (there are many such advisers) and then simply tap it so that it sprinkles, then everything will not fly off. IN new grout(and a different color) you will come across pieces of old dry grout from the bucket.

Cleaning grout tools with a brush and water.

Tool for applying grout between seams.

Spatulas for grouting joints were reviewed separately. Turned out to be the best for grouting epoxy grout Litokol. It crushes the mixture perfectly. They are comfortable to work in corners due to their sharp edges. This is the opinion of the majority who have tried it at work. Those who did not do this are still rubbed with a narrow piece of rubber.

Tool for applying grout to seams.

Tools for removing grout and cleaning tiles.

For this stage of work you need to have two tools:

A spatula for removing grout from tiles and a piece of soft foam rubber. The beauty of the seam depends on these tools.

The professional spatula is made of high-quality plastic and porous cellulose. Another such tool may be called a “rubber-coated plaster float.”

There are many analogues. There is no other way to call them. The problem with the designers of such devices is that they do not grout the tiles and do not understand the main property of this tool. Having copied externally, they want the product to be a success.

Spatula for removing grout from tiles.

The main difference between such spatulas ( in photos 1-3 ) – soft foam rubber at the base. Often with small pores. It does not collect the dried grout well and quickly becomes clogged with the mixture.

Also, foam rubber is quickly erased, but often it doesn’t get to that point because it falls off the handle. If you buy such a tool, then the whole technology is perceived as nonsense.

Not everything is simple with a piece of foam rubber either. If you take the first one you come across, it will last for 2-3 working days. It quickly crumples and turns into a rag. To erode the grout on the tiles with such foam rubber, you have to apply more pressure. This causes depressions on the seam.

I felt the difference by accident when I bought a piece of pink foam rubber at the market. It is more expensive.

Pink furniture foam.

The whole trick is in the density and rigidity of this material.

Foam rubber is made for various needs. The cheapest is packaging or soundproofing. This is the one that is most often used for blurring. It quickly clumps and does not absorb water.

It is necessary to use furniture foam Pink colour. It has more density and rigidity. It does not wrinkle after repeated squeezing. This material lasts for a year without loss of quality.

The thickness also varies. From 20mm to 100mm.

Optimal – 40 mm. With greater thickness, it is necessary to rinse more often and thoroughly. The grout remains in the middle of a thick piece and hardens. With a smaller thickness, it does not collect water well.

Pink foam rubber 40 mm thick.

Available in furniture production denser foam - of blue color. I had no such work experience.

Below is information about the classification of foam rubber for furniture. There detailed explanation why packaging material loses its elasticity:

If you pick the right tools and use them correctly, there is no need for a round spatula to form the seam. The latter has the disadvantage of smearing grains of paint along the seam (for some grouts).

Tools for cleaning tiles from plaque.

This is the last stage in the grouting work. It must be removed from the lined surface white coating which appears after the cement grout has dried.

You can use a simple dry cloth. It will work. But if you imagine the evolution of this instrument for me, then there will be such a chain.

Work gloves > burlap > piece of towel > felt mitten.

The last option turned out to be the most effective. These gloves are used in welding work. Sometimes they are called “welder’s gloves”. The pile removes plaque well and will never scratch the tiles. One mitten lasts a long time.

You can also use a more rigid option. Scotch Brite sanding sheets for hand sanding. This material has many embodiments. It is necessary to use products that do not contain abrasive material.

They are good for removing hardened grout in pits and deep patterns on tiles.

Felt mittens.

Cleaning of plaque should be carried out after the seam has completely dried.

Dry tiles after grouting.

In such a state as in the photo, it is too early to wipe off the plaque. The seams are raw. When removing plaque, you spread the grout over the tile again. You can wash it again clean water with foam rubber. The next day there will be less plaque and it will be easier to remove. The more cement grout is diluted with water, the weaker it is.

Epoxy grout tools.

To apply epoxy grout, you can use all of the above tools.

Only in this case, some become disposable. The pores on the spatula for washing and foam rubber become clogged with drying epoxy mixture. They lose their performance. If there are significant volumes, one set is not enough and has to be replaced.

Tiler's bucket - is it necessary for grouting work?

Tiler's bucket.

This tool has recently appeared on the Russian Internet market. He was noticed on Western YouTube about five years ago.

The main advantage of a bucket for grouting tiles (its know-how) is the rollers for cleaning porous material on a grater from the grout mixture.

This innovation allows you to avoid getting your hands wet and work without rubber gloves. Prevents cement from corroding the skin. There is nothing more useful in that set. There are disadvantages:

The first drawback is the grater that comes in the set. It is covered with soft foam rubber. This is one of the first three options in the photo above.
The second inconvenience is the bucket itself. As a container it is convenient and roomy. But this is another container that needs to be moved, stored, purchased. The most balanced review of the grouting bucket is here:

It is not for nothing that attempts are being made to combine the idea of cleaning using rollers with existing containers for working with tiles:

Use a small bath for cleaning.
Use a simple roller for rolling wallpaper.

Device for squeezing the grater.

Roller for cleaning rubber floats.

Tools for grouting large areas.

A set of such a tool is shown in the video below:

The mixture used there is somewhat thinner than usual. Due to this and repeated, repeated movements on the tile, filling of the seams is achieved. The grout is also “soft” - it hardens for a long time and is easily washed off with a foam sponge.

Second interesting experience– using a butterfly mop with a mechanical spin when grouting large areas of tiles on the floor. Its advantage is that the foam head is covered with fluffy microfiber, which makes the mop absorb water, but with a hard surface. The flat surface does not wash out the grout in the seams. This mop can be used to clean even quickly hardening mixtures.

TOOLS FOR REMOVAL OF OLD GROUT.

Sometimes the grout is not the right color or is not applied professionally. In such cases, there is a desire to change it. The method for removing old grout from joints depends on the type of grout applied.

If the grout is class “CG2”, with increased abrasion resistance, then it can only be removed mechanically:

Grinder or DREMEL mini drill. The latter is more convenient.

Tools for removing old grout.

When working with a grinder, it is necessary to pass the cutting wheel along the center of the seam, without touching the side edges of the tiles. Residues around the edges can be easily removed with a knife with replaceable blades.

Grouts Ceresit, Sopro are soft. They can be cut with a knife or a special scraper.

If a knife can only scratch the seam, then it is most likely Mapei grout or a similar grade. Disadvantage of the scraper:

There is a danger of chipping the tile.
On hard grout it does not last long, and in some cases it is useless.

Disadvantages of the knife:

Not exactly laid tile, corners may be chipped.
In some cases it is useless to use.

Below is a collection of videos (playlist) “How to remove old grout”:

Dear readers of the site! Our website already contains a sufficient amount of materials related to tiling works. Laying tiles, various tips when working with him, and so on.

In this article we will show how to grout ceramic tiles and give detailed instructions with a photo, after reading which you can easily complete this work with your own hands.

So, all the tiles have already been laid by your with my own hands and all that remains is to rub the seams for complete gloss. What do we need for work?

Materials and tools for grouting tile joints

Well, first, you need to purchase a grout mixture.

The required quantity can be calculated using a calculator for calculating the amount of grout mixture or recommendations on the packaging. In the “on-line calculator” you need to enter the tile format, joint width, area of the laid surface and you get required amount fugues in kilograms. This is what you will adhere to when purchasing. For tips on selecting a grout mixture, read the article “How to choose grout for tile joints?” Link to article.

You will need a few tools for high-quality grouting of tile joints:

container for diluting the grout mixture;
electric or cordless drill with a light mixer;
rubber spatula and foam sponge or viscose napkin.

By the way, a small hand-held water sprayer or, as it is also called, a sprayer, would not be amiss.

Closing the grout mixture

Most often it happens that, for example, in bathrooms, the grout mixture on the walls differs from that used for the floor. It is best to start working with seams from the walls. For now, you can cover the floor with cardboard or something else so as not to stain it and subsequently waste time and effort on cleaning it.

Now you can take the container that we prepared for diluting the grout and pour the required amount of water into the bottom in accordance with the instructions on the package.

We pour water first, then pour in the grout.

There is no need to do the opposite, otherwise unstirred lumps will remain at the bottom, and it will be difficult to get rid of them.

Now you can mix everything thoroughly using a drill with a light mixer. There is no need to take a mixer for this purpose, which is used for plasters or mortars. The one that is usually used to stir paint when tinting is suitable. This is exactly what you see in the photo. This is so because the volume of the mixture being mixed is not large, and a massive mixer will simply scatter everything from your container to the sides. But it’s not worth breeding more than two kilograms, because you simply won’t have time to produce the finished product. It will set before you use it up and will be impossible to work with. So, after mixing everything thoroughly, you will get a wonderful elastic solution that looks like thick sour cream.

A small preparatory stage

This step involves dampening the ceramic tile grout. This is where you will need a water spray bottle. Using it, you can very quickly spray the entire area that we will be rubbing.

This is done so that the laid grout has better adhesion with seams. Also, such moisture will allow the mixture to have a longer life. By the way, if you haven’t found a sprayer, then you can perform this operation using a container of water and a regular paint brush appropriate size. It can also be used to moisturize seams. But this process is longer and less effective. A sprayer is much faster and more productive.

Do-it-yourself tile grouting

After execution preparatory work Grouting of tile joints is done using a rubber spatula. This is what can be used to hammer the mixture into the seams. We do this very carefully and quickly. At the same time, we try to pack the grout into the space between the tiles as tightly as possible.

This important point, since if voids appear in the corners and on the edges of the tiles during laying due to a lack of glue (and this can sometimes happen even among experienced tilers!), then the grout mixture will fill them and this deficiency will be eliminated.

We also carefully collect the excess grout on the tile surface with a spatula.

If this is not done, then the consumption of material will increase, and subsequently you will be tortured to wash the surface.

Let's not forget to seal those places where there are openings for communications.

Sometimes such holes are subsequently closed with caps from faucets and other plumbing devices.

In this case, their grouting, in general, would not be required. But often these conclusions remain open. In this case, failure to fill the gaps between them and the tiles will spoil all our work.

The final touch to grouting the ceramic tiles.

After you've used up all your ready-made grout and filled all the existing seams with it, you'll end up with something like this.

Now the main thing is to clean the tiles from any remaining mortar and smooth out any unevenness on the seams (they will be there, one way or another!).

For this purpose, you can use a foam sponge or viscose napkin. Using this tool, carefully remove excess grout from the surface of the tile.

Existing unevenness on the tile seams can be smoothed out with the same things, but after dipping them in water. After such a wet treatment, the irregularities are simply washed away, and the seam becomes even and smooth.

Unless, of course, you wash them not the next day, but immediately after you finish hammering the grout between the tiles.

And when you have completed work with the walls, grouting of the ceramic tiles laid on the floor is done in the same way. Everything is the same, only your surface is no longer vertical, but horizontal.

Well, now the look is finished!