How to choose a grout color for tiles? Grout for ceramic tiles

The right choice of tiles is a sufficiently responsible process, requiring a creative approach. But it is equally important to choose the color of the trowelling material. Well-designed color scheme is able to highlight all the advantages of finishing, masking minor flaws, allowed during laying. According to designers, there are no finishing materials of ugly color, there is an incorrect choice. Do it individually, taking into account the design features of the entire room. But at the same time, when deciding how to choose the color of the grout for the tile, one should take into account a number of general rules.

Basic rules for choosing colors

For facing materials of dark and light tones, the approach to choosing the grout is directly opposite. To the dark tile, the trowelling compounds are selected for a couple of tones darker, and to the light tint - on the contrary, lighter.

If you want to emphasize and highlight each element of the coating, then the principle of contrast is applied. The color of the grout, similar in tone to the color of the tile, is able to give the facing surface a more calm appearance and visually expand the boundaries of the room.

When facing multicolored pieces in mosaic panels or photocomposites, use a transparent trowelling mixture.

Grout - part of the interior

Grout joints are made in order to fill joints between tiles, providing their waterproofing, protect from mold formation and create an aesthetic appearance of the coating. But in addition to this function, quality insulation is also an inseparable part of the interior. With its help you can create a visually smooth surface, without transitions or, conversely, using a contrast solution, make the facing cover unusual and original.

The non-harmonious choice of the color of the grout is able to turn the most refined interior into a tasteless, and expensive and stylish lining to make completely unattractive. Today, thanks to the variety of colors, grout for seams is an independent design element.

Types of trowel

Considering the question of how to choose the color of the trowel for the tile, it is necessary to pay attention to the types of trowelling materials.

The most popular mixtures are cement based. They contain various additional components (plasticizers, dyes, etc.) that can provide a slow grasp of the solution or its spreading over the surface. Grout of this type fits well into the intertight seam, it is easily removed from the surface of the tile. A sufficiently large assortment makes it possible to choose a frost-resistant mixture for external facades, moisture resistant - for facing rooms with high humidity. Choose the right color is also easy because of the wide palette and the ability to combine the compositions.

Grout on the basis of epoxy resin, as a rule, two-component. Therefore, before use, it requires thorough mixing until a homogeneous mass is obtained. This will largely depend on its quality. This grout is used mainly in premises with high humidity (swimming pools, saunas). A significant disadvantage is that when the mixture hits the tile, it will be very difficult to remove it.

Silicone compounds are made on the basis of varnish and silicone. They are able to protect the facing from moisture, therefore they are used for finishing the surfaces in the bathroom, near the sink, etc. Very comfortable such trowelling mixes in use thanks to a convenient packaging in the form of a tube and a large variety of colors.

How to choose a grout for tiles

From a competent solution to this issue will depend not only on the overall appearance of the interior, but also on the life span of the facing. In order for such work, like grouting, to be carried out in a high-quality manner, and the appearance of the treated surface remained beautiful and aesthetic for a long time, it is required to choose a suitable trowelling material. Of course, color is very important, but when choosing, you should carefully read the information on the package (for what works the mixture is intended) and study the requirements for use.

For wide joints (more than 3 mm) it is recommended to grout on a cement base with an admixture of sand. If the seams are narrow, it is better to use a material with epoxy resins.

Grout the seams of floor tiles has its own characteristics. The mixture used in the flooring should not be white. It eventually becomes dirty and loses its appearance, therefore, preference should be given to the compositions that harmonize in color with the tile.

Attention deserve first of all the materials of well-known manufacturers who have already proved themselves in the construction market. One of the most popular trowels, favorably different from competitors, is "Ceresite". A wide color palette has a grout "Kesto" of Finnish production. A mixture of Atlas is of high quality and reasonable price.

Grout for tiles "Ceresite"

In addition to the main function of filling joints between tiles, stone or other finishing materials, it is able to refine their appearance of the grout "Ceresite" of the German manufacturer. With a proper choice of the color of the material, the seams are very beautiful and even. And the correct choice of the color of the grout is not difficult, since the palette includes 31 basic tones and a large number of additional shades. This allows the use of mixtures for any cladding, mosaic or pattern. It is recommended to apply the formulations from one batch to prevent differences in shades after the grouting of the tile joints is finished. The price of "Cerezit" blends is quite democratic - on average 60-70 rubles per 1 kg.

The advantage of grouting this mark is that the tile edges do not stain during work, the remnants of the mixture are easily washed off the working surface, and the antifungal additives present in the composition prevent the development of mold. Grout "Ceresite" can be used for seams of any width - from 2 to 15 mm, without forming in them cracks and scratches.

Application rules

To grout the joints, proceed only after the solution used for the tiling has completely dried. The seams are thoroughly cleaned from dust before work. The dry mix for grouting is diluted with water to the consistency of sour cream according to the instructions, ready-made mixtures of such preparations do not require. Using a putty knife, the grout is applied to the seam and smoothed.

After 10 minutes, the seam should be wiped again with a rubberized spatula and applied again. After an hour, you can remove the rest of the material with a damp sponge.

Tools for grouting joints

To save time during the grouting tools are recommended to prepare in advance.

You will need:

- spatula or rubberized scraper;

- latex gloves;

- dry rag clean for cleaning tiles from surplus mix;

- container with water;

- a sponge for wet removal of the mixture.

Recommendations of specialists

Solving the question of how to choose the color of the trowel for the tile, it is worth to carefully consider the opinion of specialists. They advise, going to the store to choose a suitable mixture for grouting, take a sample of tiles with you. Find the corresponding shade of the most dark and lightest, compare them with the color of the situation. If the room is small in size, then the most suitable is the smoothing of light shades. The dark ones will fit, if necessary, on the contrary, visually reduce the space.

When choosing a color solution, it is important to determine what will be accentuated. If on the tile itself, then the trowelling material should differ from it by the shade, and for the accent on the furniture the facing material and the grout completely coincide in color. If, nevertheless, the choice of the shade of the trowelling mixture presents certain difficulties, the white or light gray color will always come to the rescue (the only exception is the composition for the floor tiles). It is important to remember: any trowelling mixture after drying becomes slightly lighter than it was originally. This moment is necessarily taken into account when choosing a color.

Little tricks

The grout for ceramic tiles may crack over time, if the laying was performed poorly. To avoid this, it is worth to listen to the advice that professionals give:

• Trowel first apply to the spatula, then at an angle of 30 degrees to the seam.
• Spread several times with a spatula on the seam, pressing the grout into it.
• Apply the compound in part, in time to remove the residue before drying.
• Using a pastry bag for a trowelling mixture can greatly facilitate the process.

It is not necessary to invite a specialist for such work. Knowing how to choose a grout color for a tile, a suitable brand, what tools are required for work, we can assume that quality grouting is guaranteed.