Grout for joints, how to choose a color. Grouting tile joints. How to choose the right grout for tile joints. Choosing the color of the seams of facing tiles

Even an impeccable tile installation will not look perfect if you do not pay enough attention to the tile joints at the final stage of finishing. The voids between the joints should not remain in their original form, so they are filled with a special material - grout (fugue). This prevents moisture, debris and dust from getting under the tile, which means the durability of the lined surface increases significantly. In addition, if you know how to choose the right grout for tiles and use this knowledge in practice, you can easily mask installation defects and, in general, enhance the aesthetic effect of the tiled surface. And in order to choose any product construction market, you need to find out more about it. Let's start with this.

Depending on the composition, grouts can be cement or epoxy.

Among the variety of tile grouts, two main types can be distinguished: cement and epoxy.

Silicone sealant, which is sold in special tubes or cartridges, is sometimes used as grout. However, under no circumstances should they replace fugu! This is a remedy with a slightly different effect. It is used to isolate the cladding from other materials, for example, at the junction of the tile cladding and the bathroom (sink, toilet, etc.). It is not advisable to completely fill the joints between tiles with silicone sealant.

Cement grouts - a classic of the genre

The simplest grouts, which, even without the tiler having much experience, practically guarantee excellent result- These are cement-based mixtures. They contain: finely ground cement, plasticizers, various additives and pigments. When mixing with water or latex (on water based), these components turn into plastic material, similar to putty.

The consistency of cement grout is similar to elastic putty, so it is very easy to work with.

According to their composition and purpose, cement grouts are:

for narrow seams (up to 5 mm);
for wide seams (more than 5 mm).

Grouts intended for joints up to 5 mm have a standard composition (indicated above). For wider joints, cement grouts with an obligatory additional component – sand – are used. The filler will prevent the cement composition from cracking and will “hold” it in a given shape. Moreover, the wider the seam, the larger the grains of sand should be and vice versa.

Cement grouts can be purchased in the form of:

ready-made composition (in plastic buckets);
dry powder (in paper bags or bags).

Ready-made formulations can be used immediately after purchase, without any preparatory stage. On the one hand, this is convenient, on the other hand, it is not very practical: after opening the container, the elastic mass does not “live” for long and will soon dry out, that is, it is advisable to use the entire volume at one time.

Ready-made cement grouts are sold in plastic buckets of various sizes

Are you choosing tiles for your bathroom but can’t decide? We will help you with advice and tell you about the design features in the article: .

Another, more popular type of cement grout comes in the form of a dry powder. Before starting work, the required amount should be mixed with water or latex to the required consistency. Dry mixtures are convenient to buy when you have a small amount of work to do, since you can take from the bag the amount of powder you need and put the rest away until better times. At least until next year, the main thing is to store it in a dry place, since cement grout is afraid of moisture.

Advantages of cement grouts:

convenience and ease of use;
versatility;
wide selection of colors;
good strength;
small price.

Flaws:

instability to pollution;
destruction under the influence household chemicals.

We would like to invite you to watch a master class on grouting with fugue from our German friends:

Epoxy grout – durability “for centuries”

Cement grout can be selected for almost any occasion. However, some conditions can be difficult for cement compositions, significantly reducing their service life. Therefore, when laying tiles in swimming pools, baths, laboratories, on kitchen splashbacks, countertops, that is, where the cladding is constantly exposed to moisture, acids, and household chemicals, it is best to use epoxy grout.

Epoxy tile grout is characterized by a viscous consistency. Filling tile joints with it requires care and a professional approach.

It will become easier to choose tiles for the kitchen by reading our practical advice in special material: .

Composed of any epoxy grout includes two components:

epoxy resin with modifying additives and filler (quartz sand of various fractions);
hardener.

In order to obtain a working mixture, you need to mix these two components (they are contained separately in a purchased container). After thorough mixing, a fairly dense but elastic mass is obtained. It is difficult to work with due to its increased viscosity, so even for professionals, filling seams with “epoxy” is a long and tedious task. However, upon completion, you will receive a “bonus”: the quality of the resulting seams (strength, bright color, frost resistance, etc.) will remain at the original level for 40-50 years. This is why many tiling specialists believe that “epoxy” is.

Shiny components can be added to epoxy grout, which enhance the decorative effect of the cladding.

Advantages of epoxy grout:

high strength;
durability;
resistance to dirt, fungal infections, mold;
resistance to impact chemicals and cleaning products;
waterproof;
high decorative properties.

Flaws:

high price;
difficulty at work.

We invite you to watch a video with an example of work with this grout:

Tile is very durable, but if you don’t take care of it, all its beauty will fade. You will learn how to properly wash and clean bathroom tiles on our website:.

We choose according to “clothes” - color solutions

The choice of one grout or another most often (especially if the buyer is not a specialist) is not determined by physical characteristics, but in appearance. And, first of all, color. Therefore, at this stage of selection you should dwell in more detail.

The composition of the cement grout initially contains pigments that color the fugue in any color: from white to black. Although this does not always help to choose a shade that matches perfectly with the tiles. In this case, it is advisable to use dyes. To create a unique color, it will be enough to add a little color (gouache) to the white grout mixture.

The colors of epoxy grout are set initially thanks to the colored aggregate (quartz sand). “Epoxy” can even be transparent, which is especially valuable when creating glass mosaic panels. A particularly interesting effect can be obtained by filling the tile joints with grout with shiny components (gold, silver, bronze).

A rich palette of epoxy grout shades makes it possible to choose the color most suitable for the surface of the tile cladding or mosaic

When thinking about how to choose a tile grout based on color, you should be guided by your own taste. If you are unlucky with this, and you just can’t decide, then choose white puffer - this is the most win-win option. Unfortunately, it is only suitable for walls; the immaculate white touches on the floor will become dirty in just a couple of days. To design the floor cladding, it is recommended to use a gray (“cement”) fugue or any dark color that is in harmony with the shade of the tile.

During the renovation process, we inevitably face a lot of problems, both serious and minor. The beauty and convenience of our home will depend on how seriously we take each task. The choice of color for grouting tile joints is not a matter of primary importance, but it is better to think about it in advance.

What to choose: the color of the tiles or contrast?

Usually, buyers, without hesitation, choose grout as close as possible in color to the tile. However, this is not the only possible option. IN lately Contrasting color combinations are gaining popularity. For example, dark grout is selected for light tiles and vice versa. It is important to be thoughtful when choosing colors, otherwise a random combination of colors will only cause confusion.

If dramatic color combinations based on contrast aren't your thing, you can go the more traditional route. Choose grout to match the tone of the tile, but focus not on the main color, but on the color of the pattern.

Spectacular contrasting combinations

Now they are producing collections of tiles, for which grout options that match the color have already been offered. The color combinations invented by the designers look truly unusual and interesting. So, for black tiles it is recommended to choose pearl-white grout, for beige - cocoa or milk chocolate-colored grout, for olive - graphite, for gray - mahogany-colored grout.

Previously, preference was given to grouting neutral, calm shades, but today designers have turned to bright, rich tones. Increasingly, red, orange, green, turquoise, blue, purple and black grout are being chosen to decorate a bathroom.

If you have chosen white ceramic tiles for finishing the walls or floor in the bathroom, then it will be difficult to make a mistake when choosing the color of the grout. After all, absolutely all colors go with white. Some combination will be more successful, some less, but there will not be a complete failure. When creating a color pair, remember that it should be in harmony with the colors used in the bathroom interior. Therefore, try to choose a grout that matches the color of the furniture, doors, ceiling, etc.

It will be more difficult to choose a partner color for colored ceramic tiles. We advise you to use a special fan palette, which no designer can do without. Experiment with different color combinations, and perhaps you will be able to find a really beautiful and original solution.

Is colorless grout universal?

Many people think that a grout mixture is called colorless. white. This is not entirely true. White grout is, indeed, considered universal and is suitable for tiles of any color. True, with dark shades it forms a contrasting combination, which will certainly not appeal to connoisseurs of traditional solutions.

Relatively new on the market building materials a grout has appeared for tile joints, which actually has no color. New material It is made on the basis of epoxy and contains glass. Due to its light-absorbing properties, the effect of “invisibility” of the grout is ensured. This grout mixture is also called a “chameleon”, as it adapts to the color ceramic tiles.

Colorless grout is a rather expensive product, but it is worth the money. Created using modern technologies, it has excellent characteristics: easy to apply and easy to clean, not subject to mechanical damage, does not interact with aggressive chemicals, and resists the appearance of fungus and mold.

Colorless grout is most often used for working with glass mosaics and for creating decorative tile panels.

It is better to purchase grout at the same time as purchasing tiles. This way you can sort through everything on the spot. possible options and stop at the most successful combination. The choice of grout color depends, among other things, on the type of ceramic tile chosen.

Multicolored tiles. Consider all the color tiles in the picture. Determine which one is the darkest and which one is the lightest. Then everything is decided by the size of the bathroom. If the room is small, choose the lightest shade, and if the bathroom is spacious enough, you can choose the darkest color.
Plain tiles. If all the walls in the room are decorated in the same color, then the shade of the grout should be chosen based on the importance you attach to the decor of the bathroom. If you want to draw attention to furniture and plumbing, then buy grout to match the tiles. And if in the center of the interior there is a wall or flooring, it is better to choose a contrasting color for grout.
Mosaic. Traditionally, a mosaic is chosen either in a shade that contrasts with its main tone, or in a neutral color, such as beige or gray. You can also use colorless grout to decorate the mosaic: it contains transparent components that absorb color and mask the tile joints.

The following recommendations will help you choose the color of grout for ceramic tiles:

Go to the largest hardware store for grout. This is exactly the case when a variety of choices benefits the result. The more tile + grout combinations you try, the more likely you are to find the perfect color match.
Some stores have test samples of grout that you can apply to the tiles and evaluate the result right on the spot. This opportunity must be taken advantage of. Be sure to wait until the composition dries, as wet and dry grout differ significantly in color.
For panels made of ceramic tiles, it is better to choose grout that matches the background or dominant shade - this way the pieces of the picture will be combined into a single whole. But for small mosaics, contrasting grout colors are welcome.
If the entire room, including furniture, fixtures and accessories, is decorated in the same color scheme, try “refreshing” the interior using grout in a contrasting color.

Colors: what to do if the desired color is not on sale

Unfortunately, even in the largest construction stores The choice of colored grout for tiles does not cover the entire existing color palette. If you have chosen a color for grout that is not produced by any manufacturer of grout mixtures, do not rush to change your decision. Grout colors can come to your aid.

Here you have several options: buy a special coloring paste, buy a regular water-soluble colorant, or use gouache or watercolor as a colorant. Using any of these components you can color white grout, or make the shade of colored grout more saturated.

If you decide to paint the grout using a tint, remember two important points:

Try to do the entire amount of work in one day. Otherwise, the grout will dry out, and you most likely will not be able to repeat the resulting shade the next day.
After some time, the grout usually becomes lighter, so you should use a color one or two shades darker than intended.

To fill the joints after laying the tiles, special grout mixtures are used. How to choose a grout for filling joints between tiles is a question no less important than the choice of tiles, since the durability and appearance cladding.

Purpose and types of grout

The purpose of the grouting procedure is to prevent moisture, dirt, and the growth of microflora colonies from entering the tile joints, and to protect against insects from entering the joints.

Applying grout mixture

Previously, the same method was used to grout tiles. cement mortar, on which the masonry was carried out. Today, special compounds called grouts are used that can radically change the appearance of the cladding and make the wall or floor covering airtight.

Depending on the shade of the grout, the cladding can merge into a continuous plane, or each element will stand out on it. You can highlight the shape of the tiles or create an invisible frame with a similar color. For many people, the task of choosing grout color is the most difficult when purchasing materials for tiling.

Cement grouts

In a professional environment, cement grouts are called fugues. Mixtures without pigments are white or gray. The grout is tinted with dyes before starting work. There are also ready-to-use tinted compositions.

The basis of many cement grouts is Portland cement with plasticizing additives that simplify filling joints. Due to the additives, the solution becomes plastic; after drying, it does not crack and becomes a waterproof barrier that can withstand changes in humidity and temperature changes.

Other types of fugues, except cement, have an additive in the form of finely dispersed quartz sand for filling wide gaps. This mixture is not suitable for glossy glazed tiles, since despite the fine fraction, the grains of sand will leave traces of scratches on the surface.

Cement tile fugue is a fine powder, which is diluted with water to prepare the working mixture.

Variety of colors of cement mixtures

When deciding which grout to choose, you should remember the disadvantages of cement-based grout compounds:

They set quickly. The mixture is kneaded in small portions in order to have time to completely use up the composition before the initial setting.
For narrow joints of ceramic tiles, cement fugue is not best option, because due to fast setting It will not be possible to fill the gap to the full depth with the mixture.

Epoxy mixtures

These grouting compounds are reliable and durable. They completely fill and seal the seam, giving the cladding a neat and finished look. This material is resistant to moisture, ultraviolet radiation, its color remains bright and rich for a long time.

The epoxy fugue will not turn black from fungus and will not crack. For floor tiles in wet areas, epoxy mixtures are considered the best option. Epoxy grouts are used to grout the joints of tiles laid in swimming pools, baths, and steam rooms.

Epoxy fugue

Tinted epoxy fugues are available in a wide variety of colors. There are brands where powdered bronze or aluminum is added to the finished tinted mixture to imitate gold plating or silver sparkles.

Important! Experts do not recommend using sealants instead of special grouts for cladding seams. The sealant darkens in conditions of constant moisture. The darkening of the jointing is associated with the growth of fungus and the penetration of dirt into the soft structure of the sealant.

Plain and contrasting fugue

Typically, buyers are initially inclined to choose a fugue that has a color identical to the purchased tile. But this traditional approach is too banal. A contrasting color combination looks more impressive. For example, a dark purple or black fugue will suit a light tile. It is important to choose colors carefully so as not to end up with a completely unnatural and ridiculous combination.

Contrasting combinations

For many tile collections, grout options that match their color are immediately offered. The manufacturer makes it easier for the buyer who is experiencing difficulties and does not know how to choose the color of grout for tile joints. The color combinations thought out by the designers look unusual and interesting, and most importantly – harmonious. So, black cladding looks good with light beige grout, gray – with fugue pink color. For beige ceramics, it is better to take brown fugues in the colors “chestnut” and “milk chocolate”. For olive tiles will do burgundy, graphite or blue grout.

Lilac tiles with contrasting seams

Previously, cement fugues in neutral shades were used. Modern designers actively use bright colors. Often in bathrooms, light-colored cladding is treated with contrasting black grout.

Choosing a grout color for white tiles will not be difficult: almost all monochromatic and multi-colored compositions go well with white. White grout is the most universal, suitable for any tile, including white tiles. White tiles with dark grout should match the colors of the rest of the room's interior (furniture, doors, ceiling trim).

The most harmonious combinations with white tiles are black, red, and purple tile grouts.

Orange grout on light cladding

For colored ceramics, choosing a color will be more difficult. The choice of color in the store is carried out using a visual palette-fan.

Important! When choosing a fugue for multi-colored tiles with a pattern, you need to pay attention not only to the color of the main background, but also to the color of the pattern.

Colorless fugue based on synthetic resins

Colorless fugue is not the same as white. Colorless is a mixture of polymer resins that has no color at all. The material consists of epoxy resins with the addition of silicates. Professionals call the colorless fugue “chameleon” because it takes on the same shade as ceramic tiles. Colorless fugue is usually used to process glass mosaics and make monolithic tile panels.

Colorless grout

When choosing a colorless fugu, you need to be prepared for the fact that it is quite expensive.

The choice of grout color is usually made when purchasing tiles. You can view and compare all sorts of options on the spot, and then choose the most successful combination:

The question of how to choose the right fugue for multi-colored tiles is the most difficult. First you need to highlight all the colors present in the pattern on the tile. Having decided which color needs to be highlighted, select the appropriate fugue.

Colour-matching with cladding pattern

The choice of fugue color for a plain tile depends on whether the cladding will be the background or whether it should be the focus. To highlight furniture or beautiful sanitary ware in the bathroom, the cladding is made monochromatic, and the fugue is chosen to match the tiles. If you need to emphasize the decor of the cladding, it is better to choose a contrasting fugue color for the tiles in the bathroom.

Mosaic blue with plain paneling

There are rules for choosing the grout color for mosaic tiles. Traditional option- a fugue that contrasts with the base color. A win-win option for the bathroom is a neutral color panel (blue, turquoise, grey). For finishing mosaics, a colorless fugue is often used. If the seams in the bathroom are chameleon-rubbed, it takes on the shade of the tile and makes the grouting invisible.

When choosing a fugue color for ceramic tiles, it is recommended to adhere to the following recommendations:

When shopping, it is better to go to a large retail outlet, where the choice of colors will be as wide as possible. Large quantity reviewed options will increase the likelihood of choosing the most optimal combination.
Large stores provide the opportunity to test use the selected mixture and evaluate the result. In this case, it is important to wait until the composition dries, since the color of the grout changes during the drying process.
For decorative panel It is better to take a fugue of the same color as the background - in this case, the jointing needs to be hidden. For small mosaic tiles, it will be better if they are grouted with a contrasting fugue.

Panel with plain paneling

Contrasting or dark grout will always refresh a room that has a pale, monochromatic design.

Video with expert advice:

How to make tinted grout yourself

Even in large retail outlets it is not always possible to choose a grout for the tiles. It happens that no matter how wide the palette of grout colors in the store catalog, not a single colored grout matches the client’s ideas about the design of his bathroom. If you need a color to grout your tiles that is not in the catalog, don’t be upset. There are several ways to change the color of the grout.

Here are a few suitable materials, which can be used to tint or change the color of the fugue:

tinting paste;
powder water-soluble color;
gouache, watercolors.

Using each of these materials, you can tint a white fugue or adjust the shade of a color mixture if it lacks any shade or is not saturated enough.

Dry dyes

After preparing a homemade colored fugue, you need to process the entire tile at one time. When the grout dries, it will not be possible to repeat the previous shade in a new batch.

When mixing pigment into the solution, you must remember that the solution becomes lighter after drying. Therefore, the original color should be darker than the intended one.

Minor defects occur that can be masked by simply covering the joints. But here it is very important to figure out how to choose the color of the grout so that it completely harmonizes with the tiles. For long-term operation of a floor or wall covering, it is very important to choose the right fugue material and its color. If you don’t rub it, dirt and dust will accumulate in the cracks, insects can settle in, and moisture can get in, which will lead to the formation of fungus.

Types of grout

There are two main types of fugue: resin-based and sand-based. May also be used silicone sealants. But subspecies and variations are allowed.

The cement mixture can be:

A mixture with added sand may, so it is better not to use it for tiles coated with enamel or glaze, as well as for marble. The sand-based solution also has a poor color range: it can be either white or yellowish.

For resin-based fugue, use:

If there is no need for a colored mixture, then you can make it yourself. But it’s better to buy a blank for a colored fugue in a store - it’s easier, plus a guarantee of quality.

Choice of grout

Even the most beautiful one will not look good if the color of the joint filler is chosen incorrectly. Usually they try to choose a mixture that is as close as possible in tone to the tiles, but only a few know that contrasting colors can be used very effectively; you just need to figure out what color grout to choose and how to combine it with a certain type tiles It is worth following these recommendations:

or a bathroom in the form of a panel, it is rubbed down only with a mixture of the same tone. We must remember that the fugue becomes lighter when it dries, so it is best to choose a solution that is one or two shades darker than the tile.
Tiles and grout of almost the same tone will give the room integrity and unity. But it can do design solution boring and monotonous.
A light fugue looks very impressive with a dark one. tiles, but only if it is in perfect condition. If the tile is frayed or cracked, the contrast will only highlight the imperfections.
Contrast works especially well with mosaic tiles, but it's the easiest shade to go wrong with, so it's easiest to use a mixture of neutral grays.
For originality, you can make the tone of the fugue the same as the accessories.
It is better to choose grout together with the tile - you can take a piece of tile to the store and show it to the consultant. Buy where they offer a wide range of shades.
If possible, you can try spreading the mixture onto the tiles and wait until it dries. This will make it easier to decide on the color.
For a monochromatic room or a room in the same color scheme, it is better not to choose a contrasting filler for the seam. As a last resort, you can match the color of the furniture if you want to draw attention to it.
If the room is tiled with both light and dark tiles, then the filler should be light in color. small room(to visually increase space) and dark in a large room (to reduce space). Shades of light and dark should be used on the tiles.
If it is difficult to choose the shade of grout, then all shades of white will help out.
But for the floor white tone impractical, so it is best to choose a mixture of gray, blue or brown, as they say, “the color of dirt.”

Video on how to grout tiles:

In choice color range tiled rooms great value corresponds to the general design concept, as well as individual preferences in the design of the room. In any case, we must strive to ensure that the overall color scheme of the room contributes to good health.