Summer is on its way and that means that the time has come to arrange a long and long list of "repairs" for homes accumulated during the winter. To start the right way, we present a solution that does not require a lot of your valuable time or money, but it can make a big difference in the appearance of your home. We are talking about repairing or replacing grout.
What does grout do?
Nat is a mixture of water and cement with the possibility of adding finely ground sand, color and / or gravel. This sticky substance, which comes in powder or pre-mixed form, is used to fill the gap between the tiles on the wall, floor and table. Grout serves a number of important functions:
Eliminating the height difference (no matter how small) between adjacent tiles for a better overall appearance Acting as a barrier against dirt, food or, worse, moisture penetrates between the tiles. Abrasion as a tile expands and contracts naturally
Repair nat or replacement?
Nat that changes color or dirty is unpleasant. The good news is that if you are in good shape, deep cleaning with warm water and household cleaners will restore your appearance and make your tiles look like new. Rinse and dry then. Touch with a grout pen, if desired. This is a small and practical device that helps you spread the "paint" layer evenly over the grout. Two applications may be needed for badly stained grout.
If the problem is not just the floor, but the grout lines that are cracked, destroyed or totally failed, you should remove and then replace the grout. This is no longer just a matter of appearance. Damaged nats are not an effective barrier to moisture and will allow water in the shower or sink to break through the tiles. Finally, the results will loosen or even drop tiles and mold development.
The good news is that you may not need to replace all grouts. Carefully check the tile surface to determine the level of damage. If it is limited to a small area, repairing the grout will be a simple one or two hour task. However, for more general grout replacements, you might want to keep a few problems and send work to professionals.
What type of grout do you need for your tiles?
The type of grout needed depends on several factors: the space between the tile, the tile material and its location. Acrylic or non-blasting acrylic latex is recommended for marbles or tiles with a space of 1/8 "or less, grout with sand is preferred if there is more than 1/8", as with decorative grout applications. . For grout on the kitchen counter and bathroom, your best choice is one that is resistant to mold and stains.
Choose your nat color. If you are unsure of the shade you need to repair groats, take the sample board home and compare it with the notes. In the case of complete grout replacement, you can choose a different color if desired. Depending on your taste, you can choose grout in a neutral tone or contrast the brightness of the tile in your kitchen or bathroom. Can't find the shadow you want? It is possible to adjust the color of grout slightly depending on the amount of water you add; Less to achieve darker and more colors for a little more clearly.