The use of stone in the decoration of the facade allows you to give the house a noble and natural appearance with an original design. However, the installation of such cladding requires special attention and special refinement after the main masonry.
At the same time, grout for decorative stone, which will allow you to accurately adjust the seams to the optimal shape, will be of paramount importance in terms of obtaining an aesthetically attractive facade.
How to determine the appropriate composition
Mixtures for filling masonry joints are made of different materials - both natural and synthetic. In particular, compounds based on gypsum, cement, silicone, rubber, epoxy resins, etc. are isolated.
At the first stage of selection, you can be guided by a universal rule: take into account the origin of the mixture. So, for natural stone, a composition with natural components is suitable, and for artificial stone, respectively, on a synthetic basis with modifiers.
Further, the task is complicated, since the individual characteristics of the material must be taken into account. For example, cement grouts can be used as grout for decorative gypsum stone , if they have sufficient porosity. For more solid and dense rocks like marble and granite, mixtures with high adhesion should be selected, otherwise the seam simply will not enter the masonry structure.
But besides compatibility with the stone, the requirements for external protection are also taken into account. Epoxy grouts can be called the most durable, since they have high moisture and frost resistance. Silicone and latex products, in turn, are good in increased elasticity, which will allow filling even thin joints several millimeters wide.
Dry or ready mix?
The delivery form will matter in terms of the organization of the work process. The most common packaging in bags of 5-25 kg.
The complexity of using such a consistency is that it will require a special procedure for dilution with water and stirring. By the way, without an electric drill with a mixer nozzle, preparing a homogeneous mixture will not work.
On the other hand, dry grout for decorative stone can be stored for a long time and balanced to be consumed as decoration is completed.
Ready-made, that is, liquid mixtures are packed in plastic buckets in a homogeneous consistency that does not require special preparation. However, it must be consumed immediately after unpacking - the composition retains its qualities for a maximum of 1.5-2 hours.
The best grout manufacturers
The brand of composition also matters. Preference should be given to eminent and proven manufacturers of professional finishers, which include the following:
- Ceresit Super. Premium series of grouts specifically designed for finishing stone finishes. The modification of the CE 40 Aquastatic composition for joints up to 10 mm wide is very popular.
- Kiilto Saumalaasti. If you plan to finish indoors, you can refer to this grout. It is characterized by elasticity, heat and moisture resistance, easy to fit and not washed off.
- White hills. A universal composition that can be used both in facade decoration and indoor cladding. The pluses of the mixture include economical consumption. Given the fact that this grout for decorative stone in Leroy Merlin costs 300 rubles. for 4.5 kg, you can consider this solution as a budget, but with a sufficient reserve of quality.
- Perel RL 5410. Specialized composition for outdoor use. The grout is frost and crack resistant and is suitable for use in harsh environments.
Grouting decorative stone with a spatula
By choosing the right material, you can start the grouting process. It is carried out in many ways. A spatula in this case is the easiest and most affordable method:
- Previously, the contours of the seams are moistened, a working mixture is prepared.
- A small amount of mortar is taken on the spatula or trowel, after which it is carefully applied to the masonry target line.
- Accuracy for this method is very important, as is the depth of the mortar. Tamp the grout for decorative stone as tightly as possible so that internal voids do not form. Laying is done in at least two layers - one filling, and the second corrective form.
- Then the excess is removed, and the surface is closed from external influences.
Freshly laid grout should not be left open under precipitation or sunlight.
Technique for grouting with an assembly gun
For this type of work, you will need a special syringe gun that will allow you to apply the solution pointwise at the seams:
- Surface preparation is carried out in the same way with the application of water to the state of moistened pores.
- After laying, the alignment is carried out, excess mixture is removed and the edge of the seam is formed.
- Instead of a mounting gun, spot grouting for decorative stone can be applied with a pastry bag with a slot, but this operation will require more skill.
Slurry Grouting Technique
This method can only be used for even and smooth cladding. The grout will be laid in a continuous way according to the principle of plaster, but the emphasis is still on filling the joints. For work, you need a wide spatula for laying material over a large area and a grater with a plastic or metal sole:
- It is necessary to moisten the entire surface of the masonry with a sponge, and then carefully clean the contours of the seams with an abrasive tool.
- Grater the mixture is distributed over the working area so that there are no empty seams and recesses.
- If grouting decorative stone from gypsum is used, then before laying the next layer, you will need to wait a while (technological break of about 15-20 minutes) until the mixture enters the structure of the target surface.
- At the final stage, it is necessary to level the laid solution with a large spatula or rule.
Conclusion
The quality of the grout performed will depend on several factors - the master's skill, the characteristics of the mixture used and the conditions of the work. But it is especially important to take into account the timely cleaning of the surface of the laid mixture during the operation. It is good if you manage to remove the excess solution, but even after completion of the work there may be unpleasant traces that violate the aesthetic appearance of the lining.
How to clean a decorative stone from a grout that has already dried up? A rag or soft abrasives will help in this matter. It is best to try to get along with brushes and a dampened cloth - they will cause a minimum of physical damage to the decorative surface. If this does not help, you will have to use a felt grinder.
In the future, care of the seams with cleaning and processing with special tools will also be required. Special seams require street seams that are directly affected by UV rays, rainfall and wind.