The ceramic border for the bathroom is a part that can be purchased complete with tile. It is used to decorate the gaps between the wall and the bathroom. Many beginner home masters are wondering why it is simply impossible to fill the space with sealant.
The thing is that this method can only be used for cast-iron bathtubs, since they are highly durable. However, in this case there are exceptions expressed in uneven edges. It is better to entrust the installation of the border to a specialist if you have not been involved in tile laying before. But doing everything yourself, you must first become familiar with the technology of work.
Solution
If you have a steel or thin-walled acrylic bath, then under the weight of a person and water it is deformed. This leads to a constant change in the width of the seam. The side of the acrylic bath is fixed to the wall. In other cases, the gap can be closed with something. It should be remembered that the ceramic border is used only in combination with tile. If the wall is lined with plastic panels or painted, then a border made of plastic or rubber will become a more suitable option.
Preparation for installation
If you decide to start installing the ceramic border yourself, then you should prepare some materials and tools:
- sand paper;
- building level;
- tile glue;
- angle grinder;
- flat and serrated spatula;
- sealant with antiseptic additives.
The grinder should be equipped with a disk, and this equipment will be used for cutting stone. Sandpaper can be replaced with a sanding block. If you intend to stick the elements until the wall is tiled, then the bath should be level so that its edges have a horizontal position. If there is already tile on the wall, then the bath should be installed so that its edge is parallel to the horizontal seams between the tiles.
The ceramic border can only be glued to the surface that is previously degreased, cleaned of dirt and dust, and also dried. Before starting work, fill the gap with sealant or tile adhesive. If this space turned out to be too wide and takes more than 5 mm, then foam can be used as a filler. And in order that this composition does not warp the bath during hardening, the latter must be filled with water. This requirement is due to the fact that the construction foam swells greatly.
Corner amount calculation
Before making a purchase, you need to determine how many corners you need to carry out the work. To do this, the total seam length is measured using a tape measure. The value should be divided by the length of one corner. This will allow you to get the minimum number of fillets. To this value, experts recommend adding about 4 elements that may be needed in battle. There should be more spare parts if you do not have special experience in carrying out such work.
Installing a border before gluing tiles
As mentioned above, a ceramic border can be laid according to one of two technologies. The first involves installation before gluing the tiles. This method is the most correct, because the cladding in this case will have an ideal appearance. The seam should be the same as everyone else. Therefore, in the end, it will be possible to ensure that the coating looks like a whole.
Please note that this method is the most complex. Therefore, you should approach the work with special care. Installation must begin from the corner. To do this, apply corner fillets, which have the shape of the letter "g". If it was not possible to find them on sale, then two parts will need to be cut at an angle of 45 °, as is done when installing baguettes or floor skirting.
Before gluing the ceramic border to the bath, you will need to cut it. However, there is a high probability of chip formation. Therefore, it is recommended to start cutting from the back. After the operation is completed, the end face is processed with sandpaper or a grinder with a grinding wheel. If you don’t have an abrasive tool, then you can clean it with a file.
Tile glue is important to prepare properly. It should have a consistency of thick paste, should not slip on the surface and drain from the spatula. The excess protruding between the fillets should be removed with a sponge or damp rag before the mixture has time to harden.
Methodology
The border for ceramic tiles on the back should be completely coated with glue. If there are bumps on the walls, they can be leveled with the help of the composition. You can evaluate the verticality of the wall using a long level or rule.
The outer layers of glue will dry faster, so the mixture may begin to spread. In order to exclude such a possibility, 8 hours after completion of installation, it is necessary to moisten the border with water, leaving it in this state until it completely dries. Once the glue has hardened, you can start laying tiles. You can do this the very next day. Between the first row and the fillet a certain width of the seam must be maintained. This can be achieved with the help of mounting crosses.
Installation of fillet after laying tiles
Ceramic borders can also be glued after finishing the walls with tiles. This method is considered the most suitable for the novice master, but to achieve the perfect picture this way will not work. As a result, the seam between the tile and the border will be wider than all the others, the fillet will look like a separate part.
The tile should be laid according to conventional technology, and its lower row should be 1 cm apart from the bathtub. This clearance will be used for mounting the curb. If it happened that the lower edge of the first row of wall decoration is lower than the edge of the bath, then the fillet should be glued to the tile. In this case, silicone should be used instead of tile adhesive. The installation of a ceramic border in this case is carried out according to the above technology. However, joining the elements will be more difficult if you plan to use silicone.
Final work
As soon as the glue has completely hardened, it is recommended to start the final work. When the border is laid according to the first method, the seam is filled with a moisture-resistant grout, which is used to decorate all other scars on the wall. For the reason that the curb is located below, moisture on it will linger longer.
In order to prevent the growth of mold on the seam, an antiseptic should be added to the grout. If the wall ceramic border was laid after installation of the main cladding, then the connection should be filled with acrylic or silicone sealant. This must be done as carefully as possible, only in this way it will be possible to eliminate tile pollution.
How to glue a ceramic border: MAKROFLEX SX101 silicone sealant
White ceramic borders can be glued using the aforementioned plumbing high-performance silicone sealant. It provides high adhesion, is moisture resistant, contains antiseptic components and is resistant to aging. Among the additional advantages should be highlighted resistance to ultraviolet radiation.
The composition contains fungicides that prevent the occurrence of mold. This makes the composition especially effective in rooms where the environment is characterized by high humidity. The mixture can be applied over a wide temperature range. However, the thermometer should not fall below +20 ° C. The composition can be operated at temperatures that vary from +5 to +40 ° C. If there is a need to glue the skirting board at temperatures below +5 ° C, then ice, frost and condensation should be absent on the treated surfaces.
An alternative solution for installing a ceramic skirting board: Ceresit glue
The angular ceramic border, like all other elements, can be installed using the “Cerezit” tile adhesive. A variety of CM 9 is made on a cement basis. This mixture is moisture resistant. It has lowered qualities of frost resistance, freezes 2 times longer than other offers from the manufacturer.
After opening the container, it is recommended to use the mixture within 2 hours. The temperature of external air during use should vary from +5 to +30 ° C, while air humidity should not rise above 80%. You can correct the item after installation within 15 minutes. Open time is 10 minutes. After installation, the element can slide by 0.5 mm. Mashing the seams is necessary after two days.
One of the most popular is CM 11 Plus adhesive, which is suitable for laying tiles indoors and outdoors. This mixture is not afraid of moisture and frost, therefore, it can be used in the conditions of country houses. Before applying the mass, you must make sure that the fillets have a water absorption of more than 3%. If you add an elasticizer to the composition, then the glue can be used to install borders with any water absorption.
Conclusion
Ceramic border will be the most aesthetic solution for the bathroom. It looks noble, and can also be perfectly matched to the tiles. Installation of this element should be carried out in several stages. The first involves the preparation of the base, the second is the sealing of cracks, while the third is the distribution of glue and the formation of angles. The final step will be the installation of borders, which should be exhibited at the construction level.