Grouting of decorative bricks allows you to emphasize its uniqueness and give an interesting look to the entire masonry. Masters believe that this is useful, but in construction work there are always several options that are suitable for obtaining the same result. Before starting, you should prepare everything you need and arm yourself with instructions.
What effect do such works bring?
Often in the vocabulary of builders you can hear such an expression - a breakdown. This is grouting decorative brick. After the entire masonry is completed, it is necessary to apply an additional layer of special mass between the seams. But this is not always required. If additional cladding is planned, then this is not done.
Assignment of work
This procedure has two main purposes:
- Decorativeness. This allows you to select lines, make the pattern explicit. Horizontal and vertical lines become one, the masonry becomes interesting, and the color scheme takes on a new shade. It is worth considering one important point: such grouting of decorative brick seams does not remove the errors made during the main works. These are irregularities, bloopers of cement and other defects.
- Practical value. When it is decided to additionally create protection for the joints, then this has its advantages - the noise level is reduced, and the cement mortar used in the main masonry receives additional protection against precipitation. It is also an additional barrier to the release of heat. The seam becomes durable, small cracks disappear, and the entire structure becomes reliable.
Knowing all this meaning, everyone makes a decision that when creating a facing without additional sizing of joints it is not enough. There are many different tools on the market today, and you should know what to choose, as well as take into account the sequence of all work.
When to start?
Grouting of decorative bricks begins only when a neat laying of the base material is created. If no additional facing material is to be used, then only whole bricks and not cracked should be used in creating the wall. You will have to try and make each seam identical to the next. In order not to come up with sizes, you can arm yourself with the rules from SNiP. They indicate that the horizontal permissible sizes are within 10-15 millimeters, and in the vertical - 8-15 millimeters. This option is suitable for many materials:
- Decorative brick.
- Gypsum tile and brick.
- Front panels.
- A natural stone.
Today, every master knows that there are several options for creating the perfect seam. Each type is not too complicated, and to cope with it is not difficult.
What type of firmware to choose?
It is necessary to determine at the planning stage which method the brickwork will have. Each has his own technique of execution. It is held throughout the area:
- Flush. This option is simplified, so it is suitable for grouting decorative brick joints with your own hands. To work, you need a trowel. With it, the mixture is removed, which turned out to be outside the plane. To avoid error, you need to go with a stiff brush.
- Entrance inward. What is between the masonry is rammed at a certain distance. Then with the help of a trowel make a recess. It is necessary to create a concavity in the middle, and the edges flush.
- Bulge from the outside. To do this, they are armed with an arched spatula - it is easy for them to hold along the seam. As a result, the mass is filled. Thanks to this, the seam comes out. Not everyone can handle this process.
- In the form of a triangle. This is the most complicated process. Mostly found indoors. For this, part of the mass up to 5 millimeters is removed from the recess itself. After that, the composition in the form of a triangle is distributed into this space.
- Bevel. It is performed in an elementary way, certain skill is not necessary. It is necessary to move the trowel along the filled seam, removing part of the mass. There are 4 mm recesses.
Depending on the selected seam, it is worth preparing the tool. For all, you will need a container in which the mortar, spatula, trowel, construction mixer, level will be mixed. So before the start of the process, it is decided which seam will be and what it will form from. Each master has his own principles of work. If there is no experience in this, then do not rush.
What formulations are available?
If we consider the range, then most often the finished masses are sold in two types - on cement and epoxy. For 30 kilograms you will have to pay about one thousand rubles. It is cement foundations that are used more often, for their advantages:
- Low price.
- Easy to apply.
- Removes from the surface without any problems.
After the acquisition, pay attention to the packaging. It has all the useful information. Most often they are on the water, in addition to this there are:
- quality cements;
- dye;
- sand;
- plasticizer;
- additives for quick drying.
The plus is that everyone can easily select the right color scheme. Epoxy grouting of brick tile joints is suitable for those places where there will be a strong impact of various natural indicators. It shows itself as the highest quality and longer service life than cement.
DIY seam
Grouting between decorative bricks is straightforward. It is worth taking cement, alabaster and sand, the volume of the first two substances - 2 parts, and the last - ten. To get a liquid consistency, you should add water, otherwise it will be difficult to work. Sometimes lime is used to create white, although it spreads from heavy rain and loses its color. So if the design needs white seams, a special composition is acquired.
The solution should be spent no more than two hours, otherwise its basic properties change. To check for liquid, pry up with a trowel. The composition must not drain or fall off. The most convenient is the use of semi-dry grouting of decorative brick joints. Here are some tools and materials to keep at hand:
- Spatulas of different sizes.
- Trowel.
- Stitching.
- Construction mixer.
- Capacity of any size, but not small.
- Screen for sifting sand.
Getting to work
When the wall is done, you can start grouting. The work itself is simple, but lengthy and thorough. Everything happens in a few steps:
- All seams must be brushed.
- Then you need to rinse the seams well. For this, a water pressure is used - a hose or a car wash. It’s good to wet the entire wall - so the composition will not crack.
- Preparation of the solution on the basis of recommendations from the manufacturer.
- The composition is placed on the spatula and sent to the seam. After that, the solution with the help of narrow embroidery creeps along the seam. To achieve the desired density, it is necessary to strongly press the tool against the brick.
- Vertically and horizontally, work is carried out equally.
- When the seam is filled, it is cleaned with a brush.
- After the mortar is slightly dry, the selected seam is created.
You need to dilute as much solution as a person manages to make. Because over time, it loses its elasticity, and there is a risk of doing everything inaccurately. The procedure is simple and does not take much time.
Recommendations from the masters
In order to avoid simple errors, you need to know useful tips from professionals:
- To grout gypsum brick was the desired consistency, sand must be sieved.
- When the batch is created according to the instructions, let it stand for 15 minutes, after it is mixed again and work begins.
- Creating a seam, do not go into the bricks themselves.
- If the solution is unnecessary, it is immediately removed.
- When a mistake is made, then it must be corrected immediately, otherwise the solution will harden and nothing will work out.
Grouting is a completely feasible process, and it doesn’t matter what main material we are talking about.