Sooner or later, everyone has to make repairs in the bathroom. An important element is the replacement of tiles and bathtubs. However, after the installation procedure, a certain gap is formed between them. This is the main place for the development of mold, plaque and accumulation of dirt. To avoid such situations and to prevent mold, it is necessary to perform high-quality sealing of joints. But how to make adjoining tiles to the bath correctly? Consider the most popular ways.
Foam application
Today it is the easiest and most effective way. However, it does not always look beautiful. There is a mounting foam of mere pennies, and the dried seam can be painted over with ordinary oil paint. But there is a limitation. Thus, it is possible to adjoin the tile to the bath of metal or cast iron. Foam is not suitable for plastic panels and acrylic structures.
How is the tile adjoining the bathtub? The operation is performed in several stages:
- First, the area where the docking will be performed is cleaned and washed.
- Next, an antiseptic is applied. You need to wait until it dries.
- Then the side is sanded with sandpaper for better grip.
- The surface is degreased with any solvent.
- Foam seam is closed. It is applied slowly and gently. Remember that the material will increase with time in size. Therefore, you need to squeeze the foam a little.
- Wait for the material to dry. Next, with the help of a sharp knife or blade, excess foam is cut off.
- The seam is stained with nitro paint in white or in tone of tile.
Cement mortar
Professionals close the joint of the bathtub and tile with cement mortar. A thick solution is prepared for this, which will fill all the gaps with itself. But before you cook it, you need to prepare the surface itself, because the solution dries very quickly.
As an alternative, plaster mix can be used. If the joint between the acrylic bathtub and the tile is wide, it is recommended to putty along the serpentine tape for strength. The essence of the work is simple. The seam is cleaned and the mesh is set so that it slightly touches the tile. Further, the gap is densely filled with putty mortar. But after application, additional waterproofing is necessary, since the cement gets wet. And in the bathroom the moisture will be constant. To make waterproofing, you can add a polymer additive or latex to the solution. And for easy cleaning of the seam, water-repellent impregnation or epoxy is additionally applied.
Sealant
Experts say this is the easiest way. He is quite popular. But you need to understand that sealant is used only for small gaps. How does work work:
- The required area is degreased and cleaned. It is important to apply sealant only on a dry and not dirty surface.
- The gap is filled with sealant. This can be done using the mounting gun by installing a tube in it. When applying sealant, it is important not to stain the tile and the bath itself. The composition is very difficult to wash off.
- Next, the mixture is leveled. This can be done with a rubber spatula. Its size should be small.
- The sealant dries, and you can begin to use the bath.
If it is a bathroom, experts recommend the use of compounds with water-repellent and antibacterial properties. It is easier to care for them, since a lot of dirt and mold does not form on the surface. As for color, it is better to choose a white sealant.
Plastic corner
Also, to close the gap, you can use a plastic baseboard for the bathtub. This method is great for any type of bath:
In order for the plastic baseboard for bathing to hold reliably, it is necessary to additionally treat the fastener seats with a transparent sealant. For this, "liquid nails" are quite suitable. Also note that such skirting boards already have a self-adhesive base. But as practice shows, this adhesive tape is not always reliable (especially on Chinese-made products, of which most are on the market). What can be done if the junction of the bathtub to the wall is small? Here, the use of corners for lining is allowed.
Ceramic bath corners
How can I still close the gap? Among the reliable and proven methods, ceramic corners for the bath should be noted. This is a kind of baseboard that looks much more aesthetic than a plastic counterpart. Today on the market there are many color schemes, as well as ornaments. Therefore, you can choose the baseboard for every taste and design of the room.
Due to the smooth shape, the transition from the bath to the tile will be negligible. Ceramics is also a natural material and withstands high humidity. Mold does not appear on the surface even without additional processing. And you can look after any detergents that are also used to clean the tiles. In addition, the service life of the ceramic skirting board is higher - up to 15 years.
But flaws are also present. Although ceramic is a very hard material, it can crack from a strong impact. Also, the corners of this material are not so plastic, and therefore they cannot be used if the abutment is uneven (or the bathtub has a special shape). Another drawback is the cost. Ceramic products will be much more expensive than ordinary plastic ones.
Installation of the product is as follows:
- The junction is cleaned of dirt and dust, primed.
- The gap is filled with silicone sealant. The composition is leveled with a spatula.
- Preparing glue "liquid nails." The composition is applied to the back of the corner.
- The element is pressed into place.
If necessary, you can cut the ceramic skirting board. But you need to perform this operation only on the reverse side. And all the chips on the ceramic surface are cleaned with sandpaper or with a grinding machine.
Tile Border
This option is the most reliable among others. However, the tile border needs a certain distance between the tile and the side. Now the assortment has borders with an original ornament. So you can decorate the look of the bathroom.
But to adjoin the tile to the bath in this way will be difficult. Observe the angle of inclination. Therefore, this is thought out even at the stage of installing the tile.
Using tape
This method is as convenient as using sealant, but more expensive. You also need to know that cheap self-adhesive tape will not differ in high-quality waterproofing. Therefore, the mold will develop perfectly under it, moving partially to the tile and bath. Previously, the joint between the tile and the bathroom can not be painted. But it is necessarily degreased, otherwise the quality of the adhesion of the tape will deteriorate at times. Depending on the size of the gap in the store, you can find both wide and narrow ribbons. Their cost is from 600 to 1200 rubles per meter.
Experts recommend additionally using transparent sealant or “liquid nails”. This composition must be applied over the adhesive base of the sealing tape. As in previous cases, the joint surface must be clean and degreased.
Tile grout
If the edge is almost close to the tile, classic grouting is allowed. It can be ready (sold in tubes) or dry. In the latter case, it is prepared on its own - mixed with water until the consistency of thick slurry. The method of using grout is very simple, while the gap looks neat. How is grout used? To begin with, the surface is degreased. Then a small gap is smeared. If this is a finished composition, it is applied as a regular sealant - using an assembly gun. The grout colors may be different, but in most cases choose white. This is a win-win option. By the way, if this is a dry grout, stains may remain after its application. They must be removed with a clean damp cloth. Otherwise, the composition will dry out and it will be almost impossible to remove it from the glazed surface without damaging the tile.
Among the positive moments of grouting, reviews note the presence of antifungal additives that are already in the composition. Fungus and mold will not actively develop on such a surface. You can also optionally process the joint with a fugue-shine. Thanks to water-repellent additives on such a coating there will be no yellow stains from rust and plaque.
However, it is worth noting that this method is not suitable for use in large gaps.
Combined method
Recently, more and more owners began to use polyurethane foam in combination with a plastic baseboard or with a sealing tape. How is the junction of the bath and wall sealed? The work is performed as follows:
- First, the gap between the wall and the bathroom is filled with foam.
- Next, a tape or baseboard is installed on the composition. The first option will be cheaper, but you need to remember that tightly adhering tiles to the bath will not work.
In addition, the skirting board (if it was chosen) is treated with a transparent adhesive. Five minutes later, the surface will grip securely. By the way, as a decor, some use pieces of plastic instead of a plinth. But experts recommend using a solid skirting board - it's easier and more beautiful.
Recommendations
Before working with any building materials (especially cement mortar), you need to cover the bath with a piece of cloth or cellophane. It will be difficult to wash off glue, sealant and other compounds if they get on a glazed surface, so do not be lazy and look for a piece of film. Of course, it is enough to close only the part that is in contact with the wall (that is, where the work will be done). So we will protect ourselves from getting compounds on the surface of the bath.