Grout Litokol: types, features, instructions for use

It is difficult to imagine the repair of a bathroom or kitchen without the use of wall and floor tiles. The final touch overlay tile is the use of grout, which gives an aesthetic appearance and protects against premature lag of the material from the surface. One of the leaders in this market is Litokol brand products. About its features and benefits and will be discussed below.

All products of the brand Litokol meets the highest requirements for the production of building mixtures. The fact is that the company was founded in Europe, namely in Italy, where advanced equipment for the production of dry mixes is used.Since only high quality raw materials are used in the creation of all brand products, this ensures a long service life of all building mixtures.

Litokol grout have an important feature - versatility. This means that you can use the grout for both internal and external works, and the result will be equally excellent. Conveniently, the same Litokol grout can be used for laying different types of materials: both tile and porcelain.

The technical characteristics of the Litokol grout are very diverse. Each species performs its function and has certain properties. For example, STARLIKE DEFENDER epoxy grout is safe, bactericidal and approved for use in hospitals, swimming pools or in various warehouses.Another significant advantage of Litokol epoxy grout is the lack of odor, which is ideal for work in poorly ventilated areas.

Technical characteristics of cement grout are usually distinguished by their resistance to mechanical stress and deformation properties. Such characteristics can boast cement trowels LITOCHROM 1-6 and LITOCHROM 3-15. In addition, they have an increased resistance to abrasion and fading, which is perfect for interior and exterior use.

As for polyurethane trowels, these Litokol mixtures are ideally suited for working in wet rooms. They have a high elasticity and water-repellent element, as well as high resistance to various aggressive chemical environments. The ideal solution for troweling work in areas such as:

• "warm floor;
• stairs and platforms;
• facades of buildings;
• rooms with normal or high humidity.

Litokol trowel mixtures are presented in three main types: cement, epoxy (including two-component) and polyurethane.Any user can choose a grout depending on the conditions in which he is to put finishing material.

• Cement trowelled mixtures are the most common due to their versatility, as they are suitable for exterior interior work, and low prices. Such grout is very good to use for processing different widths of joints: both narrow and wide.
• Epoxy Grout is ideal for use in the bathroom and when finishing the pool, as they are highly resistant to moisture. Moreover, the line of epoxy mixtures is characterized by the greatest color variety, therefore they are ideally suited for almost any finishing material.
• Polyurethanee grouting is the pride of the company. They are advanced and made on the basis of polyurethane resin. Such trowel mixtures are ideal for outdoor work, as they withstand high physical activity and are resistant to deformation.

The color range of the troweling mixtures is extremely diverse, especially among the epoxy type. In total, there are about 32 shades in the range, which is an impressive indicator among competitors.

Among the palette of two-component epoxy blends, there is even a transparent hue that is suitable for working with glass tiles. The most popular is the shade of wenge, which is suitable for working with porcelain stoneware and other finishing materials that have a natural color. Light beige grout is no less popular because it is used in working with many light finishing materials.

As for the consumption of grout, then on many sites there is a calculator that will allow you to very accurately calculate how much material is needed for each particular case. For those buyers who do not trust the automatic calculators, the manufacturer offers a table of consumption.

Averaged, the consumption of Litokol trowel mixtures varies from 0.25 to 0.5 kg per 1 m2. The final amount of the product depends on the type of grout selected, the width of the seams, the tile format, and the installation area.The manufacturer indicates on the markings the width of the seams for the treatment of which each specific agent is designed. The numbers after the grout name indicate the buyer to the width of the seams.

First of all, it is necessary to prepare a solution of the mixture, since the cement and epoxy grout produced in the form of powder. Polyurethane type does not require preparation for use.

The next step is the preparation of the surface itself. It is necessary to remove the old coating, dirt and various residues of glue or cement screed. Do not neglect these procedures, as only on a clean surface the grout will hold all the time stated by the manufacturer.

It is easy to figure out how to properly wipe the interlayer joints. To do this, it is best to use a rubber spatula or plaster trowel. You should also begin work from the far corner of the room. The seams are filled with a trowel at a 45 degree angle.

After the mixture is applied to the interstitial seams, it is worth removing all the stains from the grout for 45 minutes. This should be done in a timely manner, until the mixture is completely frozen. An ordinary sponge or a rubber spatula previously moistened with water is perfect for this.

Start walking on the treated surface of the tile in most cases, you can start after 24 hours. But it is worth considering that this is also the composition of the grout, since different formulations dry out differently. Full operation and hardening of the surface with the condition of exposure to any chemical compounds allowed for 5-7 days. It is necessary to withstand the stated temperature conditions during this period, for example, for an epoxy mixture, this temperature is approximately 23 degrees.

The shelf life of Litokol grout is determined by the type of mixture itself. Typically, the shelf life of the cement mixture is 12 months, and the shelf life of epoxy and polyurethane - 24 months. The mixture is stored at an average temperature of + 10 ... +30 degrees. But it can also vary by mix type.

However, polyurethane grout has a big plus, as after its application, the remaining material can be reused. It should be stored at a temperature of + 5 ... +30 degrees.In such conditions, this mixture can be reused without problems after several months.

The customer reviews of Litokol grout are very positive. Many consumers like the rich colors offered by the manufacturer, which allows you to choose the color of the trowel mix under any tile. I am also pleased with the result, the seams are neat, strong, and all types of grout do not turn yellow and do not turn black with time.

However, many do not recommend the use of epoxy grout for independent work, as it is difficult to apply the tool. Nevertheless, many consumers leave feedback on the success of working with this product, even with initial experience. Also, users of these products note that the Litokol grout is one of the best in its price category.

Before starting work, it is worth making sure that the room temperature is within acceptable limits. For example, for some epoxy mixtures of Litokol, this rate is + 16 ... -25 degrees. This is due to the fact that at low temperatures the composition starts to harden, it becomes too viscous and difficult to work with, inconvenient to work.

Also, for more comfortable work, the manufacturer recommends purchasing additional tools:

• combined cellulose sponge, which quickly forms seams;
• skipper - a special bucket equipped with spinning rollers;
• Grater with replaceable cellulose nozzle, used for cleaning residues.

On the properties of the trowel mix Litokol, see the following video.