If you take a close look at the gaps between the tiles used in the bathroom or kitchen, did you know that these gaps are sealed with grout? Did you notice that these areas are often in contact with water? Have you ever seen a hole or chip-off in these grouts before?
For ceiling and wall leakages, have you ever noticed a hole in your false ceiling due to a constant leakage from the reinforced concrete slab above? Have you ever noticed damp areas or water seepages from the wall behind your standing shower?
If your answer is “Yes” to all or most of the questions above, it is highly possible that your grouting or waterproofing barrier have worn-out due to wear and tear overtime. This is exceptionally common in wet areas which are frequently in contact with water. Hence, this is when grouting repair works comes into play as one of the recommended treatments to rectify these problems.
In this article, we will be delving in-depth on grout and its characteristics, the types of grout commonly used in the industry, the common areas of grout application as well as its advantages.
Grout and its characteristics
Grout is a combination of cement, sand and water or chemical substances that is used in pressure grouting injections, filling of voids and sealing of joints between tiles. To put it simply, grout is used to fill gaps. In a household, it is commonly used to fill in the tile joints for bathroom and kitchen floors and walls, especially for areas which are frequently in contact with water. One example would be the standing shower or the near the kitchen sink area. Grout is also commonly injected into reinforced concrete structures to fill in voids and gaps to prevent water seepages. When the grouting is correctly mixed and applied with quality workmanship, it effectively forms a water resistant seal that could prevent water ingress for years.
Some characteristics of grouting include:
- Non-corrosive, non-flammable and non-toxic.
- Very good flow characteristic: When injected at high pressure, grout is able to flow into the littlest cracks or gaps, filling them up at a very fast rate.
- Resistance to impact and vibrations: It is common for impact and vibration to be present in a household especially floors with high foot traffic. With this characteristic, it can effectively remain resilient and provide extra strength to load-bearing structures like floors and walls.
- Excellent bond to concrete: As injection grouting is a highly recommended solution to resolve seepages through concrete structures, it has proven its effectiveness in restoring concrete cracks and stopping water ingress with this characteristic.
- Easy preparation and application: The preparation and application process of the grout is relatively easy and mess-free. The work areas are often protected prior to commencement and properly cleaned up after completion.
Types of grouts
There are various types of grouts in the market that are used to repair leakages at bathrooms, roofs, balconies, even swimming pools. It is important to understand each type of grout and their characteristics before implementing the most appropriate treatment to resolve your leakage problems. Today, we will share with you the 3 injection grouting materials which are widely used by contractors in Singapore.
PU Injection Grouting
Polyurethane Injection Grouting is a waterproofing technique that injects polyurethane, a fluid resin, to prevent water leakage through cracks or gaps in the concrete. When in contact with water or moisture, this fluid resin will react and expand up to 10 times its original volume to fill up the existing gaps until there is no more space in order to stop water from flowing through structural joints and crack-lines. This technique is often implemented to repair cracks and stop water seepage on walls, floors, etc.
It offers significant advantages, as it is easy to apply and very durable. Due to its low viscosity and various other properties, it is commonly used to fill cracks in concrete floors and walls bathrooms, roofs, balconies, even swimming pools. Due to its elasticity characteristic, it is able to withstand not only thermal movements but also mechanical loads. Furthermore, it is cost efficient as compared to the other two materials below.
Epoxy Grout
Epoxy based injection grouting consists of epoxy resin, silica fillers, pigments and a hardener. This grout is less porous as compared to cementitious grouts and has strong chemical resistance, making it is a preferred choice for tile installation in areas that are prone to acid and grease attack. Its durability also makes it an ideal choice for application to bathrooms, kitchen, toilet, balcony, floors, and high-traffic areas. Regardless of thermal tension or soil pressure, etc. epoxy grouting is strong enough to withstand it.
Although it has plenty of benefits, epoxy grout also presents several disadvantages such as:
- Higher difficulty of application as compared to regular grout. Due to its quick setting time, the residue left on the tiles will result in a glossy sheen. To avoid this, contractors need to promptly clean the tiles before and after, resulting in longer repair duration.
- Longer curing time. It usually takes 3 to 4 hours at room temperature to cure and does not fully rectify the water leakage issues.
- Higher cost. It is often costs three to five times more than regular grouting as it is time-consuming and harder to apply. Moreover, home owners need to redo the epoxy grouting every 3 to 5 years.
Cementitious Injection Grouting
This is one of the most traditional form of grouting. Cementitious injection grouting is a mixture of sand and water, it is further classified into two sub-categories: sanded and non-sanded grouts. Sanded cementitious grouts are suitable for joint widths above 4mm, while non-sanded cementitious grouts are for joint widths that are 4mm or smaller.
Although cementitious grouting is easier to work with, cheaper than epoxy grouting and easier to clean. On the flip side, it is not highly resistant to chemicals or stains and it deteriorates whenever in contact with alkali or acid compounds. Its porous features also make it possible for water to seep through the cement grout, resulting in growth of bacteria, mould or mildew under the grout’s surfaces which requires constant maintenance over time.
Advantages of Grouting
As the old saying goes, “good things must share”! Here are some reasons why we often advise home owners to carry out grouting repair works to rectify the leakages soonest possible to reduce inconvenience:
- It is highly effective in filling cracks and gaps. When mixed and applied correctly, it can effectively deter water ingress for years.
- It is affordable. A typical toilet’s ceiling spot repair with PU injection grouting or re-grouting works to a normal-sized standing shower wall and floor tiles could be completed in a day or two.
- For tiled walls and floors, grouting of the gaps helps to keep dirt and debris from getting in between and under the tiles, reducing the rate of wear-and-tear overtime.
How SWC Construction can help
With over 20 years of extensive experience as well as being a Building and Construction Authority (BCA) certified and approved waterproofing contractor in the waterproofing industry, we are dedicated to providing quality workmanship to rectify all waterproofing problems and reduce inconvenience to home owners.
It is of our top priority to investigate thoroughly, identify the actual sources and carry out professional tested-and-proven solutions to help stop the seepages promptly. Contact us today for a non-obligatory on-site consultation to solve all your leakage problems.