Grouting for buildings: All you need to know! (+demo videos)

Why does it happen that newly constructed buildings develop problems of seepage, loose joints, or cracks over time? This happens usually because of the lack of proper grouting or the use of mortar instead of grout. Epoxy grout for tiles and injection by grouting machine are some common uses.

Building construction remains an extremely complex and challenging task. It comprises several complicated steps and processes. Moreover, the versatile range of building materials required in construction demands immense technical knowledge. Similarly, processes such as the application of grouts with or without a grouting machine need undivided attention. We have put together all the information in a sequential format for the professionals so that they get a detailed understanding of various aspects of grouting.

 Grouting

Image Source: The Home Depot

Let us start by understanding the meaning of Grout and Grouting.

Grout is simply a mixture of cement, water, sand, and construction chemicals. This mixture is used in filling gaps during construction. The process of filling grout in the gaps and other such applications is called grouting.

Moreover, the purpose of grouts remains the repairing of concrete cracks, filling of seams and gaps in tiles with grout, waterproofing, and also soil stabilization.

Furthermore, it also gives the foundation’s load-bearing capacity some additional strength. Therefore, grout is preferred to mortar in building construction.

Let’s watch this video to understand the difference between mortar and grout:

Features of grout

• Non-corrosive, non-toxic, and non-flammable
• Shrinkage compensated: The cement mixed in the grouting powder gradually expands, once it sets. However, this expansion can be contained with the right preparation of the grouting mixture.
• Excellent concrete bonding: Grouts join both old and new concrete surfaces with the same strength.
• No segments: The application of grout leaves no segmentation in the structure.
• Easy application: Grouting is quite a simple process. It doesn’t take much time or hard work. However, it becomes extremely important to prepare the grouting mixture with accurate measures.
• Vibration and impact resistance: As a result, the building remains compact and firm in case of minor ground vibrations. Moreover, grouts hold the structure together. Therefore, external shocks do not break it.

Advantages of grouting

• Application of grouts can be done on any ground condition
• It does not cause any structural damage
• Moreover, it doesn’t induce vibration
• You can measure the improvement in ground structures with grouting
• Grouts remain a perfect retrofit application. Therefore, you can install grouts adjacent to the existing walls as well.
• Additionally, it controls seepage, hazardous waste materials, and also the groundwater flow.

Disadvantages of grouting

• Grout does not work in decomposable building materials.
• Filling underground pipes remains dangerous.
• Its effectiveness remains ambiguous in saturated clays.
• The grouting proves ineffective when done adjacent to unsupported slopes.

Grout mixture

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Grouting requires different grouting materials.

All grouting mixtures use cement. However, the pumpable grouting materials vary depending on various factors such as soil type and the area.

Different compositions of some common grouting powders:

1. Cement & water
2. Clay, cement, & water
3. Rock flour, cement, & water
4. Sand, cement, clay, & water
5. Clay & water
6. Asphalt
7. Chemicals

Standard grout mixture:

For flowable water:

Powder= 0.14-0.16 by weight (4.2- 4.8 litres of water/ 30 kg bag)

For pourable water:

0.12-0.14 by weight (3.6-4.2 litres of water/ 30 kg bag)

How to prepare the grouting mixture?

The grout powder must be mixed in extremely accurate proportions. Moreover, grout cement must not become too pasty or too watery.

In addition to that, the grout mixture must not have too much air.

Therefore, the grouting powder must be mixed with a low-speed electrical drill. The maximum speed of the drill must not increase 500 rpm.

Additionally, you must pour about 85% of water into the mixing drug initially. And then add the balance water later.

DO NOT use a solid or concrete tilt mixer to mix the grout powder.

How to apply the grouting mixture?

It must be ensured that the grouting machine pours the powder immediately after mixing. Furthermore, you must also make sure that the displaced air can fully escape. This will promise full-contact grouting.

Moreover, ensure that the grouting machine maintains a continuous and consistent head of pressure.

Also, ascertain that the grouting machine manages to finish the grout application within 15 minutes of the preparation of the grouting mixture.

Now that we know how to prepare the right grouting mixture in the machine, let’s understand how to inject it in between the voids, cracks, or honeycombs.

Grout injections

Image Source: Raider Painting

Since grout remains a flowable plastic material, it becomes extremely important to ensure that it remains stable while filling the gaps. Moreover, it must not crack, crumble, or de-laminate. Grout injections are considered the best way for applying grout mixtures as they ensure that none of these inconveniences occurs.

The grout injections fill the voids and cracks that happen under pressure in a building structure. Moreover, the grout injections also strengthen the damage caused by deteriorating masonry structures.

Advantages of grout injections

• It is easy to use grout injections.
• Grout injection makes for an environment-friendly process.
• Masonry structures get enhanced stability and strength with grout injections
• Grout injections are economical
• No wastage of grout materials takes place in grout injections.

Types of grout injections:

1. Polymer grout injections
2. Grout Cement sand grout injections
3. Gas-forming grout injections

Process of using grout injections

1 Step- Drill the holes on the surface with a grouting machine.

2 Step- Clean the holes and cracks.

3 Step- Seal the cracks with the grouting machine.

4 Step- Grout the hose connections using the grouting machine.

5 Step- Grout injections in the cracks with the grouting machine.

Applications of grout injections

1. To fill cracks and voids.
2. For repairing wall columns
3. To offer finishing to the wall
4. For honeycombing
5. To repair damaged areas
6. For waterproofing the walls

Types of grouts (grouting material)

Grout has varied application areas. Therefore, each area needs different grouting materials.

We have several types of grouts in the building industry:

Cement grouting

Also known as cementitious grout type, this grouting material uses a clean grouting mixture of grouting cement and water or sand to grouting cement mixture (4:1) and water.

Additionally, high-permeability ground uses this grouting cement mixture.

Chemical grouting

Medium to coarse grade soils uses chemical grouting.

Moreover, the liquid form of sodium silicate and calcium chloride when mixed together solidify to form a gel.

Two processes of chemical grout:

• One-shot process: The chemical mixing takes place before the grouting injection. As a result, wider borehole spacing becomes possible.
• Two-shot process: Grouting pipes are driven into the ground. Furthermore, the chemicals get injected into the pipes via grouting injections simultaneously. Thus, it enables rapid soil strengthening.

Bentonite grouting

A specific type of clay that has thixotropic properties (viscous properties) produces bentonite.

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This substance forms a highly water-resistant gel. Moreover, when we mix it with additives, it creates a permanent block for the water flow.

Therefore, its use remains common where soil particles are extremely small. Moreover, it also fights seepage issues in alluvial soils.

Bituminous grouting

Although bituminous grout does not increase the soil strength, it acts as an impermeable barrier to water when applied using grout injections.

Moreover, this grout material suits best when injected into fine sand.

Resin grouting

Unlike chemical grouts, resin grouts come with low viscosity. Therefore, they can penetrate into fine sands.

Grout Application Areas

The application of grout is done in various areas. Some common application areas are:

1. Stopping heavy water inflow in underground structures, tunnels, dams, etc.
2. Protective coating for concrete structures, reservoirs, floors, etc.
3. Treatment of deteriorated, cracked, or leaking masonry and concrete structures.
4. Special foundations such as micro piles (deep foundation elements) and slurry walls (concrete walls in areas close to open water and soft earth).
5. Rehabilitation of structures damaged by fire, explosion, earthquakes, etc.

One of the most common applications of grout remains on tiles. Grouts on tiles are used to fill up the gaps between the tiles so that they become compact and void-free.

Grout for tiles

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There was a time when the space between tiles would be filled up with white cement. Although it still remains a common preference among people, tile with grout has emerged as a newer and more aesthetic trend.

The purpose of grouting of tiles remains to fill up the spaces and gaps between tiles so that they remain secured to their base. Grouting for tiles works on both, wall and floor.

Watch this video to find out how to grout a wall:

The grout for tiles comes in both sanded and unsanded varieties. Moreover, the grout cement used in sanded grout types for grout on tiles contains finely ground silica grout sang. On the other hand, the unsanded grouting of tiles is finer. Additionally, it offers a non-gritty surface.

From the different grout types, you have to pick the grout type based on the load. For instance, in a space like a garage, you can expect around 7.5 tons of load would need a different grout type from that of a cobbled garden track.

Different grout types for grouting of tiles

Image Source: Floor Techie

Sanded grout for tiles

This kind of grout in tiles is ideal for any grout to join greater than 1/8” of an inch.

Moreover, the sand mixed in the grout mixture holds the grout powder in the joint firmly.

Additionally, it should be mixed in the consistency of peanut butter. However, this kind of grout for tiles forms a sand-like texture later.

In addition to that, you must ensure to remove the additional grouting mixture before its drying up.

It can be used as a grout for floor tiles, wall grout tiles, and ceilings tile with grouts. However, the grout tiles must be sealed for protection against spills, dirt, and discolouration from UV lighting and wearing.

NOTE: Do not use marble tile with grout. The sanded grout for tiles will scratch the marble.

Unsanded grouting of tiles

This kind of grouting of tiles remains ideal for measures 1/8” of an inch or less.

Sanded grout for tiles with small joints results in too much sand and too less space. Therefore, unsanded grout tiles are preferred.

Moreover, unsanded grouting of tiles may need a little more work and pressure, but it fits completely. As a result, your grout tiles will never collapse.

Unsanded grout for tiles remains stickier than the sanded grout tiles.

It can be used as a grout for floor tiles, wall grout tiles, and countertops tile with grouts.

Epoxy grout

Image Source: Kater Adhesives Industrial

Epoxy grout differs from sanded and unsanded grouting for tiles. It does not come with the need to be sealed. Moreover, grout with epoxy is not porous.

Additionally, tile with grout epoxy prevents bacterial growth. As a result, tile with grout epoxy does not crack over time.

Epoxy grout remains ideal for water line pool time with grout epoxy, outdoor patios, countertops, pool deck, etc.

However, epoxy grout comes with certain limitations. Firstly, epoxy grout makes for expensive epoxy grouting of tiles. Secondly, the ‘open time’ or the ‘working time’ remains quite short because the epoxy grout for tiles becomes hard very soon.

Find out the difference between Epoxy Grout and Cement Grout

Choosing the right colour for grouting of tiles

Grout for tiles come in various colours.

Moreover, two major options, rather schools of thought for choosing the colour for grout in tiles:

1. Monochrome: The grout for tiles matches with the tile colour. This pattern is best for people who prefer a minimalist monochromatic look.

Example: white grout tiles with white grouting for tiles.

2. Dichromatic: Use contrasting tile with grout. Additionally, you can go for a lighter or darker shade of tile with grout to pop up the grout tiles and give a beautiful pattern.

Example: black grouting with white tiles.

Grout brands in India (with their product range)

Grouting Products and their Prices

Conclusion

The process of grouting allows the buildings to become stronger and more compact. Grouts not only work in masonry structures of residential buildings but also in tunnel work, concrete walls, and so on.

Moreover, the application of grouts remains an extremely technical process. Therefore, it becomes even more important to understand the process well.

You have been guided through the applications of grouting such as preventing the strong water inflow in various structures, acting like a protective layer for concrete structures, and sealing gaps in tiles

Furthermore, you can find out how to make the right grout mixture for the perfect application.

In addition to that, the application of grout for tiles has been discussed.

The most important part of knowledge in construction chemicals remains the availability of the products and their prices. Therefore, the leading grout brands in India with their product ranges and price list mentioned above would save a lot of time for your team while preparing quotes and BOQs.

All of this detailed information is likely to equip the professionals to prevent making any errors in selection and application areas w.r.t to grouts.