The grout along the seam between my old bathtub and the tile wall above is cracked and coming loose. I read years ago that replacing old grout with caulk is a bad idea. With that in mind, I called a tile guy to see about having it regrouted. He told me that grout is a bad idea, and that I should use caulk — specifically silicone.
Who’s right?
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Replies
The bathtub guy. Grout isn't flexible enough for the seam between the tile and the tub. Silicone isn't always the best though- I usually use caulk that is color matched to the grout, which is almost always acrylic latex caulk with a mildew inhibitor. Fill the bathtub with water before you caulk it.
zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
Thanks, Zak.
I assume I should thoroughly clean out the gap before caulking. Any tools or methods you recommend?
Well, a multimaster with a grout saw attachment would make short work of this. . . . but really, just a handheld grout saw will do it pretty quick. Clean it well before you caulk.zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
Thanks much. I don't know what a grout saw is, but I'm sure the clerk at the hardware store can set me up.
Zak - why fill the tub before you caulk?Mike
The idea behind filling the tub before you caulk is to open that joint as much as possible before you fill it, so it is less likely to open up later. Hopefully it doesn't make much difference, but sometimes it does.zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
what Zak said.
Not an exponent of the DILLIGAF system.
I leave it open to let the water out.
Troy Sprout
Socialism in general has a record of failure so blatant that only an intellectual could ignore or evade it."
-- Thomas Sowell
So you'd advocate that I scrape out the cracked grout and just leave the gap unfilled?
I think Hackinatit is pulling your leg!.........................................
'If all else fails, read the directions"
I thought I was losing my balance...
Not saying that my post is correct, but you have to watch BREAKTIMERS, they like to kid around, just add a little salt with the answers, luck again...........................................
"If all else fails, read the directions"
Yup. Never have to clean moldy grout cause it dries quickly.
I don't caulk wall siding to the flashing on a rake, either.
Water needs to get out of both.Troy Sprout
Socialism in general has a record of failure so blatant that only an intellectual could ignore or evade it."-- Thomas Sowell
What say we keep religous discussions in the Tavern??
(I prefer caulk to grout between tub and tile and in the corners of tiled walls. And I've always found silicone to be at least adequate to the job. There are some "tricks" to getting a good caulk joint, the main two being CLEAN and NOT TOO DEEP.)
A color matched caulk, some makers offer sanded and un-sanded versions to match what you have (unsanded for 1/16" or less, sanded for all others)......
fill tub with water........
If your joint is larger than 1/4" deep or tall, use a backer rod material to fill out the joint to w/in 1/8" ,you want to minimize the amount of caulk, to much caulk can cause premature failure.....read the labelon the tube.........good luck
Geoff
Backer rod. Yes, good idea. Thanks for bringing that up.
Use caulk, not grout. Zak is right about filling the tub with water.
The latex is easy to use but the silicone will last much much longer. I mean the real silicone -- not the "siliconized" latex. If it is water cleanup, it's not silicone. Laticrete and others make the caulk in many colors. Go to a real tile store and ask around.
Billy
I know that real silicone will last longer, so on that score that would be my choice, but in my few experiences using the stuff I had a hard time making a smooth bead. Since appearance counts in the bathroom, it makes me leery of using it there. Is there a technique I need to know about?
Rubing alcholo is great for tooling silicone.And if you don't like the looks you can just wipe it off with the alcholo..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Just dip your finger into it as you would if you were tooling latex caulk with water?
No, silly, you drink it. Drink enough and you don't care what the bead looks like.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
Ah, yes. Good approach for all manner of home improvement difficulty.
Yeah, and in a pinch installing 25 watt lightbulbs helps a lot.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin