hello,
I recently completed a bathroom renovation where one of the elements was the creation of a new shower stall, in lieu of bathtub. The shower floor was a porcelain tile laid over a mudjob on a copper pan. I’ve caulked, with a sanded silicone caulk tinted to match the grout, the junction of the walls & floor as well as where the floor slopes into the drain.
The caulking keeps eroding (quite quickly i might add). I’ve already caulked it twice and, in both instances, gave it 48 hours to cure before i gave the HOs permission to shower. Now, I’m afraid I am going to have to dig up all the loose/wet caulk and grout those lines. This is what my tile guy did initially but I thought that the silicone would be a more durable detail. So I guess I’m just wondering if grout, properly sealed of course, is a perfectly acceptable solution for this application?
thanks.
Replies
What I get from you post is that the stall is fairly new, less than a year I assume, and the original grouting failed, then two installations of silicon caulk have failed. Is this correct? I think first we need to find out what is causing everything not to adhere to the tile in this joint. I think we need more info?
Never fear the want of business. A man who qualifies himself well for his calling, never fails of employment.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)
the shower is less than a couple weeks old. the original grouting never failed but in an effort to creat a longer-lasting joint, i dug it out and replace it with the caulking. To me, it was sort of like how you never grout the line between the tub and surrround walls.My suspicion is that the caulking is junk and now i'm in the position where whatever i do next, i want to be final and permananet because this'll be the third strike and well, we all know what happens after three strikes.thanks.
Sounds like the setting bed is soaked.
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Bad caulk. Toss it and get some good stuff from a different source.
Grout will work. Which is better can start a good-sized flame war.
i'm leaning toward grout.
Are you sure that it is silicon caulk or is it siliconized acrylic caulk?
I have never seen sanded silicon caulk, but some one might make it.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
maybe you're right. i'll have to check. I got it from the tile supplier and its color matched to the grout.
I used the same caulk (color matched from the tile store) and it just disintegrated in a short period of time. not sure why, I was thinking maybe it wasn't meant for showers but just floors and backsplashes. I bought some silicone from a shower door company. after several digout and re-caulks of the inferior stuff, I haven't had a call about the new stuff. it's been almost a year now. these people would call at the slightest hint of a problem too. the only unfortunate part was that the silicone was clear. perhaps grouting the corners first then applying the silicone would work well for color.I remeber almost passing out from the fumes from this silicone. strong stuff."it aint the work I mind,
It's the feeling of falling further behind."Bozini Latinihttp://www.ingrainedwoodworking.com
glad to see i'm not alone on this. i did check the caulk out and it's a siliconized acrylic, as was mentioned. So much for that! Clear grout doesn't excite me. It looks like I'll be grouting with judicious amounts of sealer afterward.
The color-matched caulk--sanded or not--is always 'siliconized acrylic'. Furthermore, every manufacturer I've used (Tec, Bonsal and Mapai) specifically state that their matched caulk is NOT to be used for permanently wet areas (like a shower floor-wall transition). That being said, grout will almost always crack there as well...Might last a few months, maybe a year or two, but it will inevitably crack out. None of this is so much a tragedy (water is going to get behind the installation no matter what--and it should find its way to the weep holes in the drain, ultimately), as it's just visually unappealing.What to do?1.) Grout and then spread clear silicone over the grout (never tried it, but heard it works well).2.) Use a permanent high quality sealant instead of grout ( I prefer polyurethane) which is a close color-match. I've never had or seen a urethane caulk fail in a shower--or any where else, for that matter.3.) Grout it and hope for the best...If it cracks, promise to come back and re-grout the transitions. The second grouting usually will outlast your customer's memory of you..Me? I mask the corners, use urethane caulk and fuggetuboutit.
Pinko, urethane caulk is fine, but it's not true that you cannot buy 100% silicone color matched caulk. Laticrete makes Latisil in many colors, and it is great stuff.
Billy
what I meant to imply was you could use whatever grout color you are using in the corners and then silicone over it with the clear. just make sure the groout is cured."it aint the work I mind,
It's the feeling of falling further behind."Bozini Latinihttp://www.ingrainedwoodworking.com
Siliconized acrylic is no good for wet areas, particularly in a shower stall. Use 100% silicone color matched caulk. Laticrete makes an excellent one called Latisil. See below:http://www.laticrete.com/Portals/0/sellSheets/DS6880.pdf
It is excellent for wet areas including swimming pools:http://www.laticrete.com/Portals/0/datasheets/lds62001.pdf
You can use their primer to increase adhesion:http://www.laticrete.com/Portals/0/datasheets/lds65281.pdf
It comes in many colors to match their grout:http://www.laticrete.com/Portals/0/datasheets/DS2543.pdf
Find a real tile store that carries Laticrete -- they may have to order the colors for you if they don't stock them.
For color matched siliconized latex, try this (not in shower):http://www.colorriteinc.com/
It sounds to me like you might have more than a caulk problem. Is there a pre-slope with unclgged weep holes in the drain?
Billy
Try Geocel 2300 let it set for 72 hours after you apply it.
You have to used grout in those areas to let the moisture wick out. Moisture get behind the tile and has to go somewhere. Around the shower drain the moisture goes thru the weep holes where the showerpan meets the flange.
that's good information. 'ppreciated.
You should always use water based caulk in a shower , once silicon fails you can not reapply it .
I've heard that said many times, but it's not true. You simply have to get the surfaces perfectly clean. (Something I know everyone here would do anyway ;)
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
If you use water based caulk in a shower, you WILL have to re-apply it.
Billy