Now that our addition project is done and we’re generally happy with the work done, we have discovered a few minor glitches. We’ve noticed that the grout in the vertical corners of the tile shower have developed fine cracks. Also, the shower base is acrylic and the grout joint where the tile meets the acrylic is also failing. I’m guessing both are caused by movement of the surrounding materials.
Should the tile guy have used caulk in those joints rather than grout or is this “normal”?
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I'm not a professional tile guy, but I have done a fair amount of tile work. I prefer caulking the joint between a tub and wall, because of the movement you talk about.
I sometimes caulk the verticle joint,too. But if the substrate is properly fastened and the corners meshed and mudded, they really shouldn't move much. You can caulk them. Just keep an eye on them, too.
Yes, he should have used caulk. My tile supplier sells Custom brand grout, and they also sell grout caulk in every color to match the grout, in both sanded and unsanded versions. About $6 a tube, but one tube should do one tub/shower.
"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
I'm curious what your long term results have been using caulk there.
For me, that horizontal joint where tile meets tub/counter or what have you is a gauranteed callback and I usually deal with it by cutting out the existing grout and regrouting and then a light touch of transkucent Phenoseal.
NO matter WHAT I use, there never seems to be anything that will last more than a couple od changes in season or a couple of years. I don't ever think that I have seen an old joint like that in really top notch condition.
It is either fractured if grout, or fractured and mildewed if grout and or caulk.
Eric[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
I've always used a midew resistant caulk, without any problems,but then again, I"ve only done a couple of fancy showers. Bigger/ more complicated jobs I sub out.
A white mildew-resistant caulk has worked for most of the tile jobs I've done.
Should the tile guy have used caulk in those joints rather than grout or is this "normal"?
Both. Somewhat it's a regional thing and somewhat a quality thing.
It's very common to only use grout. When I question tile setters on our jobs if the use caulk in the corners, they usually say yes, even if they don't and grout it all. Mostly it is probably harmless if the water is properly contained within the moisture barrier under the tile backing and tile, and drains without building up in the wall. Doesn't sound very reassuring does it.
I've used sanded grout at all changes in plane (floor to wall, wall to wall, etc.) and it takes so little extra time that, to me at least, it just makes sense.
A tile setter friend who works in Jackson Hole on some of the nicest luxury homes says it's rare for any of the towns tile setters to use sanded grout in corners. The common approach is to double tape the corners of the tile backer to reinforce the corner and prevent some movement. Then the tile is simply grouted and they know that when a new house settles they'll probably have to regrout the corners. On existing homes they claim that the grout holds up fine. However, if you look at any large tile intersection there will be hairline cracks.
The luxury homes I've worked on have all developed cracks if the tile setter doesn't use caulk joints--all of them.
The down side to caulk joints is that it is an extra step and requires a bit of preplanning to have the right color caulk. Special ordering a tube or two of sanded grout takes a bit of time and effort. Applying the caulk does take a few more minutes and that's money out of the tile guys pocket.
Tile is one of those things that if it looks ok, most people assume it's installed correctly, but it's so very hard to tell that most don't know if they have a job that will last 5 years or 100.
If you have grout cracks and don't plan on changing the corners, at least use a good grout sealer and use it more often than usually.
All the best,
Don