Grout and Caulk: Bill, why didn't I listen?
jssaustintx
12 years ago
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jssaustintx
12 years agojules8
12 years agoRelated Discussions
Caulking Question ... Bill Vincent or others please help
Comments (9)Most manufacturers recommend 100% silicone bath and tile caulking in corners. ( no grout ) I have had great results with epoxy grouts if you can find your color selection. A bit more labor intensive but well worth it. Check with a local tile distributor. Difference between sanded and unsanded. For residential applications, siliconized latex is more than sufficient. As for the epoxy grout, it's my opinion that with a few specific exceptions, in residential installations, it's expensive overkill. As for differences in the grouts, those of you who aren't familiar with them, you can check it out in the FAQ's on the gallery side of this forum. As for Colorfast and Mapei, yes, I'm familiar with both of them, and the only times I've ever had problems with Colorfast's caulkings was when it was old. I've yet to ever see what I'm seeing in the pictures up above....See MoreTo anyone having the grout vs caulk discussion w/ tiler
Comments (16)Oh cr@p. I got it all ready and THEN went to the store for the caulk. Of course they are sold out of the colour I need. If your still out there Bill - they have the unsanded in the colour I need, but no sanded. The space is quite wide should I wait until the sanded is available? Do you use sanded caulk in the same way you use sanded grout - ie, for wider grout lines?...See MoreWhining: Grout, caulk, and my newly gouged tub...
Comments (5)I hate contractors and their incompetent subs with a passion! We've had so many "do overs" on this reno it's not funny. How some of these people can stay in business is beyond me. And where's the pride of a job well done? Seems non-existent. I don't know how many times I specified caulk between the countertop and backsplash and what do you think the tile guy used. So know we wait for the platinum caulk to come in and then he has to come back and chip out the grout before he caulks. And just like your guy he wanted to caulk over the grout. I flat out said no, this is the way it has to be. I feel like I need to babysit these people which is so not what hiring a GC meant to me. I won't even bore you with how the plumber screwed up. It's just been one thing after another....See MoreBill V or Mongo -- help with the caulk vs grout issue
Comments (16)"The GC is telling me the cracking will soon stop (in other words, within the first year) -- is that more BS or is it true?" Maybe yes, maybe no. In lightweight frame construction, the framing lumber can take several months to a year to come to an equilibrium of sorts. During that time, the wood can move. Moreso if the framing lumber was green (not pressure treated green, but non kiln-dried green) instead of kiln dried. Still...houses move. There is still seasonal movement due to humidity, subtle movement from wind loading, etc, etc. So while grout in changes of plane is more likely to crack within months of the initial installation, it could crack year after year. Or after every other year. Or never again. There's just not a one answer fits all solution. Cracked grout in decorative tile is cosmetic cracking. But cracked grout in a wet area like a shower represents another avenue for liquid water and water vapor to get behind the tile. Normally not a problem with a topical membrane like Kerdi or RedGuard. But still, industry standard, and best building practices, dictate that with inside corners in wet areas, it's best to use color and texture matched caulk instead of grout. Caulk flexes. Grout doesn't. If their caulk is failing, then they need educate themselves on how to properly caulk, prep, application and tooling, and on using the proper caulk. Mongo...See Morejssaustintx
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