What might cause shower floor grout to crack?
sparklebread
11 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (10)
geoffrey_b
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Small cracks appearing in grout, new shower. Should I be concerned?
Comments (18)"And I’m not sure this is even a real problem." The membrane will provide waterproofing. The caulk and grout? For the moist part, they are there to help the surfaces shed water and to help maintain sanitary surfaces. You've gotten some good answers. Changes in plane are typically caulked. Caulk is flexible and can move when adjacent surfaces move independently of one another. Grout is rigid and can crack. Cracks in grout can be from movement...typically in corners, from differential movement...or because too much water was used in the grout mix or during clean up. Cracks in caulk are usually shrinkage cracks. Not enough caulk was injected in the crack for the caulk to properly bond to the adjacent surfaces...Or too much caulk was injected in a deep crevice, and as the too-deep mass of caulk cured and shrank, the shrinkage forces were strong enough to break the bond between the caulk and the edge of the tile, or they caused the caulk to crack right in the middle of the bead itself. For deep gaps that need to be caulked, a foam rope (backer rod) is inserted into the gap to reduce the depth of the gap. That allows the caulk to be injected in the gap at the proper width-to-depth ratio. Caulk texture? There both color- and texture-matched caulks these days. So if you have sanded grout, you can use a sanded caulk to help maintain joint texture between grout and caulk. Unsanded grout, use regular caulk. Repairs? In general, it's not wise to shmear a thin veneer of caulk over cracked grout. It's better to cut the grout away as best as you can and then properly fill the gap with color- and texture-matching caulk. With a Schluter shower, great care needs to be taken in cutting grout out of the joints. Go too deep and you can violate the integrity of the membrane. Your wall corners will have membrane behind them, with the membrane bridging from one wall to the other. In a non-steam shower, there is a chance that your wall-to-ceiling joints do not. Depends on the habits of the builder. The sooner the repairs are made the better. Grout hardness, ease of color-matching, etc. Good luck with your repairs....See MoreCracked grout on pebble tile shower floor
Comments (22)Really recommend you get an onsite inspection, analysis and discussion with a very qualified tile contractor (not the folks who performed the work). There are several approaches to this. None are effortless, but onsite is a must, and a pro is a must. You already know you have issues. No more advice from the internet will solve them. If you are near any of these certified contractors, that is one place to start. https://www.ceramictilefoundation.org/find-certified-tile-installers Or referrals from trusted sources locally. Where did you buy the tile? If it is a quality tile supplier, they may be able to provide you with the "A list". And yes, re-visit the "curbless" in your situation. At the very least, a small threshold, but this can be discussed along with the other issues with the Pro....See MoreDissolving shower grout, cracked shower grout..? Help!
Comments (4)@millworkman, you mean where shower glass meets shower floor there should be silicone caulking? I believe the GC mounted the glass directly (deeply?) into the grout. I remember asking another bathroom contractor about this and he said it's Old School but works. No? Here are more photos, two of master shower and two of my son's shower. Note the crack along the grout of master shower grout. GC said he'll come and fix once we let him (or anyone) into our home isolation. Thanks for chiming in! I was going to ask about this next. Son's shower Master shower (with grout crack, which we keep dry during showers):...See MoreTile shower curb grout cracked, hollow inside. What are my options?
Comments (8)The problem is that they used grout at all, especially on a surface that's got some flex. You should always use sanded caulk when you've got a change in plane like that. Check the tile section of your local box store-- they'll have many colors and you'll probably find a close match. Check online for reviews of the color you're thinking of buying before you go to get a sense of the true color-- the labels aren't very informative. They should also have colored silicone in the same section which would work too and will probably last longer, especially if that curb gets a lot of water. Silicone is a little harder to work with though, and doesn't have the sand in it to replicate the look of grout....See MoreVertise
11 years agosparklebread
11 years agosparklebread
11 years agosparklebread
11 years agoVertise
11 years agogeoffrey_b
11 years agosparklebread
11 years agoVertise
11 years ago
Related Stories
BATHROOM TILEQuick Fix: Repair Cracked Bathroom Grout
Banish an eyesore and safeguard your bathroom from water damage in 30 minutes or less with this DIY repair
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESWhy Marble Might Be Wrong for Your Bathroom
You love its beauty and instant high-quality appeal, but bathroom marble has its drawbacks. Here's what to know before you buy
Full StoryFLOORS5 Reasons Vinyl Flooring Might Be Right for You
This increasingly popular flooring material has some very real benefits
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDES9 Ways Grout–Yes, Grout–Can Add to Your Design
Choose From a Palette of Grout Colors for a Warm, Unified Look
Full StoryTILEEpoxy vs. Cement Grout — What's the Difference?
Grout is grout, right? Nope. Cement and epoxy versions have different appearances, durability and rules of installation
Full StoryTILE3 Key Steps for Grouting That Looks Its Best
Get your grout right to keep your tile beautiful and for an installation that will last
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGHow to Clean Grout — Stains and All
If your grout is grossing you out, this deep-cleaning method will help it look new again
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPING20 Things You Might Be Forgetting to Spring-Clean
Clean these often-neglected areas and your house will look and feel better
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESContractor's Tips: 10 Things Your Contractor Might Not Tell You
Climbing through your closets and fielding design issues galore, your contractor might stay mum. Here's what you're missing
Full StoryGREEN BUILDINGWhy You Might Want to Build a House of Straw
Straw bales are cheap, easy to find and DIY-friendly. Get the basics on building with this renewable, ecofriendly material
Full Story
sparklebreadOriginal Author