Contractor used grout not caulk around the tub
tartanhabit
11 years ago
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musicteacher
10 years agoenduring
10 years agoRelated Discussions
caulking around the tile in the tub
Comments (2)It's not to stop the water-- it's to keep movement between the tub and the walls from cracking what would otherwise be a grout joint....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 MoreGrout around tub from years ago; has mold, crack, & needs repair.
Comments (5)If the grout joint has a consistent height around the tub of 3/4", and alternative to a huge caulk joint could be to use something like a tile trim or liner piece to fill most of the gap. There are certainly restrictions going that route, ie, there might not be a proper material in the back of the gap to bond the liner to. If you do go the "all caulk route", look at backer rod as millworkman suggested. Backer rod is a foam rope that comes in different diameters. Backer rod gets stuffed into the gap to act as a filler for the deepest part of the gap. It greatly improves the performance of caulks when they are used in large- or deep-gap situations, as a large slug of caulk. If you filled a large gap with a single large slug of caulk, as the caulk cures and shrinks, internal shrinkage can cause the caulk to pull away from the edges, or even crack in the middle of the joint. Backer rod allows a Thicker depth of caulk at the edges where you need adhesion, and a thinner depth of caulk in the middle of the joint where you need flexibility....See MoreGrout vs caulk for tub/shower combo
Comments (2)With the work being done a few weeks ago, there is nothing wrong with calling the installer who tiled and asking why grout was used in the changes of plan instead of caulk. Ask about the corner grout cracking. What if? Will remediation be offered? Caulking a shmear of caulk over a grout joint is not going to prevent the grout underneath from cracking if the grout is prone to cracking. Some corner grout never does crack. With your house being an "old 1060s", it may be nicely settled in. You may not have differential movement between the wall planes that leads to corner grout cracking. Grout sheds water. Caulk sheds water. Both are superficial things that "pretty up" tile installations. The real waterproofing should be behind the tile. Caulk needs some depth to it, if it's just a veneer over grout it may peel delaminate over time. Latex caulk versus silicone? Both will shed water fine, but 100% silicone will perform better in standing water than 100% latex. You'd be correct to make a phone call and to ask questions. And to get answers. Sometimes I'm of the mind that although best practices may not have been followed, second-best practices can still turn out fine. Meaning, you could leave the installed latex caulk until you have issues. You may never have issues. But if you do, then replace it. Same with the grout in the corners. Leave the grout in the corners until it cracks. Then replace it. When you talk to the installer, if he offers to come over and remove the grout and replace it with caulk? Sure, you could take him up on it. Or just get an assurance from him that if problems develop down the road, he'll swing by to make things right. It's best to get those assurances in writing. It's really what you feel most comfortable with. And how accommodating the installer is with regards to backing up his work....See MoreStoneTech
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