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Shower grout cracking/ separating

2 months ago

after less than four months after shower was done this has started to happen. the grout near the threshold tile in the shower and outside the shower has cracked and separated. Hoping this is not going to be a problem for a brand new bath, or cause leaks to floor below. This has now made it difficult to open the glass shower door - it tugs because the threshold has risen. I trimmed the rubber gasket a bit, it has helped somewhat - I may need to trim it some more. Any ideas what is going on or wrong - much appreciated.......

Featured Answer

PRO

Stonetech/Avanti Tile

2 months ago

Any change of plane areas in a shower must be caulked with pure silicone. If grouted, these areas move and crack with time and moisture.

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Comments (11)

millworkman
2 months ago
" This has now made it difficult to open the glass shower door - it tugs because the threshold has risen. "

That is not good, I would have the installer back for this. Is there wood beneath the curb? Something is moving. What was the waterproofing system used? Do you know how this was all constructed?
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Reading here at GardenWeb, I know that tile and grout are not waterproof. Your guy is just not informed. Yes, we have bathrooms done "the old way" and sometimes the tile above the bathtub did stay for many years. But how many have rotten walls and floors behind them? Do yourself a favor and read up on how a shower should be built before you hire the next person, and talk about their methods and products before you hire. People are still out there, putting up materials worth thousands of dollars, not knowing what they are doing. After the leaks ruin other rooms in the house, all has to be torn out and redone. It happens all the time. Here is a current thread: http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/4654503/wall-underlayment-for-shower-best-practice?n=4
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I was wrong - they used cement or green board and red stuff over it. There was a Kerdi shampoo cutout thing - the box they put in the wall. My fiancee was much more involved than I was…sorry about that mistake. We renovated our kitchen and master. I have to vent for a second, because as crazy as hearing about this stuff makes true professionals, it makes homeowners even more so. The construction and trade industry is not regulated well enough. I don’t mean by a government entity - it could be private - but there is NO standard of work. A GC just has to pass a test. He doesn’t need to have one ounce of knowledge about project management (which is arguably more important than anything else) as a GC. If they can’t plan and manage, the entire thing falls apart. Similarly, someone doesn’t need to hold any sort of professional anything to lay tile, to instal Sheetrock, to do literally any labor work. We were provided recommendations by a designer who also came with recommendations and this entire thing has been a nightmare. Yelp or any of the sites with reviews are useless - most GCs and small shops don’t have them. Maybe I’m missing a database of confirmed experts, but that’s been the biggest challenge. How do we find actual professionals???
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Found it. He used this pan as the base and tiled over it. I think the Tile Shop folks were telling him that movement on the seat happens a lot. I wish I could have been part of that convo. I don’t know what should have been done and/or what he did for waterproofing. Do you mean that he should have caulked the horizontal grout line just under the seat? Thanks so much!
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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.
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catbuilder
2 months ago
It sounds like water has gotten into the curb. The cracked grout isn't letting the water in, it cracked because water got in and subsequently the curb expanded. In other words, the cracked grout didn't cause the problem. The problem caused the cracked grout.

As said above, get the installer back out there.
cpartist
2 months ago
Grout is not waterproof. How was the shower waterproofed?
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
2 months ago
Posting photos from during construction would help.
rm231 thanked HALLETT & Co.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
2 months ago
If you don't have progress pictures, you're probably going to need some selective demolition to find out what's going on. Do not delay please.
rm231
Original Author
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
I am not sure of the proper terminology but he had installed some orange material at the base of the shower. The project ended REALLY badly, it was actually a nightmare and I do not want to bring him back and relive it all again. He was yelling, actually screaming at us, I have never experienced that in my entire life from anyone. It was beyond unreal. They destroyed my entire house, inside and out. Would I have to get the house base removed ? Shower glass etc. and have it all re-done is this what is needed ? I am terrified.
rm231
Original Author
2 months ago
I would think in my non-professional opinion that there should have been caulking inside the shower near the base and lip of the shower - that's where I think water has gotten in and caused this because the shower head beats down on the shower door and the interior curb.
millworkman
2 months ago
The waterproofing is behind the tile. Again tile nor grout are to be waterproofing. If there is movement behind the tile, the waterproofing is not working and something is swelling. Is the threshold wood? If so there is your answer.
cpartist
2 months ago
Caulking and grout are NOT WATERPROOF. You could caulk it till the cows come home and it still wouldn't be waterproof if what is behind it isn't.

Show pics of how it was waterproofed BEFORE the tile and grout were put on.
rm231
Original Author
2 months ago

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