I suspect this might be opinion and preference but I’ll ask anyway. Any thoughts on whether to grout or caulk around the fixture like in the attached picture? Because the fixture is tight to the tiles, I’d think a thin band of grout would crack but I don’t say this out of experience.
If it matters, the tiles are stone.
Thanks in advance.
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Replies
Caulk. I've always done an upside down 'U' shape under the trim on a shower valve. That will let water out but keep it dry from the shower.
I agree - thin grout would crack and sooner or later you're gonna have to work on the valve anyway...
I might caulk around the top half of that trim, might not depending on whether there is a decent seal as part of it. Definitely not grout.
Thank you for the replies. It sounds like this is best practice. I'll caulk around the top.
Thank you.
My memory is hazy but I think it depends on the manufacturer on the valve plate. If you get a good brand, you shouldn't have to caulk at all. The Hans Grohe shower fixtures that I used a couple of years ago had rubber gaskets underneath the plate. There was no need to caulk.
Will any gaskets handle the recessed area where the grout joint is if the diverter doesn't break over a full tile?My inclination is to caulk from eight o'clock to four o'clock.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Some gaskets will, some won't. Probably most won't handle a major dip, but a little dab of caulk may fix that.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison
The plate should have a rubber gasket behind it, making caulking unnecessary. If the gasket fails sometimes you can remove it and install a "snake" of plumber's putty in it's place. Use enough putty to squeeze out slightly, then clean up the excess.
If you decide to caulk (certainly an acceptable option), do only a thin bead -- it shouldn't run up the edge of the plate or out over the tile, but should be barely visible between plate and tile.
As was already said, always leave a weep hole at the bottom.
Thank you. I'll caulk if there is no gasket. It is Kohler and I did not install it myself.
Thanks again
Edited 5/26/2006 7:32 pm ET by Mojo
If the gasket fails sometimes you can remove it and install a "snake" of plumber's putty in it's place. Use enough putty to squeeze out slightly, then clean up the excess.
That looks like tumbled marble from here..........plumbers putty is an excellent way to permanently stain the tiles. Be careful.
Eric[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
Were just finishing up over 650 valves in one condo/hotel & we used clear caulk on all of them even the ones that have a built in gasket.
Do you look to the government for an entitlement, or to GOD for empowerment. BDW
the wall would be grouted first ...
then ... the trim kit is added.
the plumbing trim kit has nothing to do with the tile job ...
so no grout.
clear caulk is the way to seal a plumbing fixture that sits on top of the already grouted tile job.
... plumbers walk around with matching caulk?
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
clear silicone
RTC
Tile stores sell sanded caulks that are kind of half way between caulk and grout. That's what my tile guys use.
"Tile stores sell sanded caulks that are kind of half way between caulk and grout. That's what my tile guys use."And also unsanded. Match to the type of grout.