I need some feedback on a tile problem. Here’s the background.
We contracted a fancy shower to be installed on a job. The shower is sealed when the door is closed for a steam unit. For the second time the tiles around the steam outlet are falling off. The rest of the walls are fine.
Standard subway tile, 1/8″ grout joint, thinset with latex additive adhesive. It was suggested that the grout joints may need to be sealed with a silicone sealer. My theory is that cementitious products take thrity days to cure to a nominal 100% strength. If the client starts using the steam within a few days of grouting or maybe even a week, it’s enough to penetrate and destroy the grout and thinset.
Would allowing everything to cure for a full thirty days before using the steam allow the wall to withstand the steam?
Scratch your little heads and let’s hear some theories! Thanks.
Replies
I'm probably using an epoxy grout in this type of area. My guess is that the heat and steam combine to break down the grout faster... thus leading to moisture penetrating the thinset.
I may even be tempted to use an epoxy thinset (the 100% solids stuff).
Another theory would be that your substrate is reacting to the heat of the steam pipes... and expanding to the point of breaking the tile bond. If this is the case... I am tempted to insulate in some way the steam pipes (don't have a recomendation... haven't seen the circumstances)... or maybe changing the substrate to accommodate the heat extremes.
Just a couple of theories...
The tile dude I use always sets shower tile of any kind, ceramic, porcelain, stone, etc. with thinset formulated for marble and granite. He forewarns me that everything better be ready to get buried under the tile, since removing it means everything is gonna come off down to the bare studs. There is no separating the tile from whatever substrate you're using, be it wonderboard, mudset or whatever.
The High Desert Group LLC
you would probably get a better response form this site
http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?forumid=1
they are the know it alls of the tile world.Tmaxxx
Urban Workshop Ltd
Vancouver B.C.
Now when i nod my head, you hit it.
Well, alrighty then. Some info to chew on. Thanks for the responses. am checking them out. Thinking this'll get solved. Just glad to have options.
You didn`t mention what type of substrate was used.
I`m hopin` it were cement backer board and not something less.
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yup-per...cement backer. my main problem is that it's hard to experiment when the client is already ticked off (being that this is the second time the tile has come loose.)