if corners of tiled walls are best caulked rather than grouted (with either sanded or unsanded caulk) then is there a reason why all the spaces between tiles can’t or shouldn’t be caulked? ie why do we use grout at all if caulk gives a better seal?
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I don't see why not. In fact, the pre-mixed tile grout that I've used is in fact acrylic latex, same as caulking. Of course I've only used it on backsplashes with 1/8" or smaller joints, ie. 4" self-gapping tiles. More comments?.............
Ken Hill
Caulk is NOT used because it has better sealing properties in a tile job. It IS used because it is more flexible, and is typically installed along the perimeter of any tile job where the slab is large enough that there may be some movement. Caulk is not very long lasting, either, and once compromised by any water, it will come out in chunks. You may find yourself replacing caulk in a shower every 5 years or so. Caulk is more resistant to water but that is just an added benefit. It is very hard to install caulk in a joint much less than 1/4". It is just hard to get a nozzel in there and pack it. Short of laying it on top and trying to smoosh it in a joint, it is not very user friendly.
Grout, on the other hand, is fairly permanent. If properly installed, nice and dry, and packed nice and tight, it can last the length of the whole tile job. Grout can be installed as thin as 1/16th of an inch. Grout also is a major component of holding tiles in place. Sure thinset bonds the tile to the setting bed, but a good grout job will also assist in keeping the tile, especially mosiacs and trim pieces, in place.
Hope this helps.
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1927
OK, so... I am using 4" x 12" bullnose saltillo tile as baseboard in my home. (It's an old home, California rancho style.) Floors are laminate or vinyl (depending on the room). Space between tiles is around 1/2" (not the normal wide spacing of saltillo tile). Would grout also be much preferred in this application? The tile is purely decorative. The grout and the caulk are both sanded and are the same reddish brown color. Seems like it would be easier to use caulk just because I can use the caulking gun to apply it.
"A completed home is a listed home."
There is an excellent post on Saltillo tile today. The guy that answered the post gave some excellent advice on setting the stuff, I started to respond in part, but frankly, he said it all, and said it right. Read it and learn.
Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1927
Guy???? Guy???? Not Shelley as in Sheldon, but Shelley as in Shelley :0)
As far as sanded caulk instead of grout on bullnose baseboard, don't see why not. But don't know if it's any easier. Sanded caulk is tough, thick stuff. If you're using a normal gun, squeezing the handle gets old real fast. Also, if memory serves think it's around $5/tube.
Shelley (the girl)
Hi Shelley! Most of us here are guys. If you don't want to be mistaken for a guy (and I can see why you'd want to avoid that), you have to give us some kind of clue. A gender specific name, a reference to your husband, something. We're not mind readers.
BTW, you can squeeze the handle on my caulking gun any time. I've even got a bigger one back a the house. :)
Thanks for the information in both threads - very helpful. I used Talavera on the shower walls - same issues of irregularity as Saltillo, and similarly wide grout joints. Grouting was a bear, with the wide joints, heavy sanded grout and vertical surface. I think if I try that next to/over laminate, I'll scratch the laminate something awful. The caulk is a little easier to manage - at least I can control the volume a little better. I had the saltillo stained and finished here in California (to match brick floors in adjacent rooms), so appreciate the heads up about scratching the finish. I'll have to be very careful, even with the sanded caulk.
Squeezing the caulking gun is OK, though. My husband says I have the hands of a Russian peasant woman. LOL!
"A completed home is a listed home."
great answer, boris, thanks. This also displells another piece of advice I got, which was to grout the corners and then caulk over the grout.
Boris,
Interesting little side note here . I just finished a bath reno where the tile was subbed to my longtime tilesetter ( No callbacks in 10 yrs. ) . He grouted all including perimeters and then instructed me to caulk all the perimeters ( Pure bone coloured silicone ) . This bead was very fine and will act as a sealer if there is any perimeter movement .On An Island By The SEA