Sort of a stupid question, but I am far from a tile expert…..What is the method in regards to tiling a shower’s inside corner? Do you leave a gap and grout it like the rest of the field or do you use a high quality silicone caulk? How about both? It would seem to me that any expansion / contraction along this intersection would break the grout free and create a point of entry.
Edited 9/21/2007 10:13 am ET by ozsevenzero
Listeners write in about insulating an attic roof in a balloon-framed house, sizing a new heat-pump system, attaching extension jambs to a window or exterior door, and more.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial NowGet instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
My tiler did the both option: she put some grout in, but left it shy of the surface, then put clear mold resistant silicon caulk in. But this is in part because we couldn't get color matched caulk.
I agree with your assessment about the grout cracking from movement.
How about inside corner tiles? they are more $$$, but IMO they make a much better installation, your call, luck.
cut and fit them tight.
then caulk.
caulking over the grout is just putting a thin later of caulk over something that U know is going to crack.
cut and fit them nice and tight .... so it looks good.
then seal it with something that's not going to crack.
tile ... always caulk and never grout ... at ...
90 deg angles like shower walls ... and built in tub decks and walls ...
and between dis-similar surfaces.
like tile and plastic.
different materials expand and contract at diferent rates ...
so let the caulk do the stretching.
tile floor to wood floor ... caulk.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Schluter Dilex is another option.
Have you considered coloring your orw caulking? It might be a pain but you could mix in some color with your white caulking.
How do you color caulk?
I've never set out to do it the "right" way but I have mixed in things with caulking in the past when all else failed.
I'm guessing here. But the word acrylic is in the description of caulking that is water clean up. Small tubes of acrylic is used by painters. They mix acrylic and latex in paints. It seems like they would be compatible. If you didn't mix in to much would it be ok? I don't know chemical comparability well enough to say for certain.
Maybe someone else can chime in on coloring acrylic caulks.
This can get into a religious argument, but I hold that the corners should be caulked, if a color-matched caulk is available. I think "most authorities" agree, though a significant number (maybe 20%) favor grout.
100% silicone in corners ... always!
Jeff
I like leaving a grout joint in the inside corner and caulking it with matching caulk from the tile store.
If I can't get matching caulk then I use clear acrylic "tub & tile caulk" that is extra mildew resistant but still cleans up with water then while it is still wet rub some dry caulk into the caulk and wipe it down with a damp sponge. You'll end up making a color matched caulk in the joint only it will be backed up with clear. It will shrink after a few days and depending on the volume of the void behind the surface you may have to do a second application.
If it's a really big void behind the corner (like with a thick slate tile) I'll just go ahead and grout the thing and then come back the next day and scratch out the corners and do the clear caulk and dry grout routine.
------------------
"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."