Grout Vs. Caulk?

Liquid Force

A family member of mine recently had a bathroom remodeled (new shower, floor and wall tile, and counter top) and one of the things I noticed is that they guy used grout everywhere, even around the bath tub. He also did their kitchen and used grout between the tile and baseboard. Now, I don't know what's common practice to use grout where, and use caulk where, but I know for a fact that they make "tub & toilet caulk" and I think he should have at least used that around the tub, because now it's all cracked and getting rust stained.

Is this common practice or is this guy just a hack?

Big Bob

common, but contractor should have had his painter caulk the tub when they were punching out.

Tile guys don't do this. The grout needs to cure before you caulk. This would be a special trip back for the tile folks.

HJ1

Rule of thumb is all changes of plane and where disimlar materials meet should be caulked. They make sanded and non sanded color matched caulks for all grouts. Kitchen and bath silicone with mildewcide (I think thats the word) is best for caulking where the tile meets the tub. Using grout here will never ever last. Lazy tile guy, or just doesnt know any better.

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HJ

Liquid Force

here are some pics





What you can't really see in the first two pics is the gap between the grout and tub, but it is basically like it is the the left of the red circle in the 3rd pic. and the grout is all discolored because of water getting in there and washing rust out. Even the grout between the floor and wall has been stained with rust from water dripping down. I understand him not wanting to come back 2 or 3 days later to caulk, because he'd be on to the next job, but shouldn't he have left these areas undone, and tell the HO that they need to caulk it themselves, or find somebody else to do it? Seems like an aweful lot of extra grout and work for an inferior product.

So now we are going to scrub and seal all the stained grout and either A) caulk over the grout around the tub, or B) chip out all the grout and caulk

Oh, also we're going to caulk between the tile and baseboard in the kitchen. There's some grout in there, but only in some spots.

Floordude

He may not know any better. After all, he learned from someone, that learned from someone, that learned from someone, and not one gave away all the secrets, and some needed to find a shortcut to save time, to underbid the next guy, and taught that to the help. All not knowing any better. Ever seen a complete mess, and the contractor starts his speach..."I've been doing this for 30 years"

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skyhook

The grout will make an excellent backer rod. Mask it on both sides and lay in a bead of white poly seam seal on. Because it has been a while, mildew might have set in, bleach it first.

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Mike Finley

Why would anyone have to come back 3 days later to chaulk? Grouting and caulking get done at the same time. Never heard of a painter caulking a tile setters tile job either.

reveivl

"chip out all the grout and caulk" You don't ever 'chip' grout out, even when you have to remove it. Use a grout saw. You don't want to be hammering any where near those tiles you don't want to replace.

Your guy just screwed up, there is no reason to wait 2 or 3 days to caulk, maybe an hour?, Less? And no professional would ever say to a customer, "Here's how to finish the job, where's my check?"

BTW, when you get to this point, fill the tub before caulking.

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747

I agree with hj1 and mike finley. He was to cheap to buy some caulk. But then you figure every tile guy has caulk in his truck bed.

Mr.Werks

I can caulk a tub in 8 to 10 minutes. That includes loading the gun. I don't understand how your tilesetter could possiably think he is saving time grouting all the areas you pointed out. Plus its useless. All that time tiling and he finishes it looking like that. Complain to the floor company and get some money refunded if possible. Good luck

Jerry T

I agree with the others, that grout will crack in a months time. I grout and caulk the same day. Best thing to do is when you send a client out to pick out tile and grout make sure they know how much grout caulk will be needed...sanded, nonsanded or both. That's been saving me extra trips.

pro-caulk

if he uses a latex caulk he can caulk it right away, since it's a water base caulk any other caulk (urethane or silicon ) has to be completely dry,just for future reference. I had to cut two joints out in the middle of the wall on my tile wall in the shower and replace with caulk due to the mortar cracking.

summithomeinc

As a painter I can tell you ALOT of tile guys leave it for the painter. Including around the toilet. What gets painted there? I'd say fill the tub before caulking also.

MikeGC

And the painter has sanded color matched caulk to match the grout?



All change of plane gets caulk not grout

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angus242

Hey, let's revive 4 year old threads

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CompleteW&D

Hey, somebody finally uses the search function ('cause around here they would have been slammed if they didn't).... finds a thread topic they are interested in, posts a comment in the thing and gets slammed for it.

angus242

There's a time to revive and a time to start new. I didn't see any ground-breaking new info in the revived post.

Call me stupid but looks like a person just resurrecting a post based off their trade.

right back atcha.

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Angus
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summithomeinc

what else ya wanna do at 1:30 am? i did see it was old but hey why not?

Sweebs

Really? Not doubting, just wondering - ave. tub maybe 40 gal, so maybe bout 300 +/- lbs of water. If tub is cast iron (massively heavy) I don't think it is gonna flex at all and if it's fiberglass/acrylic/plastic-whatever, and is properly set in mortar, then shouldn't flex. But of course, what if it does flex? Will anything bad happen when you add in a couple hundred lbs of water and couple hundred pounds of person and a flexible caulk was added w/o filling tub? I doubt it, but I am really just asking because I do not know. Seems like it 'could' bulge out a little ? ?

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CompleteW&D

Look, like most people, I prefer to follow the rules. Would you please point out to me, where in the forum rules it says where the cut off line is on when to stop using the search function and revive an old thread and when to start a new one?

I would never call you stupid. But if you would explain to us what is considered "ground breaking" and appropriate to post about and what's not, then we can't stop doing it. I mean if someone can't make a post in a thread based off of their trade.... then what in the heck is this place for and what are they/we supposed to be posting about? I truly don't understand sir.