Expansion Joint Sealant/Grout? - TilersForums.com

[jonty]

I'm tiling my kitchen floor and have been told to put a 10mm expansion joint around the whole area where the tiles meet the walls ( is this correct?)

Not sure how to handle the expansion joint- I intend to put sealant into the expansion joint but do i then cover the sealant with grout or leave it as it is? thanks

 

[brian c]

i normally leave a gap at the walls and fill with silicone and then use a silicone profiler to finish off...i dont know if this is what you want to hear or not?Incidenetly how big is the floor?

 

[jonty]

thanks for reply, using grey grout so thinking of using grey sealant but tiles go up against a white skirting board so would it be better to use a white sealant? the floor is around 10m squared cheers

 

[davy_G]

I just tile as normal, cut within 10 ish mm of the wall. No need to fill as units go on top or its skirted with 20mm board.

 

[Woody123]

10mm sound way to big to me unless you are doing what Davy G is talking about doing and refitting the skirting board after tiling so it hides the gap. i would personally leave a 3-4mm gap and then fill with silicone. after applying the silicone use washing up liquid in a spray bottle and spray the silicone then finished it off with a profile tool and you will get a perfect finish. Hope this helps mate.

 

[jonty]

cheers

 

[tile_22]

So I've been looking for a sealant for the expansion joint between the tiles and the walls of my bathroom. I've heard that Down Corning makes a pavement sealant but their site makes it sound like its meant for roads and highways. Would this stuff work for my project?
Dow Corning Pavement Sealants for highways, bridges and runways - Dow Corning

 

[Yorkshire Tiling Services]

If you want to do job properly & more pleasing to eye,then then remove skirting boards prior to tiling. Leave gap at perimiter when tiling, this is your perimiter expansion gap.
Re fit skirtings afterwards.
No nasty silicone to discolor or replace every few years.

 

[ragged13]

How come 10mm is too big?

If you have a 5-9mm tile depth, and use 4mm spacers, you really need bigger gap. Otherwise your 4mm grout wont match the corners.