Grout Or Sealant

[Phil164]

Hi
I recently moved into a new house where the grout needed replacing around 1-2 tiles in the bathroom. I scraped out the old grout and put new grout on top. After about 2 months that new grout is now cracking. Since nothing else has cracked I assume it's not because of movement so could it be the mix I made was too runny? I used waterproof unibond grout for bathrooms.

Now my weekend will be taken up with scraping out this grout, maybe pretty easy given its cracked 🙂 but I was thinking of using sealant to replace it- it's white and at least that won't crack.

Is this a good idea or how should I go about avoiding future cracks!

Thanks for your help
Phil

 

[Unused Account 1]

If the tiles is fixed properly ,grout again you only need smallest amount make it thickish and make sure to push it in the joint getting all the air out ,if it cracks again you know

 

[p4ulo]

Where is this grout?
If it is up against the bath edge, or in a corner against another wall, you should use sealant, because any movement can cause the grout to crack.
Don't use sealant as a general grout.....if you do don't say on here!!

 

[White Room]

How were the tiles fixed initially....

 

[Mr Tiler]

Any internal corner needs to be sealed! If its on the wall nock up a thick mix and push it rite into the joints with the flexi version of your grout whatever it is, theres usually a flexi version... if tiles havnt fell off the wall whilst scraping at the joints then tiles should be sound.

 

[Phil164]

It's not up against a bath (there isn't one) or wall. It's on the floor and around the shower drain- which is on the floor, I've no separate tub.

I've no idea how the tiles were fixed initially because I only just moved in. But my fix I did a couple of months ago now looks worse than what I tried to fix in the first place.

But it sounds like I need a thick mix to prevent future cracking. I'll find a flex version of the showerproof grout too. I used unibond before and have read good stuff about mapei, so I guess either will be fine.

Thanks guys

 

[Sean Kelly]

Are you saying it's a 'wet room'?

 

[Phil164]

Hi Sean

Yes it is a wet room, sorry for omitting that.

Phil

 

[Old Mod]

Hi Sean

Yes it is a wet room, sorry for omitting that.

Phil

Any chance of some images Phil?

 

[Phil164]

Sure, here are some pictures - Sunday morning is DIY morning 🙂
around the drain there was cracked grout so i removed the metal insert (held in place in the screw holes) then the grout came off easily. One of the close up pictures shows there appears to be some sort of membrane under the tiles but also some gaps, should i push some grout in there first to fill the gap? Should any of this 'tray' be sealed first?

The other pictures are of the other areas where there was cracked grout, should be straight forward to just push thick grout into.

Advice much appreciated!

Phil

 

[bcd-87]

Sure, here are some pictures - Sunday morning is DIY morning 🙂
around the drain there was cracked grout so i removed the metal insert (held in place in the screw holes) then the grout came off easily. One of the close up pictures shows there appears to be some sort of membrane under the tiles but also some gaps, should i push some grout in there first to fill the gap? Should any of this 'tray' be sealed first?

The other pictures are of the other areas where there was cracked grout, should be straight forward to just push thick grout into.

Advice much appreciated!

Phil

View attachment 76894 View attachment 76895 View attachment 76896 View attachment 76897 View attachment 76898 View attachment 76899

Get a tiler round Phil Looks like there may be some movement

 

[Old Mod]

Thanks, can u do couple to show the room pls and where things relate to each other.
Close ups are good tho

 

[Phil164]

here are two photos of the room. The shower has a slight decline towards the drain, starting from just before the glass window starts.

 

[Andy Allen]

Is this on a wooden substrate or concrete

 

[Phil164]

I've no idea unfortunately, is there 'no destructive' way i could find out?

 

[Old Mod]

Is this on a wooden substrate or concrete

That's the former joint hey Andy!

 

[Old Mod]

It looks like there's movement on the former tray to floor transition by the screen.

If that was my shower floor it'd be screen out, and 5 tiles on that screen line and the cut tile to left would be straight out.
Inspect former and drainage for damage and if poss re tank and re tile.

 

[Andy Allen]

I've no idea unfortunately, is there 'no destructive' way i could find out?

Looks like movement to me or the wrong grout used....

 

[Old Mod]

Well if it's a recurring problem I'd go for movement. Drain not looking it's best and missing grout just in front.

 

[bcd-87]

All for movement say "I"

 

[Phil164]

The bit on the floor tray to floor transition was where I've raked out, but it was cracking there though.

 

[jobdone]

Looks like a Novallini shower former.
Its a foam tray with cement faces. Needs proper support underneath and on the transitions to the rest of the floor. Tray looks to be a 1200mm x 900mm where after that the grout looks sound. I would be with the others in saying it is movement.