My Grout Has Washed Out :-(

Tilers Forums Official Sponsors

P

Peter Jordan

Omg, I thought my tiles in the shower would create a waterproof sheild. BUT the grout between the tiles keeps washing out. I use good brand (UNIBOND) I dried the erea with dehumidifier, applied the tiles and dehumidifies again to suck any moisture before grouting. I then dehumidifies again for 2 days. I felt sure I done everything right YET, couple months later grout between tiles started going missing, eventually letting water get behind them.
NOW I'm back to square one. Removed all loose tiles scraped off all wet grout and dehumidifying all day (and overnight) so the the wall is dry-as-a-bone before grouting tiles back on tomorrow. Problem is in the six years we have lived here, I grouted those tiles 5 times, taking them completely off 4 times.
AND I am so scratching my head over this that I joined this forum to seek help: WHERE AN I HOING WRONG?
I have been putting my never ending tiling down to my oldest (16) son who goes to sleep in the shower every morning for thirty minutes. I tell him to only shower for 5 minutes and I show him the grouting problems I'm having but unfortunately the part of him that I talk to is cut off from the part of his brain that puts him to sleep in the shower every morning.
BUT HEY, other people have long showers every morning and their grout doesn't dissapear.
BOTTOM LINE, I just don't know what to think, GROUTING CONSPIRICY? Surely grout IS supposed to withstand water, NO?
I was even thinking of trying to seal the times with Silicon solution (OR SOMETHING) to sto the water stealing my grout.
The shower isn't fancy power dooby, just a mixer tap with shower attachment. The cubicle itself isn't tiny it's 66cm (26inc) from the tiled wall to the glass door. It has an open side so that there is plenty ventilation and an extra tee fan to get rid of steam.
I know you can buy apoxy grout, but I really thought regular bathroom grout was a material designed for showers. Apoxy grout is expensive, not as easy to apply and more time consuming.
I got to put the tiles back on tomorrow, any tips or steps I am missing would mean that FINALLY I can put this pain-in-the-*** job to rest. THANK YOU! Oh, I tried to correct the title of this post, I pressed edit, but it does not allow me to edit the title?
 
Wow. That is quite a lengthy post! 😀

It sounds like a ready mixed all in one type of adhesive & grout you are using which would explain why it keeps falling out. Do you have a photo of the Unibond stuff that you used?

I corrected the title by the way
 
As much as I admire anyone having a go at there own diy tiling project ......now maybe the time to give a tiler a call.
Imo unibond don't make great tiling products and if it is there fix and grout then it's a recipe for disaster. .
 
Hi Plan Tec & Andy Allen, LOOKS like the product is in question by both the replies. Plan Tec, you are right is is an all-in-one adhesive and grout se pic. Also I was advised to buy this from a customer service 'tiler' in (don't laugh) B&Q (******** and Queef). OK, so if it's the product I'll get myself dedicated adhesive and a dedicated grout.

Hey, thanks you guys for posting, I'm tired of this tiling over and over.

IMG_0446.JPG
 
That's better.....prefer powdered adhesive myself. ....but just make sure you let the adhesive dry for a couple of days before grouting.
Btw What size are your tiles.
 
Thanks Andy.
The tiles are just regular white 6inc X 6inch glazed. I got them all on now. I will make sure to leave them 2 days before grouting. Incidentally, I asked merchant for powdered, didn't have any (or he was trying to push 15kg on me, I told him I only had 16 tiles)
STILL live and learn eh?
Thanks again for advise.
Happy tiling peops
 
Thanks Andy.
The tiles are just regular white 6inc X 6inch glazed. I got them all on now. I will make sure to leave them 2 days before grouting. Incidentally, I asked merchant for powdered, didn't have any (or he was trying to push 15kg on me, I told him I only had 16 tiles)
STILL live and learn eh?
Thanks again for advise.
Happy tiling peops
Hang on, you've only got 16 no. 6x6" tiles in your shower? It must be a tight squeeze in there 🙄
 

Advertisement

Advertisement

UK Tiling Forum

Thread statistics

Created
Peter Jordan,
Last reply from
White Room,
Replies
8
Views
17,806

Thread statistics

Created
Peter Jordan,
Last reply from
White Room,
Replies
8
Views
17,806
Back