Tiling

What is causing grout to remain wet between tiles on wet room floor?

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.41 PM

Last year I had my bathroom redone and a wetroom area incorporated. The floor and walls are tiled & there is underfloor electric mat heating. I recall the wetroom area had waterproof polythene material put on the lower section of the walls plus the floor beneath the tiles. A tray was not used and the installer cut tiles to angle down to the centrally placed waste. The grout started to crack in the corners where walls met quite soon after the job was finished and I called the installer back. His said putting silicon sealant over the cracked ares would be best. I didn't want shiny sealant as the tiles are textured and not shiny. He then said he'd come back and rake the grout out and redo it. He failed to return. Recently the grout between the tiles on the wetroom floor is staying wet in different areas. I am worried that water may be getting down between the tiles. What should I do?

Anonymous user

You should not grout the edges of the walls or floor there must be a clean gap between them so the silicone can get in and set well creating a water proof seal. Also it’s more flexible so if there is any movement it won’t crack . My guess is he hasn’t raked the old grout out properly and the silicone hasn’t sealed the gap between so water is getting down underneath your tiles and sitting on the water proof sheet not allowing the grout to dry out the water is rising up through it . All the grout and silicone needs raking out and re doing around the edges properly.

Answered16 October 2018

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Leigh

Due to ground settlement the edges of tilled walls or floors should not be grouted. There must be an expansion gap. The expansion gap allows movement between building materials to expand and contract. Silicone must be used allowing the gaps to be filled properly creating a waterproof seal. The silicone is flexible, it will not crack and will expand with the gap if any movement. Water is obviously getting down into the cracks underneath your tiles and settling on the waterproof sheet not allowing the grout to dry out and the water is rising up through it. I would suggest to rake the grout out properly then re-grout it and use silicone between walls around the perimeter of the floor. Flexible grout must be used and it must be waterproof for the same reasons above.

Answered7 November 2018

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