Cracking grout
 

I recently remodelled my shower (new layout, tile, etc) in my bathroom.
http://www.rapture.org/shower/006.jpg

After having the glass put up, I noticed on the right side the grout was
cracking around tiles which touched the glass. Specifically, the area you
see right he
http://www.rapture.org/shower/010.jpg

It was in a traffic area and it was bad enough where I had to bring out a
professional. Before the contractor could work, I had the surrounding glass
removed. The contractor didn't do a perfect job (not nearly good enough for
$450), but I just want to get this over with. Anyway, now I noticed
cracking on tile on the outside in a totally non-traffic area, such as this:

http://www.rapture.org/shower/001.jpg
http://www.rapture.org/shower/012.jpg (zoomed out, can't really see it in a
picture)

The inside of the shower, there are no cracks on the tile grout. My
question is, can I just fix this grout without having to remove the glass &
tiles? For example, just scrape the grout out and put more in? I don't know
what the deal is with the grout cracking, especially in areas which get no
traffic like that. But I've spent way over my budget on this bathroom and I
want to get it over with.

Thanks

Cracking grout
 

"Bob" wrote in message
...
I recently remodelled my shower (new layout, tile, etc) in my bathroom.
http://www.rapture.org/shower/006.jpg

After having the glass put up, I noticed on the right side the grout was
cracking around tiles which touched the glass. Specifically, the area you
see right he
http://www.rapture.org/shower/010.jpg

It was in a traffic area and it was bad enough where I had to bring out a
professional. Before the contractor could work, I had the surrounding
glass removed. The contractor didn't do a perfect job (not nearly good
enough for $450), but I just want to get this over with. Anyway, now I
noticed cracking on tile on the outside in a totally non-traffic area,
such as this:

http://www.rapture.org/shower/001.jpg
http://www.rapture.org/shower/012.jpg (zoomed out, can't really see it in
a picture)

The inside of the shower, there are no cracks on the tile grout. My
question is, can I just fix this grout without having to remove the glass
& tiles? For example, just scrape the grout out and put more in? I don't
know what the deal is with the grout cracking, especially in areas which
get no traffic like that. But I've spent way over my budget on this
bathroom and I want to get it over with.

Thanks




If the cracking came right after the glass was installed, it may be a result
of the installation. Perhaps the drill they used vibrated the wall or the
extra weight of the glass caused it to shift. Push it around, make sure its
not going to just happen again.

Whatever the reason you can either rake out some grout and regrout or if it
is not bothering you cosmetically you can smear with silicone (may want to
do that for a temp fix until you get to replacing the grout). I'm thinking
that scrubbing non sanded grout into the crack with a toothbrush would cover
it for a while but it would open again with the slightest shifting (might be
worth a try, it could work)

Cracking grout
 

Bob wrote:
I recently remodelled my shower (new layout, tile, etc) in my
bathroom. http://www.rapture.org/shower/006.jpg

After having the glass put up, I noticed on the right side the grout
was cracking around tiles which touched the glass. Specifically, the
area you see right he
http://www.rapture.org/shower/010.jpg

I don't see any glass in this photo. Rather hard to tell since your
photos - especially the closeups - are way out of focus. However...

1. If by "glass" you mean the pieces of aluminum screwed to the tile in
which the door fits fits then you shouldn't be using grout there. Use
caulk.

2. If you are talking about areas where tile abuts wood trim then you could
use either caulk or grout; however, it is likely that there will always be
sme cracking if grout is used due to the difference of expansion/contraction
of the two materials. Moreover, if the rim was painted before grouting
(likely) the grout won't stick well to it and you'd most likely have a
hairline crack at the grout/wood junction. Won't hurt anything...

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Cracking grout
 

Yeah that picture was taken after the glass was removed and the tile/grout
fixed -- but before the glass was reinstalled.

Actually, the glass installers were here this morning and based off of
comments I had here, I had the glass reinstalled instead of the the rest
removed. I will fix the grout with the glass installed. The glass is very
thick and super heavy so it probably is caused by the weight or something.

In any case, I do have another somewhat related question.

Is it normal for grout to have air holes? It is not /everywhere/ but there
are several places which have air holes in the grout. For example:
http://www.rapture.org/shower/013.jpg
http://www.rapture.org/shower/014.jpg
http://www.rapture.org/shower/015.jpg

Is this normal or should I be covering the holes up with more grout? The
grout is well sealed, but I don't know how far back those holes go...

Thanks for all the comments!


"dadiOH" wrote in message
news:IzNsg.7218$Zf.5376@trnddc04...
I don't see any glass in this photo. Rather hard to tell since your
photos - especially the closeups - are way out of focus. However...

1. If by "glass" you mean the pieces of aluminum screwed to the tile in
which the door fits fits then you shouldn't be using grout there. Use
caulk.

2. If you are talking about areas where tile abuts wood trim then you
could
use either caulk or grout; however, it is likely that there will always be
sme cracking if grout is used due to the difference of
expansion/contraction
of the two materials. Moreover, if the rim was painted before grouting
(likely) the grout won't stick well to it and you'd most likely have a
hairline crack at the grout/wood junction. Won't hurt anything...

--

dadiOH

Cracking grout
 

Just seconding the comment above to the effect that where different
materials (including what's *behind* the tile) meet, or even were
similar materials are subject to differing change in temperature,
unless you can provide some sort of mechanical expansion joint caulk is
more durable that grout.

For this reason grout manufacturers make special color-matched caulks
to match their grouts, available in both "sanded" and
"non-sanded" forms to match grout texture, and custom mixed colors
are also available.

In my experience the caulk to grout color/texture match is seldom
exact, but it's been my observation, confirmed in conversation with
experienced tile setters and contractors, that there are just some
applications (such as joints between floor tiles and cove tiles or were
corners meet at an exterior wall) were grout frequently fails, and that
in these locations the best choice is to caulk with the understanding
that ever decade or so you may need to do so again - at least the old
caulk is easier to remove than grout.

FWIW, I've found Michael Byrn's "Setting Tile"

http://tinyurl.com/fwt94

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156...lance&n=283155

to be an excellent resource on such questions.

He's a bit "old fashioned" is some of his techniques, but he got
his start working for a company that repaired work done by others, so
he's very aware of a number of potential tiling "pitfalls' that
many not become apparent for months or even years after initial
installation, and the book has hundreds of photographs and illustrators
that clearly convey his approach to preventing such problems.

Michael Thomas
Paragon Home Inspections, LLC
Chicago, IL
mdtATparagoninspectsDOTcom
8four7-475-5668

Cracking grout
 

Bob wrote:
Is it normal for grout to have air holes? It is not /everywhere/ but
there are several places which have air holes in the grout. For
example: http://www.rapture.org/shower/013.jpg
http://www.rapture.org/shower/014.jpg
http://www.rapture.org/shower/015.jpg

Is this normal or should I be covering the holes up with more grout?
The grout is well sealed, but I don't know how far back those holes
go...

I wouldn't worry about them.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico