Hi

We have a shower that was fitted and tiled about 2 years ago. There are 2
tiled walls, one wall is perfect but the grout on the other wall is cracking
really badly and needs to be gouged out and replaced. I noticed that the hot
water tank is behind the wall where the grout has cracked, would that be the
problem, that the heat from the tank has dried it out? If so, what should I
do now? Can I just add some PVA glue to the grout mix before re-grouting or
should I introduce a heat baffle / shield somewhere? I'm a novice DIYer and
inherited this problem.


Thanks

"Jack Sprat" wrote in message
...
Hi

We have a shower that was fitted and tiled about 2 years ago. There are 2
tiled walls, one wall is perfect but the grout on the other wall is
cracking
really badly and needs to be gouged out and replaced. I noticed that the
hot
water tank is behind the wall where the grout has cracked, would that be
the
problem, that the heat from the tank has dried it out? If so, what should
I
do now? Can I just add some PVA glue to the grout mix before re-grouting
or
should I introduce a heat baffle / shield somewhere? I'm a novice DIYer
and
inherited this problem.


Thanks


If the water tank is tight against the wall, then just clean out the old
grout and redo it all. If you have any room to slide a piece of
plasterboard down between the wall and the tank, then it won't hurt to give
a bit more protection so the grout isn't damaged again.

But it might not be the heat from the water tank that's causing the problem.
If you can check that all the seals around the shower unit are water tight
and are not allowing dampness to creep up the wall and making it swell, it
might help toward a permanent cure.

BigWallop wrote:
"Jack Sprat" wrote in message
...
Hi

We have a shower that was fitted and tiled about 2 years ago. There are 2
tiled walls, one wall is perfect but the grout on the other wall is
cracking
really badly and needs to be gouged out and replaced. I noticed that the
hot
water tank is behind the wall where the grout has cracked, would that be
the
problem, that the heat from the tank has dried it out? If so, what should
I
do now? Can I just add some PVA glue to the grout mix before re-grouting
or
should I introduce a heat baffle / shield somewhere? I'm a novice DIYer
and
inherited this problem.


Thanks


If the water tank is tight against the wall, then just clean out the old
grout and redo it all. If you have any room to slide a piece of
plasterboard down between the wall and the tank, then it won't hurt to give
a bit more protection so the grout isn't damaged again.

But it might not be the heat from the water tank that's causing the problem.
If you can check that all the seals around the shower unit are water tight
and are not allowing dampness to creep up the wall and making it swell, it
might help toward a permanent cure.



I suspect that what is happening here, is that woodwork in the vicinity
of the tank has shrunk to a rather lower average humidity than when it
was constructed. My house is full of stuff like this: essentially wait
till the wood stabilises, and then make good, is the rule.

Provided that wood is ALWAYS exposed to a hot tank, it will simply take
up its new dimensions and stay there with little or no change henceforward.

Building timber is usually stored at best in unheated warehouses, and at
worst outside in the rain, before being used: the impact of a centrally
heated house nearly always causes it to change a bit over he first few
months after being built. You may expect about 1% across the grain and
about 0.1% along it, shrinkage. In respect of a 2 meter high stud wall,
thats 2mm shrinkage. Enough to open up cracks and gaps.

If the wall is blockwork, well that's a different story. Block plaster
and tiles and grout are all similar in thermal expansion. so its odd.

Jack Sprat wrote:
Hi

We have a shower that was fitted and tiled about 2 years ago. There
are 2 tiled walls, one wall is perfect but the grout on the other
wall is cracking really badly and needs to be gouged out and
replaced. I noticed that the hot water tank is behind the wall where
the grout has cracked, would that be the problem, that the heat from
the tank has dried it out? If so, what should I do now? Can I just
add some PVA glue to the grout mix before re-grouting or should I
introduce a heat baffle / shield somewhere? I'm a novice DIYer and
inherited this problem.

Thanks

If the tank is in close proximity to the wall, you need to insert some
insulation, either polystrene sheet or a tank jacket between the tank and
the wall - this should help WRT expansion and contraction.

As far as replacing the grout is concerned, I fear it may already be too
late - if the water has got behind the tiles, then the plasterboard will be
well on it's way to falling apart....unless it's the rock hard aquapanel, or
better still brick/block.

Can you see from the tank side what kind of board has the tiles stuck to it,
or is it a solid wall?

--
Phil L
RSRL Tipster Of The Year 2008

Phil L wrote:
Jack Sprat wrote:
Hi

We have a shower that was fitted and tiled about 2 years ago. There
are 2 tiled walls, one wall is perfect but the grout on the other
wall is cracking really badly and needs to be gouged out and
replaced. I noticed that the hot water tank is behind the wall where
the grout has cracked, would that be the problem, that the heat from
the tank has dried it out? If so, what should I do now? Can I just
add some PVA glue to the grout mix before re-grouting or should I
introduce a heat baffle / shield somewhere? I'm a novice DIYer and
inherited this problem.

Thanks

If the tank is in close proximity to the wall, you need to insert some
insulation, either polystrene sheet or a tank jacket between the tank and
the wall - this should help WRT expansion and contraction.

As far as replacing the grout is concerned, I fear it may already be too
late - if the water has got behind the tiles, then the plasterboard will be
well on it's way to falling apart....unless it's the rock hard aquapanel, or
better still brick/block.

Experience says ********. plaster can take a good wetting. Its long term
soaking that fsk's it.


Can you see from the tank side what kind of board has the tiles stuck to it,
or is it a solid wall?

The Natural Philosopher wrote:
Phil L wrote:
Jack Sprat wrote:
Hi

We have a shower that was fitted and tiled about 2 years ago. There
are 2 tiled walls, one wall is perfect but the grout on the other
wall is cracking really badly and needs to be gouged out and
replaced. I noticed that the hot water tank is behind the wall where
the grout has cracked, would that be the problem, that the heat from
the tank has dried it out? If so, what should I do now? Can I just
add some PVA glue to the grout mix before re-grouting or should I
introduce a heat baffle / shield somewhere? I'm a novice DIYer and
inherited this problem.

Thanks

If the tank is in close proximity to the wall, you need to insert
some insulation, either polystrene sheet or a tank jacket between
the tank and the wall - this should help WRT expansion and
contraction. As far as replacing the grout is concerned, I fear it may
already be
too late - if the water has got behind the tiles, then the
plasterboard will be well on it's way to falling apart....unless
it's the rock hard aquapanel, or better still brick/block.

Experience says ********. plaster can take a good wetting. Its long
term soaking that fsk's it.


And wouldn't being trapped behind tiles in a shower cubicle, and subject to
daily drenchings be classed as 'long term soaking'?


Can you see from the tank side what kind of board has the tiles
stuck to it, or is it a solid wall?

--
Phil L
RSRL Tipster Of The Year 2008

Phil L wrote:
The Natural Philosopher wrote:
Phil L wrote:
Jack Sprat wrote:
Hi

We have a shower that was fitted and tiled about 2 years ago. There
are 2 tiled walls, one wall is perfect but the grout on the other
wall is cracking really badly and needs to be gouged out and
replaced. I noticed that the hot water tank is behind the wall where
the grout has cracked, would that be the problem, that the heat from
the tank has dried it out? If so, what should I do now? Can I just
add some PVA glue to the grout mix before re-grouting or should I
introduce a heat baffle / shield somewhere? I'm a novice DIYer and
inherited this problem.

Thanks
If the tank is in close proximity to the wall, you need to insert
some insulation, either polystrene sheet or a tank jacket between
the tank and the wall - this should help WRT expansion and
contraction. As far as replacing the grout is concerned, I fear it may
already be
too late - if the water has got behind the tiles, then the
plasterboard will be well on it's way to falling apart....unless
it's the rock hard aquapanel, or better still brick/block.

Experience says ********. plaster can take a good wetting. Its long
term soaking that fsk's it.


And wouldn't being trapped behind tiles in a shower cubicle, and subject to
daily drenchings be classed as 'long term soaking'?


No. it tends to go in slowly and dry out as fast as it goes in.

The only place I got degradation was where a pipe came through a tiled
plasterboard wall, and the seal wasn't good around it. water dripped
down and collected at the bottom of the stud wall and blew the plaster
on the OTHER SIDE. It may have done it on te same side as well, but
thats all covered by a bath, so I cant see.

I hacked that out and re plastered it. No more problems.



Can you see from the tank side what kind of board has the tiles
stuck to it, or is it a solid wall?