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Salle de bainDIY
dozens

Shower tile touching - can I grout it?

Garrett Bryant
il y a 5 ans
Dernière modification : il y a 5 ans

So my girlfriend and I tiled our shower and she chose about 2" hex tiles (nightmare). Well while most are fine with pretty uniform spacing, there are many tiles that are touching and have no gap at all (50% bc of our mistakes and 50% bc the OG owner's framed walls were horribly done). There is concrete board backing and waterproof sealant over that. Can I just grout what I can, seal that and be okay? And if not, what about taking my oscillating tool and creating a super-skinny ditch between the touching tiles and grouting that?

Edit: I keep trying to upload photos but it won't let me so here it is on Img.ur.

Réponse sélectionnée
  • PRO
    Creative Tile Eastern CT
    il y a 5 ans
    Dernière modification :il y a 5 ans

    OK Garrett, Here is what I believe you're dealing with. If the cement board and waterproofing were done correctly the tile is merely cosmetic. You should be able to use the shower without tile. The high spots where your adhesive has oozed up needs to be cut out without touching the waterproofing. At that point you can apply grout. Make sure the grout you select is applicable down to 1/16". There is unsanded, fine aggregate and premixed. With all that said you need to call the manufacturer of the mastic that was used. Type 1 mastic is not for use in a wet area period. Sarcasm ahead. Folks following may find it hard to believe but it is possible the box store staff has provided the wrong advice:)

    I understand your frustration but you need to gather the facts first. Good Luck.

    Commentaires (19)

    • enduring
      il y a 5 ans
      Dernière modification :il y a 5 ans

      I don't think you are to seal grout in a shower, it needs to breath. The applied waterproofing over the cement board will protect your wall assembly as long as it was applied as directed to the proper depth of product. I wouldn't try to grind a grout space either. You risk the chance of damaging your layer of sealant. I hope a pro checks this and comments.

      Garrett Bryant a remercié enduring
    • User
      il y a 5 ans

      You just described a complete do over. Or a wait until the other shoe drops and you start having major issues.


      https://www.ceramictilefoundation.org/homeowners-guide-to-hiring-qualified-tile-installer

      Garrett Bryant a remercié User
    • Garrett Bryant
      Auteur d'origine
      il y a 5 ans
      Dernière modification :il y a 5 ans

      What are these major issues you're speaking of?

      We bought the water sealant and mastic as recommended by the person at Lowe's. What problems will arise with this application?

      We don't really care if it looks off and the goal isn't a perfect shower at this point - I just don't want mold problems, etc. because of the tiny areas that unhanded grout won't really get into.

      And frankly, if the worst I'm looking at is a small chance of some tiles not holding, then that's better in my head to redo those tiles at that time than to rip it all out and redo it now. I know that seems lazy, but it's more because of time and money and I'm just being realistic. This is a bombshell after what has been a lot of work.

    • enduring
      il y a 5 ans
      Dernière modification :il y a 5 ans

      Did you use “mastic” or “tile setting morter”.? I believe it is a tear out if you used mastic. Mastic is not for wet locations. You will have failure with typical mastic.

    • enduring
      il y a 5 ans

      Another forum that is full of professionals is the John Bridge forum. Check that out too.

    • User
      il y a 5 ans
      Dernière modification :il y a 5 ans

      Mastic=mold. No place for grout=tiles falling off. Incorrectly built pan=major leaks. No mil gauge=not to any industry standard.

      Lowe’s=Complete redo.

      Get one one of these. https://www.tcnatile.com/products-and-services/publications/218-english-publications/188-handbook.html

      But it will be far easier to just hire the Pro to do it right than it will to take the months that time to learn how to do the job correctly. And then more months to practice.

    • PRO
      R S W / Studio - Custom Lighting Design
      il y a 5 ans

      You could remove the ones that are touching and install them again, the picture you posted shows that it can be done; if there's no grout in between them there's risk of water leaking trough the gaps.

    • enduring
      il y a 5 ans

      @Creative Tile CT, Thanks for helping Garrett.

    • PRO
      Creative Ceramic & Marble/ Bill Vincent
      il y a 5 ans

      Wow. So many who just say rip it out and do it again, without any kind of reasoning or possible remediation! I guess i HAVE been gone for a while!!

    • User
      il y a 5 ans

      Well, I'm no expert in anything...bit I would go ahead and dig out the mastic where needed and then grout it.

      Then see how it does...I know not the "correct" way to do it...but I'm an optimist.

      However, my bathrooms are on a slab so I wouldn't have a ceiling falling on me.

      As far as looks go, tile doesn't look too great until it's grouted. We use epoxy grout...

    • User
      il y a 5 ans
      Dernière modification :il y a 5 ans

      It’s mastic. It re-emulsifies. I stand by “rip it out” sooner or later. Choosing Later only makes the mold worse then.

    • PRO
      Mint tile Minneapolis
      il y a 5 ans
      Dernière modification :il y a 5 ans

      "I guess i HAVE been gone for a while! "

      @ BIll you must have been gone when the OP stated he used mastic. Oh buddy, after what 58 years in the trade, but hey you got 5 likes out of the deal so there is that :):)

      I know no other way to reason then to tell OP to tear it out now and bite the bullet even if thats NOT PC here on hooz.


      from OP:

      "We bought the water sealant and mastic as recommended by the person at Lowe's. What problems will arise with this application? "

      "I just don't want mold problems"

    • PRO
      Creative Ceramic & Marble/ Bill Vincent
      il y a 5 ans

      Yeah, I missed that. This was not the only thread I saw people recommending everything be ripped out, and THAT was the reason for my comment.


    • PRO
      Mint tile Minneapolis
      il y a 5 ans
      Dernière modification :il y a 5 ans

      Its gotten a bit rougher around here ill admit that young man. Cracks me up the reasons in which people the hit like button though

    • PRO
      Creative Ceramic & Marble/ Bill Vincent
      il y a 5 ans

      All kinds of people trying to get their company name out there. :-) They need to realize, though, if all they know is rip it out, no one's going to listen to them after a while. You and Greendesigns DO have a good point here. But the other one I saw, wow. If you're going to tell someone they need to trash several thousand dollars of work with little chance of recouping their money, you better have a damn good reason, and be ready to back it up with fact.

    • enduring
      il y a 5 ans

      I hit that like button!

    • Keith Russell
      l'année dernière

      In tiling a wall or floor is it necessary for there to be grout in gaps or can al the tiles be laid touching with no gaps

    • millworkman
      l'année dernière

      The tile needs to grout and needs to NOT be touching.

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