Grout/Silicon drying times.

[Gazebo]

Morning all, was just wondering what you all do with regards to the application of Silicon over grout in shower/bath areas.

If Bal super/microflex has been used do you wait for it to dry 2 weeks then return and apply Silicon ( i doubt if anyone does)

Do you wait for it to dry 24hours then apply Silicon, if so surely this has an affect on the not fully cured grout.

Or do you grout in the morning and Silicon in the afernoon.

and lets all be honest.....

Or do you use Mapei.?

Cheers
Gary:8:

 

[faithhealer]

Mapei, silicon the day after usually after buffing the tiles down

 

[Colour Republic]

I don't always grout were i'm going to Silicon, so the Silicon can get a better grab under the tiles.

I grout the verticals on the last row of tiles and Silicon the last horizontal after 24hrs

 

[davy_G]

Ive started siliconing corners, around shower trays & baths etc after tiling and before grouting. Gets a better seal and if done just after tiling is hard for grouting the next day or later on that day.

This is after advice from Dave on here.:hurray:

 

[Colour Republic]

I did do it this way round before but my arguement now is that Silicon will stick to grout better than grout will stick to Silicon

 

[Gazebo]

I don't always grout were i'm going to Silicon, so the Silicon can get a better grab under the tiles.

I grout the verticals on the last row of tiles and Silicon the last horizontal after 24hrs

Thanks for your reply, this is the same method i use, gap between tile and tray/bath is not grouted, but i apply Silicon 24hrs or so after i have grouted the last vertical joint , i also Silicon all vertical joints in shower enclosures as you would be amazed the amount that i see are reliant on grout, not so clever in a studwork made enclosure.

so 24hrs is ok to Silicon grout, but 2 weeks before using shower if Bal is used..?

Gary

 

[davy_G]

I did do it this way round before but my arguement now is that Silicon will stick to grout better than grout will stick to Silicon

Agreed, but i dont grout over the Silicon just to it.

 

[oogabooga]

For all but small jobs, grout one day and then Silicon the following. Gaz, are you saying you apply Silicon over the grout in corners etc?.

 

[garretridge]

Silicon the internal corners and tray or bath after tiling then grout the next day,its true i see so many jobs were the all were just grouted no Silicon anywere and they wonder way they have leaks! :mad2:

 

[Gazebo]

For all but small jobs, grout one day and then Silicon the following. Gaz, are you saying you apply Silicon over the grout in corners etc?.

Hi,

no just Silicon all internal corners in wet areas.

never tried the Silicon prior to grouting technique,what do you think is the main benefit in doing this.?

Gary

 

[macten]

I'm going to try siliconing after tiling then grout next day. I often use mapei coloured grouts and have found that if grouted first then the Silicon darkens the grout a little (I assume it's the grease from the Silicon). Doing it this way will stop that so cheers guys!

 

[bcurtis]

Good thread by the way.

So are yous agreeing that putting Silicon on after tiling in vertical joint at corner and around the bath is best option? You wouldn't grout then put Silicon at appropriate bits after?

I'm gonna be grouting in next couple of days, i've the bal stuff but since i'm a novice my mates said i should use the pre-mde up stuff as the stuff you mix yourself is a nightmare to put on??!!! Would any one else recommend buying the pre-made stuff out the tubs??

Cheers

 

[bootsmckiber]

I use Mapei gout coulored Silicon,never a problem.In obvious wetter than usual places I put a thin layer of transparent Silicon over it.No callbacks.
A few years ago on this site I mentioned about an awkword working place around some plumbing,I knew it was going to be wetter than normal so I took about a half tube of transparent Silicon,threw in a handfull or two of the grout powder I was using,both for color and the sanded grout look,Mixed the hell out of them took my time so's not to get to messy,cleaned up as I went along and to this day no water has got through,I'm so brilliant Man U should make me King for a day and fly me over for a game,with all the trimmings,Good luck.
Mike

 

[Colour Republic]

Agreed, but i dont grout over the Silicon just to it.

Sorry mate you might have misunderstood me, I don't grout over the Silicon you nutter!

I grout the tiles first but leave, say the gap between a bath and bottom row of tiles then wait 24hrs and Silicon. so the Silicon will seal the bath and stick to the grout that is already infilling the verticals on the bottom row.

You can sillicone then grout down to it the next day but my arguement is the sillicone will stick to the grout in the verticals better than the grout sticking to the Silicon if the Silicon was done first? does that make sense? as we all know you only have to have a tiny crack for water to get past. Silicon has higher grab then grout that's why I do it that way round... I'll stop babbling now as i'm starting to confuse myself:dizzy2:

 

[Gazebo]

Sorry mate you might have misunderstood me, I don't grout over the Silicon you nutter!

I grout the tiles first but leave, say the gap between a bath and bottom row of tiles then wait 24hrs and Silicon. so the Silicon will seal the bath and stick to the grout that is already infilling the verticals on the bottom row.

You can sillicone then grout down to it the next day but my arguement is the sillicone will stick to the grout in the verticals better than the grout sticking to the Silicon if the Silicon was done first? does that make sense? as we all know you only have to have a tiny crack for water to get past. Silicon has higher grab then grout that's why I do it that way round... I'll stop babbling now as i'm starting to confuse myself:dizzy2:

Good babbling but it all makes perfect sense to me.