Grouting quality - advice needed

[Kevbos]

I'm looking for some expert advice and hopefully some reassurance....

I've just had a complete bathroom renovation finished by a tradesman who specialises in bathrooms. In general, I am really pleased with the outcome and the contractor has been a pleasure to deal throughout the project. I have, however, some worries about the quality of his grouting and I want to be sure they are valid before I bring it up with him.

The wall grout has a lot of pinholes (photos attached) all over, including the shower enclosure and the area directly above the wash basin (less of an issue but still). I am not that bothered about how they look, but I do worry about the water ingress. To top it off, the tiles have been laid directly onto a gypsum board (not the waterproof kind) and the walls have no tanking on them. When I queried it, the contractor told me that it's because it's a bath shower so there is no point in installing tanking as full waterproof-ness cannot be achieved around the tub - since then I've read that tanking any type of shower has been mandatory since 2018 (is that correct?). These two things coupled together (no tanking membrane and holes in the grout) do worry me, it was an expensive project, which also caused a massive upheaval, and I don't want to have to revisit it in a few years time. Are my worries groundless? Any expert advice would be appreciated? Thank you.

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Can I ask if the tiles are mosaics ? And really I'd be more worried about the grout that is round what looks like a bath edge ?? And no Silicon ?? You may get small amount of water through pin pricks in grout !that can be easily fixed , but grout against any bath or shower tray with no Silicon is more of a worry

 

[Badger2021]

Can I ask if the tiles are mosaics ? And really I'd be more worried about the grout that is round what looks like a bath edge ?? And no Silicon ?? You may get small amount of water through pin pricks in grout !that can be easily fixed , but grout against any bath or shower tray with no Silicon is more of a worry

Hi, they are oversized metro tiles, not mosaics. There is a bead of Silicon around the bath - I think the picture you mean is a bit of a windowframe...I've spoken to the tiler and he will return to fix it so all good, thank you for your suggestions.

 

[Badger2021]

I think you are missing the point a little bit. Its a simple fix for a tiler,if you are grouting quickly (for whatever reason) there may be some pinholes, usually seen up the later/next day (after the airbubbles burst) and filled. Its part of the job, you have every right and expectation that this be done correctly. If this tiler is worth his salt, he should have no complaints about finishing the work.

thanks, I have asked the tiler to fix this and he agreed to come back this week at some point. I was overthinking it probably based on my previous (bad) experience...

 

[Badger2021]

UPATE: Hi guys, so the contractor came in to fix the issue this week. I marked up on the holes and he did imply that I was being crazy about some of the smaller ones as apparently if you inspect anyone's grout up close you will see those. I disagree as there are even areas in his own grouting that do not contain any or hardly pinholes. The shower area was riddled with them.

Anyway, he did not rake any of the existing grout out at all, instead he told me that the best way is to put wetter mix (wasn't this issue caused by too much water in the first place) onto the existing grout lines - I had alarm bells ringing about putting grout onto grout but when I queried it he assured that that it will be fine.

This was done on Wednesday, today I used the shower for the first time and some of those lines are running...fed up is an understatement. Any suggestions on what would be the best solution in this case. Shall I give it more time to cure or is it beyond hope?

 

[Dave]

Over wetting the grout weakens the strength/hardness of the grout. There is a reason there is a mixing ratio on the back of the bag. If over watered it won’t fully hydrate/set.
It needs raking out and doing properly.

 

[Badger2021]

Over wetting the grout weakens the strength/hardness of the grout. There is a reason there is a mixing ratio on the back of the bag. If over watered it won’t fully hydrate/set.
It needs raking out and doing properly.

I just asked him about that and he says that 'the second layer of grout (done 3 weeks after the first one) was just to seal those pinholes and that what is running is just the residue of that 2nd layer and once I wipe it off it will be fine. Is that even a remote possibility? Surely, that residue would have been wiped off when he sponged the grout at the end. Should I trust him or is he simply lying to get out of having to do this properly...

I'm gutted. I went from liking the bloke and wanting to recommend them to my friends to doubting a word he says or feeling like maybe I am just being played.

 

[Dave]

Give the shower walls a good wash down with clean water. Leave to dry. If it was residual grout , it shouldn’t happen again. Report back with your findings

 

[Rossaa]

It’s just air bubbles doesn’t matter how much I try I always seem to get the odd one of these
What he’s done is fine you worry too much
Why on earth you would you rake out the grout?
The residue will just wipe off

 

[Badger2021]

It’s just air bubbles doesn’t matter how much I try I always seem to get the odd one of these
What he’s done is fine you worry too much
Why on earth you would you rake out the grout?
The residue will just wipe off

well, if you research that there is general consensus that applying one layer of grout on top of another is not a good idea that will last so that's why I am worried. Grout doesn't adhere to grout, it adheres to the tile edges. I don't think expecting a watertight grout, without airpockets, from a professional is too big an ask.

 

[Kevbos]

Please contribute to this thread if you have any new information or can even just reiterate what has been said already.

It’s just air bubbles doesn’t matter how much I try I always seem to get the odd one of these
What he’s done is fine you worry too much
Why on earth you would you rake out the grout?
The residue will just wipe off

Great advice rossaa! Not