Help! Tiled wetroom floor looks perfect but grout doesn't dry out!

[Dash J]

I always use epoxy on my wet floors

 

[Paula]

thanks, Bob. We have now sprayed on a sealer, but to be honest I chose porcelain rather than natural stone tiles to avoid maintenance, so it's disappointing to hear that I will now have to seal the grout at regular intervals! If there is any way of avoiding this, I would rather do that…unless you are saying that everyone who has a tiled shower tray should seal the grout regularly? This is certainly not publicised by bathroom designers or tilers in general: perhaps it should be, then?

 

[Paula]

Thanks, Cam, but why do you say to re-grout: do you also think that the darker lines are cracking? They just look like lines of darker pigment to me. I know I'm going to have an uphill battle to convince the tiler and builder on this, as they have both stared and it and declared that there is no cracking at all (as did the BAL "expert"!). I need some ammunition if I'm going to go down this route!

Is it worth you uploading any of the other photos I sent you?

thanks again,

Paula

 

[John Benton]

If you could try and upload closer photos of the grout joints just to be 100%, It did look like fine cracks.

 

[Paula]

DashJ, would you recommend this on a suspended timber floor? Builder seems to think this would be a no-no for us, even though there is no obvious movement of tiles/floor at the moment

 

[Paula]

Can't seem to upload anything: all my pictures are too large, apparently. Any tips?

Paula

 

[Dash J]

All day long for me Paula
As long as it's solid enough,will be fine
Epoxy is a lot more giving than standard grout
Hope that helps

 

[cam_low]

send them over paula

 

[Dash J]

Re reading the posts,if there is water under the tiles,is that not a major cause for concern?water should not be under the tiles,if that's the case there is something wrong somewhere

 

[Paula]

Really? They all seem to think that epoxy has no flex at all, so if there is any movement then it will just crack and then will be impossible to remove. It does sound a lot better than cement grout, though: I wonder why it's not more popular in wet room applications?

Paula

 

[Paula]

Hi Cam

I think I did send via email larger versions of the ones you have posted earlier this evening?

Paula

 

[cam_low]

if you could post close ups of the grout lines that are dark, use a digicam if you have one or a good phone camera like on the z3

 

[Dash J]

It's more giving than standard grout
It's as close to waterproof as you are going to get with grout
And it's more hygienic
I have grouted many a swimming pool with it

 

[cam_low]

I have grouted many a swimming pool with it

rather you than me !

 

[Paula]

Which brand would you recommend for a shower? Mapei??

Paula