Slate bathroom : stains, sealing and cracked grouting.

[Mcarey]

Hi,
We've just bought a house, and have a ten month old demanding baby . The previous owners had a flood and the bathroom was redone. It has a slate floor and shower( slate walls). The grouting is cracked in the shower, and it leaks through the kitchen ceiling when running for too long- is this due to the cracked grout, or should there be something behind the tiles to stop this? The slate doesn't appear to be sealed and the bathroom now has lots of white marks I can't get rid of, what should I do? Any help massively appreciated. Anything that takes a long time is somewhat hard due to my little one, and I feel a bit stuck.

 

[True Tiling]

Bad advice mate - any movement joint should not have to be re-applied.

 

[widler]

So if a movement joint, erm moves you just like erm leave it ?

 

[True Tiling]

I was just thinking that a movement joint should have been properly filled in the first place using the correct Silicon or movement strip. It would be a pain and a threat to the tiling if movement joints in supermarkets and leisure complexes had to be repeatedly filled would it not? Why anywhere else? (Don't mean to offend!)

 

[Spud]

I was just thinking that a movement joint should have been properly filled in the first place using the correct Silicon or movement strip. It would be a pain and a threat to the tiling if movement joints in supermarkets and leisure complexes had to be repeatedly filled would it not? Why anywhere else? (Don't mean to offend!)

Silicon joints do need replacing over time , movement joints in floors dont prevent water ingress and are filled with elastic material for the finished look to prevent an unsitely gap where dirt may be trapped the important part of a movement joint is only the actually gap its self not the material it is filled with

 

[True Tiling]

But isn't it very important that a movement joint needs to move? Can't fill it with any material like you say I'm afraid.
The thing is Gary, that in a wet room situation, a movement joint cannot fail under any circumstances, so I question your "unsitely gap" theory and disregard your text. A movement gap using a 25% flex 100% Silicon sealant over a correct installation IN ANY SITUATION is a sure move, no? Shouldn't need to be re-filled if the floor has been checked out, acclimatised and tiled properly...

 

[Spud]

sorry true tiling perhaps my reply wasnt very clear, a movement joint must allow movement if you leave a gap between any 2 surfaces and its is unfilled this is a movement joint allowing the 2 surfaces to move independantly of each other that is the important part of any movement joint the GAP or space between them, ideally no filler at all should be used but elastic materials are used to protect the edge of the tiles and to stop a dirt build up in the joint ,the filling of the gap can be any material which allows movement ,solid materials would stop the movement and it would be a movement joint any longer

 

[Spud]

I getting confused true tiling as first off you were talking about movement joints on supermarket floors and then edited your reply, you are being very naive if you believe that Silicon joints last forever ,in a wet room situation all the waterproofing is done behind the tiles and does not rely on the Silicon joint to make a wet room waterproof

 

[True Tiling]

If we are talking floors, then it appears your knowledge is limited: what you have just said needs education. You are using GAP and space/movement joints to your advantageous argument. You lost it. Read up!

 

[True Tiling]

Done 5 wetrooms Gary. No comeback for a re-seal...

 

[Spud]

Done 5 wetrooms Gary. No comeback for a re-seal...

sounds like you are extremely experienced, I am just a keen beginner/learner so I will bow to your greater knowledge and experience , I will try and look up the correct information, can you recommend any good courses I might be able to attend to improve my knowledge and skill, I live in the hertfordshire area thanks in advance
Gary, 5 wet rooms

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Now I'm confused????? 5 wet rooms? is that this month or total?:lol:

 

[Peter]

Sounds like you need to go on a 5 day course Gary, I hope you've not tried a wet room yet.

 

[Spud]

I am not that confident yet Peter the last few I did didnt turn out that well

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Must have been a real doozy that 5 day course Gary, you do a mean wet room, I might PM you and get the address of the place, I might enroll on that, I like you am very keen to learn this tiling lark. Good job there are some very experienced people on this site.

 

[DHTiling]

I wish I had an ICA2 in tiling , so so jealous. must be hard to get such a distinguished qualification. :lol: