D
DIYdolly
Hi There,
Last weekend my boyfriend and I were adding the final touches to our bathroom project from hell! After nearly eight months of toil we were putting on the final bath panel and noticed to our horror that the aquaboard underneath the level of the bath was damp in a couple of patches. We put up aquaboard and then tiled it with homebase travertine 10cmx10cm tiles quite a while ago and have merrily using the shower, unaware of what was going on!
We sealed the tiles with homebase own brand sealer twice before grouting and then another coat afterwards. We assumed that the adhesive on the back of the tiles would stop any water getting through the holes of the tiles and reaching the aquaboard.
Last weekend we went back to homebase to ask for advice,as we are both feeling sick at the prospect of soggy aquaboard and tiles coming off the wall. The lady was a bit "computer says no!!" and said she didnt have any ideas and we should consult a specialist. We looked at some damp proofing liquid for bricks/concrete which supposed to stop absorbsion of water. We thought this might work, but it said it was for external stone/brick etc so were were not sure.
On the way home we stopped off at a Topps tiles to ask more advice. She asked us if we had "back buttered" the tiles,to which we replied "no, what is that!" She mentioned getting a resin to fill in the gaps, and to try fired earth, natural stone company etc etc, or to try and fill the gaps with grout. There are literally millions of holes, ranging from 2mm-7mm so were not keen to re-grout!
We passed yet another company and stopped for more advice. We were told that there is no resin/clear glaze we could use, but that our only option is to smear grout all over the tiles and then wash off the residue.
Both of use feel totally disheartened at the thought of having to slop messy white grout all over the walls, and inevitably the new bath, taps, shower screen etc!. We are woried that the tiles are going to look crap with hundreds of white dots on them. Please, please, please if anybody has any advice on an alternative to regrouting I would be so grateful. Would a better sealant like Lithofin be better?
Sorry for writing an essay
Many thanks.
Last weekend my boyfriend and I were adding the final touches to our bathroom project from hell! After nearly eight months of toil we were putting on the final bath panel and noticed to our horror that the aquaboard underneath the level of the bath was damp in a couple of patches. We put up aquaboard and then tiled it with homebase travertine 10cmx10cm tiles quite a while ago and have merrily using the shower, unaware of what was going on!
We sealed the tiles with homebase own brand sealer twice before grouting and then another coat afterwards. We assumed that the adhesive on the back of the tiles would stop any water getting through the holes of the tiles and reaching the aquaboard.
Last weekend we went back to homebase to ask for advice,as we are both feeling sick at the prospect of soggy aquaboard and tiles coming off the wall. The lady was a bit "computer says no!!" and said she didnt have any ideas and we should consult a specialist. We looked at some damp proofing liquid for bricks/concrete which supposed to stop absorbsion of water. We thought this might work, but it said it was for external stone/brick etc so were were not sure.
On the way home we stopped off at a Topps tiles to ask more advice. She asked us if we had "back buttered" the tiles,to which we replied "no, what is that!" She mentioned getting a resin to fill in the gaps, and to try fired earth, natural stone company etc etc, or to try and fill the gaps with grout. There are literally millions of holes, ranging from 2mm-7mm so were not keen to re-grout!
We passed yet another company and stopped for more advice. We were told that there is no resin/clear glaze we could use, but that our only option is to smear grout all over the tiles and then wash off the residue.
Both of use feel totally disheartened at the thought of having to slop messy white grout all over the walls, and inevitably the new bath, taps, shower screen etc!. We are woried that the tiles are going to look crap with hundreds of white dots on them. Please, please, please if anybody has any advice on an alternative to regrouting I would be so grateful. Would a better sealant like Lithofin be better?
Sorry for writing an essay
Many thanks.