In those cases, you will likely apply some caulk in places where you also have grout. Over time, your caulk can shrink and dry out, at which point it loses its ability to create a strong seal. When the material becomes compromised in this way, mold can get behind the caulk and start to grow. If left unchecked, mold can spread behind your walls or on your subfloor.
When this happens, you will have a much bigger problem than just removing caulk or grout. A sign that you should replace your caulk is when it starts to curl up at the corners or turn brown. You can also use clear silicone over existing grout to seal hairline cracks in corners. With practice, you can improve your technique and produce a consistent, clean line of caulk. You may opt to outsource this project to a handyman who can do the job quickly and well. After you replace your caulk, you may also notice that you may have a gap between your tile and tub.
Is this a problem, and if so, what should you do about it? Many bathrooms are built with an intentional gap between the wall tiles and the bathtub. This expansion joint allows for natural shifting and movement which can occur in your home over time. Most of these cracks can be sealed with caulk.
Doing so will prevent moisture from accumulating, which can also protect against the growth of mold and mildew. To seal gaps up to a quarter-inch in width, apply sanded caulk that matches your grout. For large gaps, insert a backer rod first before you apply your caulk. Make sure to purchase a rod which is nonporous and designed for use in wet areas.
There are some instances where a choice between grout and caulk may come up, such as the space between tile and a bathtub.
A lot of contractors use grout in situations such as this, but for the most part, caulk should be used. Epoxy grout is much more flexible than traditional grout, so if you choose not to use caulk and decide to use grout to fill the space between tub and tile, always go with the epoxy grout. As for using caulk with grout, there is absolutely no reason for it.
Caulk is used to seal. Epoxy grout needs no sealing because it is already durable and resistant to moisture and water. Tile projects require grout. The Tile Doctor has the highest quality epoxy grout products available today. We are the leader in tile grout and grout finishing products.
The Tile Doctor is the exclusive distributor for Litokol grouting and installation products in the U. We offer the widest selection of grout colors available, delivering high-performance epoxy grout products that have a leading edge over any other grout products on the market. At The Tile Doctor, we care about delivering products that meet strict guidelines for durability and functionality, but we also want to bring you the widest range of creative options as well.
Our Spotlight, Gold, and Night Vision finishes can be mixed with Starlike grout products to create stunning and unique results in you tile projects, such as metallic and glitter effects. Starlike products offered by The Tile Doctor also include Starlike Crystal Grout , a two-component translucent epoxy grout for clear glass mosaics.
The Tile Doctor also offers Starlike Crystal Glass Grout, which comes in a variety of colors, allowing you to bring dazzle to your tile work, and Starlike Glass Grout Jewels , which can bring a stunning addition to your glass tile work. The Tile Doctor brings functionality as well as aesthetics, ensuring consumers always have the best grout products and design options available.
To learn more about our superior tile epoxy grout products, and our line of sealers, cleaners, and maintenance products for your tile installation projects, contact us today at TileDoc To find a store near you that sells Tile Doctor products, then use our Store Finder option on our website. If you found this article helpful, let us know in the comment section below. Also, feel free to share it by clicking the share buttons below.
Want us to cover another topic related to grouting products and techniques? Uses for Caulk Caulk is flexible and waterproof. Uses for Grout There are different types of grout. Popular Blog Categories.
Events and More Industry Events. Join Our Newsletter. Grout in these particular seams is more likely to crack due to settling. Others still use grout but switch to an epoxy grout grout with epoxy added , which makes cracking less likely. Caulk, however, is known for shrinking over time and pulling away, and when it does it must be removed and replaced. Grout is porous, which makes it more likely to develop mildew and stains than silicone caulk the waterproof type, suitable for wet areas.
For example, if you apply silicone caulk to seal around the drain in the tile shower floor, you can wipe it clean with a damp rag and it will look as good as new. Grout lines, however, require more careful attention to stave off unsightly stains. First of all, grout should be sealed , and tiled shower surfaces should be cleaned weekly with an all-purpose bathroom cleaner to keep grout stain free; using a daily after-shower spray also helps.
Grout is spread over a newly tiled surface and worked into the joints with a hard sponge applicator. This results in excess grout getting smeared over the tile face, which should be wiped off before it dries.
Caulk goes on neatly but it requires a steady hand, experience, and skill to run a smooth, professional-looking bead of caulk. When either product fails grout by cracking or crumbling, caulk by pulling away , both must be replaced. Replacing caulk is a relatively simple process of scraping and pulling the old bead of caulk out of the seam and then running a new bead. Replacing a grout line requires the use of a grout saw or a rotary tool to grind away the grout before you can mix new grout and apply it to the joint.
Grout is only used to fill the joints between tiles, while caulk can seal seams in many spots— along baseboards and crown molding, on windows to stop leaks and drafts , and anywhere two construction materials meet, even on outdoor concrete. This makes caulk the more versatile of the two products.
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