Grout Or Caulk Between Tile And Tub

Let the area dry the area for the minimum of what the moldicide recommends which is usually at least 24 hours before applying new caulk.

Grout or caulk between tile and tub.

As a home settles however grout can crack. Caulking tubes are designed to apply pressure to the caulking within them so that you can squeeze out a bead of caulk with ease and precision. If this happens in your home remove the grout and replace it with caulk. Caulk is impermeable meaning it won t let in water.

His explanation makes sense. Caulking is much more water tight and will not allow water to get between the tile planes and leak behind the shower. Or where the edge of a tile meets the wall. Caulk traps moisture that s behind it by not allowing it to evaporate.

And then there s this from a home inspector. Caulk is a sealant typically made of silicone or acrylic material. Then once it gets wet for a while the caulk basically turns to gooo and can be wiped away. Grout fills the joints between tiles.

If the tub tile connection is caulked the water cannot wick out through the bottom grout joint and moisture builds up and is able to feed the mold that eventually develops. Where grout is just good for bonding together tile caulk is good for creating a seal between multiple materials say between glass tiles and a porcelain tub. Hence the puzzlement of why one can t clean caulk that appears to be sound. Caulk will also flex much more than grout and will not crack and break when there is movement in the caulked areas.

Do cut the tube of caulk the right length. Caulk should be used between the tile planes where there is flex and movement between the tile planes. That moisture is coming from behind the tiled wall. Skip to content toll free 1 877 tiledoc 845 3362.

Grout keeps the tiles from. The sole purpose of grout is to fill the spaces between tiles after the tiles have been glued in place on a floor or on a wall. Some contractors grout the space between the tile and tub. I am sure you have all seen that grey discolored staining of the caulk that you would swear is behind the caulk where it cannot be cleaned off.