Grout Or Caulk Between Wall Tile And Tub

As a home settles however grout can crack.

Grout or caulk between wall tile and tub.

Caulk is a sealant typically made of silicone or acrylic material. Grout not caulk where tile meets 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. 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.

Some contractors grout the space between the tile and tub. A carefully run line of caulk known as a. Caulk seals seams between tile and fixtures or walls. Caulk provides a waterproof seal where tile abuts other materials such as bathtubs sinks or walls.

If this happens in your home remove the grout and replace it with caulk. Caulk will also flex much more than grout and will not crack and break when there is movement in the caulked areas. Caulk traps moisture that s behind it by not allowing it to evaporate. And then there s this from a home inspector.

Hence the puzzlement of why one can t clean caulk that appears to be sound. After caulking the tub tile joint with a bathroom silicon and letting it sit for at least 2 days empty tub it all seems to have hardened and looks good. His explanation makes sense. Caulk is impermeable meaning it won t let in water.

That moisture is coming from behind the tiled wall. Caulking is much more water tight and will not allow water to get between the tile planes and leak behind the shower.