Grout Or Caulk Between Tile And Tub

Learn the difference between grout and caulk and see why tile doctor s epoxy grout is the best option for grouting projects.

Grout or caulk between tile and tub.

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. Caulk traps moisture that s behind it by not allowing it to evaporate. Then once it gets wet for a while the caulk basically turns to gooo and can be wiped away. Caulk will also flex much more than grout and will not crack and break when there is movement in the caulked areas.

That moisture is coming from behind the tiled wall. Grout not caulk where tile meets tub. Skip to content toll free 1 877 tiledoc 845 3362. And then there s this from a home inspector.

Do cut the tube of caulk the right length. Caulk is impermeable meaning it won t let in water. Caulking is much more water tight and will not allow water to get between the tile planes and leak behind the shower. Grout keeps the tiles from.

Or where the edge of a tile meets the wall. Hence the puzzlement of why one can t clean caulk that appears to be sound. As a home settles however grout can crack. Some contractors grout the space between the tile and tub.

Grout fills the joints between tiles. 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. Caulk should be used between the tile planes where there is flex and movement between the tile planes. 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.

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. 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. 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. 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.