Ceramic tiles in a shower - TilersForums.com

[Flintstone]

What's your thoughts on it ? Just been talking with a customer about there up coming bathroom and ensuite re fits and I advised them against using ceramics, rightly or wrongly.

 

[Dumbo]

What's your thoughts on it ? Just been talking with a customer about there up coming bathroom and ensuite re fits and I advised them against using ceramics, rightly or wrongly.

Why I've done loads of ceramic installations with out any problems .

 

[Qwerty]

Wrongly. Ceramics are fine..... Just avoid the dreaded BCT!

 

[Flintstone]

Even tho they soak water up like a sponge ? I would just rather not fit them, although I have done loads of times

 

[Blunt Tool]

Nothing wrong with ceramics in a domestic shower if done right. Seen some whilst ripping out an absolute pain and dry as a bone!

 

[Qwerty]

If fixed, grouted & siliconed correctly then there will be no issue's.

 

[andy8758]

Correct me if I am wrong. Most ceramics have a glazed surface - that is waterproof. Yes, water soaks back through grout if not epoxy, but I think Deano tested and found you had to soak grout for seven hours before water permeated through to sub strata. And of course, water soaking through grout can also cause biscuit back of tile to soak up water.

Porcelain is not waterproof. Virtually all porcelain sold these days is sealed by the factory manufacturing them, but some of the more upmarket tile retailers suggest resealing porcelain periodically.

Discuss? (My info is second hand).

 

[hmtiling]

Correct me if I am wrong. Most ceramics have a glazed surface - that is waterproof. Yes, water soaks back through grout if not epoxy, but I think Deano tested and found you had to soak grout for seven hours before water permeated through to sub strata. And of course, water soaking through grout can also cause biscuit back of tile to soak up water.

Porcelain is not waterproof. Virtually all porcelain sold these days is sealed by the factory manufacturing them, but some of the more upmarket tile retailers suggest resealing porcelain periodically.

Discuss? (My info is second hand).

I thought porcelain and epoxy had a very similar absorption rate of less than 0.5%. which i suppose means neither are waterproof? These amounts are definitely negligible though

 

[andy8758]

I thought porcelain and epoxy had a very similar absorption rate of less than 0.5%. which i suppose means neither are waterproof? These amounts are definitely negligible though

I haven't a clue about that. But I am interested in finding out.

 

[hmtiling]

It's my understanding that for tiling purposes both porc and epoxy are waterproof as the rate at which they absorb water is so small