grout or silicon in the corners?

[brendanbreeze]

On what occassions should grout be used in the corners (where 2 walls meet, from floor to ceiling) in stead of silicon?

Cheers - Brendan

[david campbell]

never!
it's bad practice and over time it will crack and need replaced also allowing awater to penetrate behind the tiling work causing more serious problems,use an anti bacterial/anti mould silicone always

[brendanbreeze]

Thanks for that David. And how about round the floor edges?

[TF Ed]

as david cambell above...and yes around the floor edges for expansion reasons.

[user123]

Just remember as a rule: inside corner = silicone

[brendanbreeze]

Ok, And if the floors and walls are both tiled but different colours..say black floor white walls. Sholud I match the silicone to the floor or walls? sorry if these sound like daft questions, just trying to get it straight in my head.

[Wingn]

On plastered/rigid walls I always grout the edges. Looks so much neater having tight cuts and a clean uniform grout line down the corners than a dirty bead of silicone. 10x the finish imo.

[user123]

There is no such thing as a daft question.. At the floor, as a rule, stick as closely as possible to the floor grout colour, much less obvious, and easier on the eye so to speak.

[user123]

On plastered/rigid walls I always grout the edges. Looks so much neater having tight cuts and a clean uniform grout line down the corners than a dirty bead of silicone. 10x the finish imo.

But,Wingn, there is no such thing as a rigid wall, houses move all the time. A clean sharp silicone line really finishes things off nicely.

[Wingn]

Suppose it's personal preference really - I often think silicone can ruin the neat look of corners. Would use it in flexible situations but don't see the problem with grouting the corners of the majority of plastered substrates. My own bathroom has had all corners grouted for 15 years and all are still 100%.

[Dontiler]

I use silicone too, there is special silicone tool for nice silicone finish, if you do it right and neat i think looks also great

[thevinnyofoz]

I asked this very same question to atime served tiler today and he said it's up to the tiler to make a decision as it doesn't matter ! I think it does as everyone leaves a gap around the floor to allow for expansion and fill with silicone why on earth would this very science not be applied to the walls ? after all as a tiler you are responsible for preparing the substrate and maximising the life of the new install.

[brendanbreeze]

Well I think I'll start getting in the habit of using silicone on the floor and the walls.

cheers.

[TF Ed]

your right vinny

and your also right about it/expansion being a science rather than an opinion so that means its been proven. i can see where he's coming from about it looking more aesthetically pleasing on the eye but expansion needs remedies or theres every chance the tile installation will fail and so will you reputation mate.

just because someone tells you they are time served, dont believe all you hear?. they may have spent 4 years doing the same kind of tiling day in day out whereas on here the information is vast and backed up by some very creditable tilers and technical depts. if your getting 8/10 on here singing from the same sheet, then you know you are on the right lines...

[Wingn]

Understand the science and the reason, but I suppose it comes down to real world scenarios as well. Never known a job to fail from grout being used in corners rather than silicone, but I suppose this game's all about covering your back.

[doug boardley]

I've only started siliconing corners in maybe the last ten years, i always used to grout them and never heard of any problems. Maybe 'cos I've always taped the joints has minimized the movement?

[richie b]

iv never heard of a job fail because of grout being used either

[Dave]

Suppose it's personal preference really - I often think silicone can ruin the neat look of corners. Would use it in flexible situations but don't see the problem with grouting the corners of the majority of plastered substrates. My own bathroom has had all corners grouted for 15 years and all are still 100%.

It is a perimeter movement joint.... so why grout..?

The excuse i have always done it does not mean it is right..


If you prefer that method then that is all well for you but please don't tell TF members to solid fill a movement joint.

It might not crack but it could still put stress on the centre of the wall and cause tiles to debond.

All walls be them stoothing or block..will and do expand and contract..and so does any surface attached to them.. the 2 move independently and thus need a perimeter joint.

Hope that explains a bit better.

[beno7777]

can i just ad . what ever u decide, when you do use silicone, a good tip is to use a squirty bottle with soapy water in. spray on the silicone b4 smoothing with the finger, this leaves a good smooth finish and makes it easier. i no there are tools to help and in the past i just licked my finger. but with little practice i found this a great tip

[ricmrc]

never. if the walls or floor move with expansion then the grout cracks, and the joint is no longer water tight, hence the use of silicone. colour wise, match to the colour of the floor grout and you cant go far wrong.
hope this helps

[paulyoung666]

how good a match is the silicone you can buy that is matched to the grout colour ??

[doug boardley]

how good a match is the silicone you can buy that is matched to the grout colour ??

mapei do some excellent colour matches

[Wingn]

Might start siliconing edges a bit more in future then. Must be a local thing too, not often you'd see a bathroom in NI with siliconed edges bar possibly the shower corner.

Got a Fugi kit last week so may as well get my moneys worth out of it.

[paulyoung666]

mapei do some excellent colour matches

i get the bit about not grouting corners now , so , in the corners i leave a small gap the silicone can get into and then have an external bead of silicone ?? , am i on the right track ??

[Dave]

i get the bit about not grouting corners now , so , in the corners i leave a small gap the silicone can get into and then have an external bead of silicone ?? , am i on the right track ??

Yepp.....

[paulyoung666]

thanks Dave

[huckin]

i grout solid courners to be honest think it looks alot nicer and have never had a problem also silcone looks awful after a few months

[faithhealer]

i grout solid courners to be honest think it looks alot nicer and have never had a problem also silcone looks awful after a few months

How many bathrooms have you re - visited? I've seen loads of bathrooms now with cracks in the corners.
On my very first paying job it was white tiles and grout, bevelled tiles so the corner wasn't straight but I siliconed the corner as taught. The Customers mother came in and said she didn't like it but I explained my reason for doing so. The actual customer loved it and have worked for her several times now.
Has to be silicon, huckin!

[diamondtiling]

There seem to be a few guys out there that want to grout a corner because they think it looks good and that silicone looks awful after six months? Silicone properly applied to a expansion joint will last for years and years. If it looks bad after a few months then the chances are it looked bad from the outset. Using a quality product and not the cheapest you can buy will give the desired finish. Applying silicone over grout in a corner is bad practice and bad standards, new guys and the tiling DIY'er could be forgiven but for a professional tiler to do this is not good enough.
I suspect that silicone is left off because some tilers cannot use it properly, the only way around that problem is to practice until you can apply it. Its only easy after experience.

[faithhealer]

There seem to be a few guys out there that want to grout a corner because they think it looks good and that silicone looks awful after six months? Silicone properly applied to a expansion joint will last for years and years. If it looks bad after a few months then the chances are it looked bad from the outset. Using a quality product and not the cheapest you can buy will give the desired finish. Applying silicone over grout in a corner is bad practice and bad standards, new guys and the tiling DIY'er could be forgiven but for a professional tiler to do this is not good enough.
I suspect that silicone is left off because some tilers cannot use it properly, the only way around that problem is to practice until you can apply it. Its only easy after experience.

Agree dom, good silicon should last and if they have a problem applying try using cornertape.