Tilers who grout down to kitchen worktop

[Bathfix Bob]

I see loads of new kitchens where the tiler has just grouted down to the worktop and not used silicone, of course leading to it all cracking out.

Even where the tiling is spot on and the kitchen is high end I still see it.

Am I missing something here? why do so many not use silicone?

[TF Ed]

laziness, ignorance, who knows?

[kilty55]

hmm i have noticed this,,this may be the reason.....i do work for 2 bathroom cos in edinburgh and both only pay me for tiling,silicone work is done by the last man,you might find they are overseeing this part of the installation......i had to tell one to silicone internals

[Stewart]

Because they cant lay a beed of silicone without making a mess. Or more likely, they're just scamping so n so's!

[doug boardley]

probably bcause they don't fancy going back the next day to silicon when all the surfaces are dry, Bob.

[whitebeam]

Looks naff with grout

[SandyFloor]

Doug has it spot on.

[Bathfix Bob]

You can't beat a nice crisp bead of Dow Corning silicone, far more durable than grout. I'm particulary proud of my silicone work, I use Fugenboys a lot but the trick is to lay down just enough silicone, too much and it will spread everywhere.

The reason for this thread is I was at a customers today and she was showing me her new kitchen done by a well known kitchen company (am I allowed to name names?) and she said she was a little disapointed as they rushed the install and a lot of finishing touches were missed, she pointed out the crack all along the back of the shiny black worktops and asked me why that was.

I'm going back on Tuesday to silicone it.

[faithhealer]

Never seen a grouted gap on a worktop, will keep my eyes peeled

[Stewart]

Good for you Bob.

[david campbell]

laziness and penny-pinching!

[pjc]

new build or a lot of commercial work wont pay for it to be done by the tiler or have specialist guys in to do it or meant to but never get round to it or think they can get away with not doing it but if any one wants to do it for nothing i will put your name forward will only take you a couple of days and cost you about 24 tubes of silicone on most of the jobs i go onto LOL

[Sean fsy]

long time since i tiled a kitchen but some customers actually say they dont want it done. some women clean and clean all day and can actually damage the sealant, plus nothing worse than seeing the dreaded black stuff behind the sink. i suppose kitchen tiles come in a lot more variance in sizes etc, often you can tile a kitchen with tiles that use a 2mm spacer but when grouted the lines can vary upto say 6/8mm depending on tile. so imagine in some cases trying to fill a 6/8mm gap with sealant on the worktop. always hard to get a colour that goes well with tile colour and worktop colour. I think in most cases transluscent would be a choice used. Like i say kitchen tiles can vary that much in sizes and this is where the problems start. i personally silicon but do get customers that prefer not to. So just obey the last command and state that if silicon is preferred later on it will be extra.

[pjc]

joking aside if you dont silcone the work tops can cause a lot of damage if the water gets in the chipboard

[doug boardley]

long time since i tiled a kitchen but some customers actually say they dont want it done. some women clean and clean all day and can actually damage the sealant, plus nothing worse than seeing the dreaded black stuff behind the sink. i suppose kitchen tiles come in a lot more variance in sizes etc, often you can tile a kitchen with tiles that use a 2mm spacer but when grouted the lines can vary upto say 6/8mm depending on tile. so imagine in some cases trying to fill a 6/8mm gap with sealant on the worktop. always hard to get a colour that goes well with tile colour and worktop colour. I think in most cases transluscent would be a choice used. Like i say kitchen tiles can vary that much in sizes and this is where the problems start. i personally silicon but do get customers that prefer not to. So just obey the last command and state that if silicon is preferred later on it will be extra.

I use the same colour as the grout Sean

[martifee]

probably bcause they don't fancy going back the next day to silicon when all the surfaces are dry, Bob.

Your right Bob.
Martin

[Pebbs]

All the reasons stated above, my lads are fantastic at what they do but turn into jibbering wrecks when it comes to siliconing, so much so its easier for me at the end of a contract to bring my mastic man in, thats all he does and gets the job done right first time everytime. With the rates he charges he will be a mastic millionare before long!

Pebbs

[faithhealer]

Went to confirm a job tonight and the customer asked, 'do you grout or silicon worktop, wife says grout, I say silicon'. Of course I reply silicon, so he phones his wife and tells her, now she wants a third opinion because shes wrong lol

[tfs]

the old case of 'last man frees all' lol

[timeless john]

I'll silicone a worktop before I tile to stop the water ingress but rarely after tiling.
I hear all your points about wet walls/having to return for another day/cost/laziness etc and they are all relevant reasons - but I'd rather wait until full settlement of the kitchen has taken place and put the narrowest bead of silicone possible to do the job required - then charge for the priviledge.

[Colour Republic]

Marble tiles are suitable for kitchen because it need tiles and wall that can take to much temperature when you do cooking in kitchen. Your kitchen must also have exhaust fan.

Jardiniere net curtains

Thank you Mr Net Curtains!

[gizzy2007]

got to silicone worktops,baths,shower areas its a must to produce a good professional job for the client