To silicon or not to silicone, that is the question

[mitchino]

I have just finished tiling a three wall matki shower enclosure with glass mosaics. There are two vertical corners, and three horizontal corners. The horizontal corners of the shower tray have a lip and the tiles overlap this to provide a seal.

Do I have to put silicone along all these edges? I'd rather not, but if it means it's more likely to leak then I will. It's been grouted with Mapei flexible anti-mold grout.

[Stewart]

I would silicone all the internal corners of a shower without question. This will make it water tight and look much better IMO if done properly and neatly.....


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[nybor62]

deffo seal , theses joints are also expansion joints

[peteablard]

I'd definately silicone

[Bri]

As above, silicone is a must. Get one that matches your grout colour.


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[Polishtradesman]

Did you do surface waterproofing before you fix mosaics?

[mitchino]

Did not do surface waterproofing, mosaics are laid onto bare aquapanel.

Before I renovated the shower, it had white silicone in the corners. It looked a bit rough, as the mosaics and grout mean it doesn't have a nice straight edge. I will silicone it according to everyone's advice, but would prefer to do it in clear silicone. Any reason why not?

Thanks BTW for all the help so far - fantastic forum.

[kendo1]

It depends what looks right, and your taste.
Normally white or grout colour looks correct.
Alternatively, I have used grout made up with latex for vertical joins, but you have to work fast.
And get a decent silicon_ no cheap stuff! You'd regret it in the long run.

[Polishtradesman]

use grey one. Gray is neutral colour and it less visible

[Thespanishtiler]

joint should be 'open' ie no grout in it, silicone then is gunned into the joint to seal and allow for movement.

do not grout then silicone over the top.

[Alan.P]

do not grout then silicone over the top.

Exactly the way I read it, all internals are movement / expansion joints, if you have grouted now and then silicone over it, what is going to happen, the grout will still crack, the silicone seal may / will fail and then you have trouble.

[mitchino]

Oh well that's that ballsed up then!

Will have to silicone over top. The problems I had with the shower in the past were due to the fact that the plasterboard behind the tiles got wet and fell apart. I was hoping the aquapanel would prevent this happening even if the grout failed and it got wet.

[Daz]

With mosaics, I would use clear silicone in the vertical corners (carefully scrape out the grout with a grout rake first) and white silicone for the tiles to shower tray (again rake out grout between tiles and shower tray first).

A quick silicone tip:
Use a very greasy washing up / water mix to smooth off a fine bead of silicone and your silicone will look tidy and shiney.

Good luck,

Daz

[paul damian]

Top tip daz..

[Alan.P]

Oh well that's that ballsed up then!

Will have to silicone over top. The problems I had with the shower in the past were due to the fact that the plasterboard behind the tiles got wet and fell apart. I was hoping the aquapanel would prevent this happening even if the grout failed and it got wet.

And there's another thing, many people think Aqua panel, Hardi Backer are 'waterproof' they are not and do not claim to be, they will allow water to pass through them without breaking down like plasterboard.