How to fill gaps in shower tiles? - Tile Advice

[MyBathroom'sGotHoles]

I have recently fitted a new riser rail in the shower, and this has left me with a couple of gaps in the tiles where the brackets for the old riser rail were, and I’d be very grateful if you could tell me what I need to do to fill them. Is grouting sufficient? Will I need to tank the plasterboard behind them, or would grout be enough on its own (and is epoxy grout a better choice than ordinary bathroom tiling grout)? How would you go about it? The gaps are 2.5” x 1”.


These gaps aren’t in a place where they are hit directly by water, but they might get the occasional splash, and they will get plenty of steam on them from hot showers.


I don’t need them to look pretty (I don’t want to retile the wall for the sake of a couple of little gaps in a space where they won’t be noticed), but I do want the wall to be watertight, and I’d rather spend a bit more time and money doing the job properly now, rather than have the ceiling of the room below cave in in a few years’ time!


I also replaced the soap dish, which has left a couple of screw holes in the grouting where the old soap dish was. Will a dab of grouting be enough to take care of these, or do I need to do something else to seal them up properly? Again, they are not directly hit by water, but I don’t want to take any chances with them.


For the time being, I have left the old riser rail brackets and the soap dish screws in the wall, to protect the wall behind.


Could you please tell me what you would recommend? Many thanks!

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Leave the brackets on and use them for your soap on a rope!

 

[MyBathroom'sGotHoles]

That's one option, I suppose!

 

[MyBathroom'sGotHoles]

Any other suggestions? Will tanking + grouting do the job, or would grouting on its own be enough? And what do you think is the best way of dealing with the screw holes?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Seriously - repair the tiles even with plain white!

 

[WetSaw]

Seriously - repair the tiles even with plain white!

Wouldn't they clash with the stunning period tiles though?

I'd have thought that if you haven't had any leaks in the last 40 years just leave the brackets in place until you either move out or refile.

 

[Waluigi]

Mapei Kerapoxy Jasmine.

 

[Spare Tool]

If your not bothered what it looks like buy a similar or white single tile cut it down and stick it in the gap and seal round with silicone, silicone in the holes too..

 

[MyBathroom'sGotHoles]

Seriously - repair the tiles even with plain white!

If your not bothered what it looks like buy a similar or white single tile cut it down and stick it in the gap and seal round with silicone, silicone in the holes too..

After reading Timeless John's reply above, that's basically what I've done. I've found a cream tile which is a close match and have ordered a Dremel tile-cutting disc. I'll tank the plasterboard and cut a couple of bits to fill the gaps.

Thanks for the advice about the screw holes too!

Many thanks for your help, everyone!

 

[WetSaw]

Tanking? Really? I bet my left testicle that the rest of it isn't tanked. What do you think you're going to gain by tanking a 2" square?

 

[MyBathroom'sGotHoles]

Just thought I'd do it thoroughly while I'm there. But I take your point, the tiles have been in place for a long time and it's unlikely the rest is tanked.

 

[Boggs]

I would definatly tank it, belt and braces and all that.

 

[MyBathroom'sGotHoles]

Tanking is excessive, seems to be the verdict! Well, thank you, I'm learning - that's what I'm here for!