One area of grouting keeps cracking

bishylewis · Post by **bishylewis** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 10:43 am

Hi guys, in my bathroom (which may I add I didn't tile

there is a space between two rows of tiles tiles which is around 6/7mm. Some water was leaking behind the bath, so I've regrouted a couple of regions, but this specific area is proving problematic - I dug the old grout out and regrouted twice now (in layers as well letting the first one set), but everytime I do and it sets, a hairline crack appears in the grouting. All other areas I've regrouted are fine - it's just this area with the enlarged space. Any ideas?

Thanks!

handyman · Post by **handyman** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:11 am

The walls are not stable, and the grout cant cope with this. You could try flexi wide joint grout, this might help, but its a long shot, but worth a go first.

Solution is difficult to do without removing tiles, fixing walls, then retiling.

A 'temporary permanent' solution could be to remove the grout and replace with silicon.........

bishylewis · Post by **bishylewis** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 11:48 am

Interestingly, I noticed the cracks only appear when the abth is full and I'm in it! So its the weight of me and the water that is applying pressure to the tiles.

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:35 pm

You should fill the bath before you silicon the edges.

bishylewis · Post by **bishylewis** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:39 pm

So I should rip the current silicon out, fill the bath, new silicon then new grout?

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:27 pm

You can grout first, but leave a gap for the silicon, unless the tiles go down the back of the bath.

tictic · Post by **tictic** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:18 pm

have u tried using feb-seal..or put a pvc upstand around the bath.
it is the bottom course of tiles u are talkin about ??