Sealing corner of shower area

jg · Post by jg » Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:56 pm

I've recently tiled my bathroom.
Learned a lot about what I should and shouldn't do :)
One thing I did wrong is to start in a corner with full tiles on both walls. My tiles are a mosaic effect on a big tile. In the corner I attempted to keep the line of the mosaic which meant I got a gap in the corner which gets slightly wider as it goes up.

I've yet to grout the tiles, I'm wondering what the best way to handle this is.
A: Fill the gap with grout (Using unibond waterproof antimould shower and bath)
B: As above, but then silicone over the top.
C: Silicone the gap before grouting.
D: None of the above

Thanks
J

handyman · Post by **handyman** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 2:42 pm

is the grout pre mixed.......if so, dont use it. Get powdered BAL grout out of Topp Tiles, as its much better.

Grout all the tiles and dont get any in the corner gap. Let grout dry overnight.

Then silicon the corner gap. With your colour of tiles I would use a coloured silicon (mabye cream coloured).

royaloakcarpentry · Post by **royaloakcarpentry** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 2:52 pm

As above.......only difference being that with the joint so wide to get a good looking finish, it may be worth paying a mastic man to come in and do it for you.

Mine charges about £40 cash to do a bathroom. Corners, floor, fittings and ceiling. Worth the money for the finish.

jg · Post by jg » Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:50 pm

Yes, it is readymixed grout/adhesive. Never had the confidence to try mixing my own. I guess you just follow the instructions.

Is Topps the best place to get this stuff?

Just mix in a bucket with one of those drill paddle things. Then wash up before it goes dry?

Thanks
J

royaloakcarpentry · Post by **royaloakcarpentry** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 4:02 pm

Topps are ok, they stock Bal grout, although dear. Screwfix stock Mapei grout and you will also get a sealant to match grout colour.

I prefer using Bal grout to Mapei though lol

Only-Me · Post by **Only-Me** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:50 pm

You don't need to mix wall grout with a mixing paddle.

Just do it by hand in a container, and mix with a scraper. the consistancy of a Mr Whippy

Use bal microflex. slightly flexi and contains microban, with inhibits mould

DON'T GROUT CORNER.

Leave overnight

Then silicon corner.

jg · Post by jg » Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:01 pm

OK, sounds good.
BAL seems to be the top recomendation. Hope the price is justified. Quite a lot more than the mapei stuff at screwfix. £37 vs £20 for 10KG

Hopefully get a chance to do it this weekend.

Thanks
J

jg · Post by jg » Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:17 am

Thanks for the advice guys, good tip on the BAL grout. Lovely stuff.

Here's a quick pic of the grouted tiles. Maybe not pro standards, but I'm happy with it. (Well appart from the grouting around that socket, should have brought it forward and tiled behind the face plate, but as it's above the basin, i'll get a nice mirror or cupboard to hide it)

Still got to do the sealant, but I need to fit the bath first :)

DIY_Johnny · Post by **DIY_Johnny** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:27 am

Well done Ig, looks good,

I am the same, learn a lot by going. I think a good tip is to write down your experiences after doing the job to prevent and mistakes next time round.

chris_h · Post by **chris_h** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 11:24 am

Don`t think I`ll ever forget the mistakes I made....neither will other half ever let me forget !!

jg · Post by jg » Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:29 pm

Yep, may well do a little writeup, and while I think about it i'll probably post it here so others can read before they start.

The last wall I did is by far the best. I half felt like ripping the others off and doing htem again. But only half :)

As for SWMBO, she's the one that actually grouted around the socket, so I won't say anything about that and just buy a lovely mirror :)

Convenient power point for an LED mirror, if only they weren't so expensive.