Cracked grout

[Elston]

Hello,

The grouting in my bathroom (around the bath) is cracked in a line around 2 walls, one tile up from the bath, and some water is getting through the cracks when the shower is used. I am intending getting the bathroom re-done next year and will probably have it converted to a wet room. As a temporary measure, would it be possible to waterproof the cracks by scraping out and applying a product like Geocel The Works, which apparently seals in wet conditions? This would save a lot of time as if I were to use conventional grout, I wouldn't be able to use the shower for a week or 2 whilst I waited for it to fully dry. I know it wouldn't look great but as I say, this would be a temporary measure only and would hopefully stop water getting through, causing some dampness on the outside wall.

If I could also ask a secondary question; is there a good product that can be applied to grout in a shower area (this is in another bathroom) in order to waterproof it, as I understand that even grouts which are described as waterproof will eventually allow water to soak through.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

E

[wine~o]

Grout should not have been used in the first place, Should have been a silicone sealant, but in answer to your question...

Yes "The works" is a decent product and will provide a seal.

[Elston]

Thanks for speedy reply. I probably didn't explain myself too well. The crack isn't where the tiles join the bath but where the first tile joins the one above. I think I caused the problem by sealing round the bath but not filling the bath first to weigh it down so when the bath is used it has caused the crack. So it is a grout joint between 2 tiles that I want to seal.

[wine~o]

Ah, got you...as said though, the works will seal the gap.

[Elston]

Much appreciated. Thanks

[royaloakcarpentry]

If the walls are done with stud work, it could be that the bath is incorrectly fixed and moving. This in turn is causing too much flex to these two walls, hence the grout cracking.

Rake the grout out and then backfill with Dow Corning 785 sealant if white grout. If coloured grout then ottoseal produce a massive range of coloured sealants.

[Chris Skilbeck]

Hi Elston,
I'm a newly registered member too, having a look round for the first time.
Everything you've been told is right, of course, but I noticed from your original post that this is to be a short-term repair to keep the tiling waterproof for a while until you do a major re-vamp. Geocell is an excellent product, I always carry a couple of tubes in the van, and it's exactly what I'd use in this circumstance - BUT you don't have to accept it looking like a bodge -

"I know it wouldn't look great but . . . "

If you have a tub of Wonder Wipes with you when you do it, (or Big Wipes, or probably several other brands of the same), then you've got maybe 15 minutes in which to wipe away excess Geocell and smooth the join - wrap a couple of layers of the Wipe over your fingertip and keep folding the sticky mess in and using a new bit - to make a neat fill that'll look pretty much like a grout line.
So, if your re-vamp gets delayed, you won't have an unsightly and obvious line.
I hope it all works out ok

[Elston]

Thanks royaloak and Chris for your further advice. I have now ordered some Geocel The Works in white and feel confident this will do the trick for a few months at least......who knows, if it's very successful I may postpone the re-vamp.