Tile Shower Floor Grout Or Caulk

Caulk is impermeable meaning it won t let in water.

Tile shower floor grout or caulk.

Tom meehan a second generation tile installer and co author of working with tile who lives and works in harwich mass responds. A properly installed tile shower should always have a 6 inch lip liner going up around base of the shower walls. Or where the edge of a tile meets the wall. Caulk is a sealant typically made of silicone or acrylic material.

Doing so protects against moisture related issues and common expansion cracking associated with these areas. In addition to caulking shower fixtures experienced tile setters caulk in all changes in planes in showers including corners surface edges and wall to floor intersections. Grout is not flexible so it s not the best material for the job while caulk allows for movement and also provides a better sealant. This is largely because of the way grout binds with backer board the concrete material placed behind tiles.

An area of controversy has always been whether to caulk or grout around the base of a tile shower floor. If mold gets into that space it can cause damage to your subfloor. Where grout is just good for bonding together tile caulk is good for creating a seal between multiple materials say between glass tiles and a porcelain tub. On one hand there is little chance for movement around the base of a properly installed tile shower floor.

Though grout is more porous than caulk it s best for tiled shower walls and floors.