Tile Shower Floor Grout Or Caulk

If mold gets into that space it can cause damage to your subfloor.

Tile shower floor grout or caulk.

Though grout is more porous than caulk it s best for tiled shower walls and floors. On one hand there is little chance for movement around the base of a properly installed tile shower floor. Caulk is impermeable meaning it won t let in water. My tile installer recently told me that he wanted to use caulk in the corners of a tiled shower instead of grout is that necessary.

Or where the edge of a tile meets the wall. Caulk is a sealant typically made of silicone or acrylic material. An area of controversy has always been whether to caulk or grout around the base of a tile shower floor. 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.

Doing so protects against moisture related issues and common expansion cracking associated with these areas. This is largely because of the way grout binds with backer board the concrete material placed behind tiles. 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. 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.

A properly installed tile shower should always have a 6 inch lip liner going up around base of the shower walls.