Grout Or Caulk Between Wall Tile And Tub

Caulk traps moisture that s behind it by not allowing it to evaporate.

Grout or caulk between wall tile and tub.

Caulk provides a waterproof seal where tile abuts other materials such as bathtubs sinks or walls. Caulking is much more water tight and will not allow water to get between the tile planes and leak behind the shower. And then there s this from a home inspector. Caulk should be used between the tile planes where there is flex and movement between the tile planes.

Hence the puzzlement of why one can t clean caulk that appears to be sound. A carefully run line of caulk known as a. Caulk will also flex much more than grout and will not crack and break when there is movement in the caulked areas. As a home settles however grout can crack.

Or where the edge of a tile meets the wall. Caulk seals seams between tile and fixtures or walls. After caulking the tub tile joint with a bathroom silicon and letting it sit for at least 2 days empty tub it all seems to have hardened and looks good. That moisture is coming from behind the tiled wall.

Then once it gets wet for a while the caulk basically turns to gooo and can be wiped away. Let the area dry the area for the minimum of what the moldicide recommends which is usually at least 24 hours before applying new caulk. Caulk is impermeable meaning it won t let in water. Some contractors grout the space between the tile and tub.

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. If this happens in your home remove the grout and replace it with caulk.