Robert Dean
04-18-2006, 12:43 AM
Help! The information I'm finding all over the Internet (and at Lowes & Home Depot) concerning grout sealers and additives is becoming very confusing.
Here's the basic information about my project: I have bought a house that had a bathroom addition that wasn't finished. The previous owner dug a 4x4 by 18" deep hole in the ground and cemented it in. They had it plumbed and the drain is working well and were using it as a shower with (I'm told) intentions to use it as a tub, also. I went ahead and followed the Lowe's pro's instructions on using glazed tiles and a polymer fortified thinset. That's almost done. I hope I used the right stuff. (The walls will be covered with the plastic type 'tub surround' material - just the sunken, cemented area is being tiled.)
Now I'm getting to the grout and I'm wondering what I need to know about "waterproofing" the grout as I'm finding information about needing to add a latex additive to the grout instead of mixing with water ... or using a fortified grout ... or sealing the grout after it's dried. Lowe's already sold me some grout but I'm hesitant to start until I find out exactly what I need to do. There's no worries about a leak - the tub/shower is situated so that there's no problem there. I'm just worried about the grout breaking down if the tub is used and filled with water ... giving the grout plenty of time to soak up the water.
Do I need to use a latex additive in the grout instead of water? Does the sealer used afterwards take care of that problem? Do the glazed tiles need to be sealed? How do I keep rats out of my car engine? (Yeah .. I know ... wrong forum at the wrong site but I live in the desert and those critters are chewing up the wiring in my engine so thought I'd slip that one in there!)
Here's the basic information about my project: I have bought a house that had a bathroom addition that wasn't finished. The previous owner dug a 4x4 by 18" deep hole in the ground and cemented it in. They had it plumbed and the drain is working well and were using it as a shower with (I'm told) intentions to use it as a tub, also. I went ahead and followed the Lowe's pro's instructions on using glazed tiles and a polymer fortified thinset. That's almost done. I hope I used the right stuff. (The walls will be covered with the plastic type 'tub surround' material - just the sunken, cemented area is being tiled.)
Now I'm getting to the grout and I'm wondering what I need to know about "waterproofing" the grout as I'm finding information about needing to add a latex additive to the grout instead of mixing with water ... or using a fortified grout ... or sealing the grout after it's dried. Lowe's already sold me some grout but I'm hesitant to start until I find out exactly what I need to do. There's no worries about a leak - the tub/shower is situated so that there's no problem there. I'm just worried about the grout breaking down if the tub is used and filled with water ... giving the grout plenty of time to soak up the water.
Do I need to use a latex additive in the grout instead of water? Does the sealer used afterwards take care of that problem? Do the glazed tiles need to be sealed? How do I keep rats out of my car engine? (Yeah .. I know ... wrong forum at the wrong site but I live in the desert and those critters are chewing up the wiring in my engine so thought I'd slip that one in there!)