Holes in Grout - Will it Leak? How to Repair with Only One Shower?

[MichMark]

Hi everyone,
I came across your site while researching. I am a newbie so I will try to explain things as best I can.

Wife and I moved into our house 3 years ago. Previous owner installed fully tiled square shower (tiles on floor to ceiling). Shower is on second floor. Previous owner had installed shower 6 years before our purchase.

Overall, shower is about 9-10 years old. It looks great, but for the grout.

When we bought the home, I was pretty obsessive compulsive having the inspector check everything out. We had a shower leak in our previous home (faulty shower pan under fiberglass shower liner) which caused a lot of damage.

The only problem the inspector saw was a fine, hairline crack in the grout which ran along one edge of the shower floor (edge opposite shower head). That area of the grout was also slightly moist.

Here are my questions:

1) Inspector said hairline grout crack and residual moisture was probably caused by too much mud in that area, clogged weep holes, and/or not enough slope so that the water did not drain quickly and the grout stayed wet. He said this should not cause any leakage problems. Is that true?

2) Inspector said "changes of plane" should be caulked and not grouted due to house settling, tile settling, etc. Mine are grouted. Am I doomed?

3) Will the hairline crack in the grout cause leaks? (Inspector said that if the shower is correctly waterproofed, I could shower with no grout and no tile and everything would be water-tight. Is that right?

4) Now, grout is cracking out where the tile meets with drain - literally we have little holes the size of a toothpick head. Wife thinks that the area between the tile and the drain was too narrow to get the grout in deep enough and now after 10,000 showers, the grout is just breaking down and washing out. (The rest of the tile work has a fairly large gap btw tiles). Will these holes cause a leak if not repaired?

5) How do I repair these holes? I have tried caulk, but it keeps washing out. We have only one shower. Therefore, I am most likely applying it before the shower is completely dry from the previous shower, and then I am showering again before the caulk is dry. I have researched a little about regrouting (whether in a premixed tube or the old fashioned way) but everything needs a dry shower with 48 hours before using the shower. Ummm, if it takes a could days for the shower to dry and then 48 hours for the new grout to dry, we are going to be pretty smelly. Is there anything better out there that dries faster or can be applied to a potentially damp shower.

I think that is everything. I appreciate the help - I just don't want to walk downstairs one morning and see a wet ceiling? Then again, it is not in the budget right now to get a pro out to regrout.

Thanks,
Mike in Michigan

[Topspin]

Hi Mike, thanks for stopping in.

Couple points - cementitious grout is not waterproof. Never has been. Water vapor and water can go right through it and get behind tiles.

Grout sealer is kind of like GoreTex in that it will shed water droplets and much of the wetness getting through, but like GoreTex it can let vapor through.

Some people here grout their corners, others not. The book says to silicone them, but read the threads by "he who might be named John Bridge" and you see another side to grouting perimeter of floor.

Pin-holes? maybe this install starting to age and maintainance will be needed. There are lots of threads on grout touch ups and replacement. You will find them in the search feature above.

In terms of getting smelly - you picks your options. Fix the shower now or later. Think of it as an adventure. Go camping while you wait. Hotels usually have showers these days. Friends and relatives have showers too. Or camp at home with a rented RV. All of the above have been done by single shower homes.

My recommendation from here? - who knows. But the few days without YOUR shower shouldnt keep you from keeping it up. You're adventurous - after all, your attempting a shower repair as a DIY. Thats an adventure.

[cx]

Originally Posted by Mike/Mark

Thanks,
Mike in Michigan
__________________
Mark in Michigan

Welcome aboard, Mike/Mark. Please to tell us which to call you.

1. Absolutely true. Shower should be completely watertight before the first tile is set.

2. No, you'll simply have cracks in those areas. Purely aesthetic consideration.

3. No, see #1.

4. No.

5. That is one of the very few place the industry calls for grout instead of a flexible sealant between tile and something not tile. You can cut the old grout and install new. Not likely to match what you have.

Or you can ignore it until you are ready to replace the shower. Again, aesthetic consideration, but perhaps also a cleaning hassle, too.

My opinion; worth price charged.

[Davy]

If it helps any, I don't think the new grout needs 48 hours to harden. 18 to 24 hours should be plenty.

[PetrH]

Like CX said, your inspector knows what he's talking about. As for fixing the grout, use grout. If you want to use caulking, use a 100% silicone. Dry the area with a heat gun or a hair drier. Silicone is shower ready in 3 hours, but takes a couple of days to cure fully.

[MichMark]

Hi everyone - Happy Thanksgiving!

You can call me Mike - "Mark" is part of my last name.

I want to thank everyone for taking the time to answer me. I feel much better knowing that my grout holes may be ugly but they will not leak!!!

Like I said -I am a little sensitive about water leaking/water damage. (But who isn't right?)

As for the not showering thing, I will just bite the bullet around Christmas and stay with the mother-in-law a couple days so that the shower adequately dries and I can apply the grout to a nice dry surface. After that, a night or so staying with family should let the grout dry.

Then again, my mother-in-law vs. ugly grout. Hmmm . . . the ugly grout may just have to stay that way!

Thanks again all - have a good holiday season

Mike Marks in Michigan

[cx]

I can fix the signature line, but you'll need to put that geographic location into your User Profile so it remains permanently for reference in answering some kinds of questions.

[MichMark]

Hi everyone,
Well the New Year is arriving, and I am biting the bullet and staying with my mother-in-law a few days to allow my shower to dry and to repair the small holes and cracks in my grout.

I went to my local hardware store (not a big box) and spoke with a former plumber on staff.

His two recommendations were either a GE 100% Silicone Caulk (advertises "premium waterproofing" and mold control). Silicone is shower ready in 3 hours.

His other suggestion is a DAP product called "Kwik Seal Grout Repair." Dry time 72 hours.

What do all of you recommend?

Also, has anyone had any luck/experience with "bath wraps" or bath liners where a new acrilyic shower floor is laid directly on top of the porcelain tile? I received an ad recently from Bath Fitter (a national company) advertising this service for people with nice tiled showers but ugly tiled floors.

Thanks!