rebuilding my 11 yr old shower

[v1rtu0s1ty]

Houston, we have a problem. I actually don't know if it's an issue but I'm thinking it is. I did some dry fitting of 1 12x12 tile on the shower tub. I think they call it surround wall?! Anyways, my surround wall connects to the shower and it is about 3 ft plus in height. If I put the 12x12 tile on the side wall on the tub, I have a 1 cm clearance between the tile and the tub. I think, it's a huge space, grout will not look nice.

I need your tips guys! Thanks!

[v1rtu0s1ty]

Here are some update guys. I installed the Rondec trim and caps a while ago. Can I use caulk inside to secure the outside caps? What adhesive do you recommend though?

[v1rtu0s1ty]

Hi everyone,

I remember Kurt mentioned to me on a thread that when I'm ready to grout, I can buy the colored caulk online. However, he didn't mention the link there. I also remember that I only have very few choices in Home Depot. I'm planning to order online tomorrow since I'm almost ready to grout this week. Can you please guys tell me which online store I can buy those colored caulk? Once I get my grout tomorrow at Home Depot, I will be able to figure out which to buy. But right now, I'm thinking of getting light beige.

Hi Kurt! Help please

I have picture update too below. It took me 3 to 4 days in putting up just the tiles for the niche. I learned from this niche installation that I should not pre-cut tiles. I ended up redoing each bullnose. Also, I will be cutting/putting the 3.25"x12" tiles tomorrow. That's for the border.

EDIT: I also forgot to ask how long should I wait before the thinset gets really dry then I can start grouting?

[Davy]

Hi Neil, can't help with the caulk site, someone will come along. You have it looking good though.

[v1rtu0s1ty]

Warms up my heart for those kind words. Thanks

[cx]

Looks good, Neil.

I don't know about the caulk, too.

[v1rtu0s1ty]

follow up guys, how many days do we wait so that for sure, the thinset has really dried up? The colored caulk too

[Davy]

With heat on in the house, 24 hours is normally enough. An additional day won't hurt.

[v1rtu0s1ty]

BAM! Thanks!

[v1rtu0s1ty]

Got the Antique White sanded caulk today at Home Depot. The guy there told me that I can seal this silicon caulk. Hmmmm. I really didn't believe because it was silicon based. Is the guy correct?

[Steven Hauser]

No

[v1rtu0s1ty]

I have installed the 3.25"x12" borders enclosed by schluter trim last night. Now, I'm on the wall that is on the right and adjacent to the wall where the shower head is. The wall is really narrow, just 4.5" thick. The wall has a cavity because I took out the drywall metal before. Some parts of the drywall are painted. On this wall, I'm planning to put 4" tiles too. However, I would like to know if I should put drywall putty first on the cavity or put versabond thinset directly to the cavity and remaining drywall with paint?

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[v1rtu0s1ty]

hi everyone,

I've grouted yesterday and today. I'm having a bit of a problem cleaning the grout residue on top of the black tile. If you look closely at the black tile in the picture below, there are some white grout which was caused by me when I was wiping the grout. Actually, the grout was all over the black tile when I was applying the grout.

1. So is there any homebrew solution that I can prepare to clean it?
2. Am I correct that I should apply Impregnator Pro past 72nd hour after grout application?

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

[v1rtu0s1ty]

Ok guys, found a liquid cleaner today. Was not really my intention to buy a grout cleaner at Ace Hardware but luckily, a customer was talking to an ace hardware guy and I heard he mentioned stonetech. I thought that Stonetech products can only be bought online.

So spoke to the guy and he brought me there. I was really lucky because I also saw Impregnator Pro(new packaging too). I got the quart for $24 only. I also got the restoration cleaner(quart) for $10.

I'll let you know the results!

[cx]

StoneTech products have always been available in various tile stores and similar outlets, Neil, but they frequently wouldn't sell to retail customers. We started making the product available online as a convenience to our visitors who couldn't buy it locally. If it's more convenient for you to get yours locally, by all means do so.

As to the price, ain't no way you're gonna buy IP in quarts for $24 here. Don't know how your hardware store can afford to sell it to you at that price even if he is a Distributor.

Now that the product is owned by Dupont, you may well see more distribution and price competition, but they haven't lowered my prices yet.


And I'd recommend you wait a week after grouting to apply the sealer, especially a solvent-based product like Impregnator Pro.

My opinion; worth price charged.