Pre-Grout!!!!!
– spread the silicon caulk over tile sets first
– let dry 24 hours
– assemble caulk the seams –
https://flextile.com/products/ – Call us today to order: (352) 746-6115
https://fiberglassswimmingpooltiling.com/products/ – seems to be the only place you can get it – and they are all same guy.
Epoxy Float – regular will stick to silicone.
https://www.aquaguard5000.com/r-r-white-tile-adhesive/ – it looks like he uses – R&R White Tile Adhesive (which is hard to find?)
Uncoupling Membrane – by sq foot
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QSDVRNB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
– buy by the sq foot.
https://www.hunker.com/13402669/how-to-fix-messy-caulking
Caulk is a pliable material that goes on in a paste form, then dries to a hard rubber to seal out moisture and air. It's useful in many places but is particularly effective in bathrooms and kitchens. If the caulk is applied poorly, with wavy beads and gloppy surfaces, it may work as a sealant but could create an eyesore until addresses. Luckily, replacing bad caulk is one of the easier projects you can undertake. Getting that straight bead, however, can take a little practice, so try it out on some scrap wood before you start.
Step 1
Cut out the old caulk by running your razor knife along the top and bottom of the caulk bead, separating the bead from the surrounding surfaces. Scrape your putty knife forward to remove the cut bead. Try to get it out in one piece, as that is easier than having to scrape it out in pieces.
Step 2
Put water and a few drops of bleach on a sponge and run it along the exposed seam. Let it dry completely.
Step 3
Put a tube of caulk in the caulk gun. Use the razor knife to cut off the tip of the tube at a 45-degree angle in order to make a hole about 1/4-inch wide. Push a long nail into the tip of the tube to break the seal inside. Squeeze the trigger of the gun to start the caulk flow. Press the release latch at the back of the gun to stop the caulk.
Step 4
Set the tip of the caulk tube at one end of the joint. Tilt the gun to about 45 degrees and squeeze the trigger.
Step 5
Drag the gun backward along the joinst as the caulk emerges, leaving a smooth, even bead of caulk. Go all the way to the end of the line, so the bead is consistent and unbroken. Hit the release latch to stop the caulk from flowing at the end.
Step 6
Wet your thumb and press it lightly along the length of the caulk line, slightly flattening it and making it smooth and straight. Repeat for each joint. Let it set for 24 hours.
Grout vs Caulk_ Which to Use When in Your Tiling Project – Bob Vila
Applying Silicone Between Tiles: A Guide
So, are you looking for ways on how to caulk between tiles using silicone? Well, the process may look like a hassle. But all you need is a bit of patience. Here are the steps to follow to apply the silicone sealant-
- Clean the gaps between the tiles where you’ll apply silicone. You can use warm, soap water to clean it. Then, leave it to dry.
- Read the instruction manual of the silicone caulk properly. After all, you need to make sure things don’t get too messy.
- After that, make a hole in the nozzle of the silicone tube. Then, load it into the gun.
- Take a masking tape and tape 3 mm above and below the tile gaps.
- Start applying the silicone sealant!
- Make sure you give constant pressure while applying it. Don’t rush. Continue applying it slowly without stopping till the end.
- After you’re done, tear off the masking tapes you placed earlier. The excess silicone on them will also come apart. And you’ll get smooth filling between tiles! Remember, pull away from the masking tape as soon as you’re done applying the silicone. If your sealant dries, it’ll be very difficult to remove the tapes.
- Wait for 24 hours and you’re done!
You’ve finally sealed your tile gap with silicone. Now give yourself a pat on the back. You deserve it, buddy!
FAQs
Question: Can silicone hold the tile?
Answer: Yes, silicon caulk is sometimes used as an adhesive. They are a great replacement for traditional adhesives used to stick tiles.
Question: Can silicone be used instead of thin-set mortar?
Answer: Yes, silicone can be used instead of thin-set. They are less messy and easier to use. So, for a fixed area, silicone caulk is ideal to work with than thin-set mortar.
Question: What is the difference between a silicone adhesive and a silicone sealant?
Answer: A silicon adhesive is a viscoelastic material like other adhesives. Since they rely on pressure sensitivity, they don’t need to be cured. On the other hand, silicone sealants need time to be dried after it is applied.
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/mold-mildew-off-caulk-30987.html
How to Use Silicone for Grouting Ceramic Tile
Once you have finished laying your ceramic tile in the desired pattern, the tile joints where the sides of the tiles meet are filled with grout such as a silicone or epoxy. Grout, or caulk, is hard and inflexible, and not completely waterproof.
Silicone grout is flexible and can withstand the natural expansion and contraction of the ceramic tiles that occurs as the bathroom is in use. A sealant is applied once the silicone grout has cured to protect the joints and the ceramic tile.
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Place a generous amount of silicone grout on the ceramic tile surface.
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Run a rubber float across the tiles to push the silicone grout down into the ceramic tile joints or the spaces between the tiles.
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Run a squeegee over tiles with narrow joints to push the silicone grout into the narrow spaces between the tiles.
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Wipe off the excess silicone grout with a squeegee.
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Remove any remaining silicone grout residue from the surface of the ceramic tiles with a wet sponge.
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Run a striking tool – a rounded end stick used to shape the grout joints – over the grout joints between the tiles to sculpt them into a shallow, concave joint.
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Run a bead of silicone tub and tile caulk along the joint where floor tile meets the walls, sink, shower or bathtub. Silicone grout is less forgiving than caulk because precision is key to making it look nice. Wait two weeks for the grout and caulking to cure. Silicone caulk becomes dry enough to touch within 30 minutes or so, but it takes much longer for it to become completely dry.
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Apply an even layer of clear sealant over the tile and the grout joints with a foam rubber paint roller.
- Rubber float
- Squeegee
- Sponge
- Striking tool
- Silicone tub and tile caulk
- Silicone tile grout sealer
- Foam rubber paint roller
Things You Will Need
Warning
Do not used colored silicone grout on unglazed or unsealed ceramic tiles, as it will stain them.
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/grout-vs-caulk/
Novice DIYers eager to get started repairing, replacing, or installing new tile may wonder about the differences between grout and caulk. Both products, basic to tile most projects, have adhesive properties. Compare the two any further—grout vs. caulk—and you’ll see that each has specific uses and they’re not interchangeable. Keep reading to understand how and where each product shines to ensure terrific-looking, long-wearing tile.
For starters, grout and caulk have different properties and packaging.
Grout is a masonry product that comes as a dry powder in a bag. It requires mixing with water to activate its adhesive properties, which become rock-hard when the grout cures. Caulk is a flexible, semi-liquid product made from latex, silicone, or acrylic that is packaged in tubes. Unlike grout, caulk retains a measure of flexibility after it cures, allowing it to stretch slightly if any movement, such as the house settling, occurs.
Photo: istockphoto.com
Grout fills the joints between tiles.
The sole purpose of grout is to fill the spaces between tiles after the tiles have been glued in place on a floor or on a wall. Grout keeps the tiles from shifting, and also protects the edges of tile from chipping. There are two types of grout, sanded and unsanded. Sanded grout (view example on Amazon) is used in joints ⅛ inch or wider, while unsanded grout (view example on Amazon) is used to fill joints less than ⅛ inch wide. When choosing grout, always read the intended purposes listed on the package. Some grout is not suitable for all types of tile, and others contain additives to increase their durability and holding power.
Caulk seals seams between tile and fixtures or walls.
Caulk provides a waterproof seal where tile abuts other materials, such as bathtubs, sinks, or walls. A carefully run line of caulk (known as a bead) in these areas adds a finished touch. Caulk is stickier than grout and adheres to the surfaces of many different materials, including drywall, wood, glass, and porcelain fixtures.
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Photo: istockphoto.com
Grout is the better choice for wet areas.
Though grout is more porous than caulk, it’s best for tiled shower walls and floors. This is largely because of the way grout binds with backer board, the concrete material placed behind tiles. Backer board, tiles, and grout combine to form a water-impervious masonry surface, keeping moisture from saturating wall studs—and preventing mold growth and wood damage.
Caulk performs well in angled seams.
Grout is generally the best choice for filling joints between tiles in showers or elsewhere. but where two tiled shower walls meet, or where a shower wall meets the floor (called “change of plane”), waterproof silicone caulk (view example on Amazon) comes in mighty handy. Grout in these particular seams is more likely to crack due to settling. Some tile setters fill these seams with matching color caulk because it’s more flexible should movement occur. Others still use grout but switch to an epoxy grout (grout with epoxy added), which makes cracking less likely.
Photo: hydetools.com
Caulk is more likely to shrink over time.
When grout cures, it forms a solid masonry surface that won’t contract or pull away. While movement can crack rigid grout lines, the grout itself won’t shrink. Caulk, however, is known for shrinking over time and pulling away, and when it does it must be removed and replaced.
Grout in a shower is more likely to develop stains.
Grout is porous, which makes it more likely to develop mildew and stains than silicone caulk (the waterproof type, suitable for wet areas). For example, if you apply silicone caulk to seal around the drain in the tile shower floor, you can wipe it clean with a damp rag and it will look as good as new. Grout lines, however, require more careful attention to stave off unsightly stains. First of all, grout should be sealed, and tiled shower surfaces should be cleaned weekly with an all-purpose bathroom cleaner to keep grout stain free; using a daily after-shower spray also helps.
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Photo: istockphoto.com
Grout is messier—but easier—to apply than caulk.
Grout is spread over a newly tiled surface and worked into the joints with a hard sponge applicator. This results in excess grout getting smeared over the tile face, which should be wiped off before it dries. Caulk goes on neatly but it requires a steady hand, experience, and skill to run a smooth, professional-looking bead of caulk.
Caulk is easier to replace than grout.
When either product fails (grout by cracking or crumbling, caulk by pulling away), both must be replaced. Replacing caulk is a relatively simple process of scraping and pulling the old bead of caulk out of the seam and then running a new bead. Replacing a grout line requires the use of a grout saw or a rotary tool to grind away the grout before you can mix new grout and apply it to the joint.
Photo: istockphoto.com
Caulk has other uses around the house.
Grout is only used to fill the joints between tiles, while caulk can seal seams in many spots—along baseboards and crown molding, on windows to stop leaks and drafts, and anywhere two construction materials meet, even on outdoor concrete. This makes caulk the more versatile of the two products.
RELATED: 10 Problems You Can Solve with Caulk
Both caulk and grout are great products that you’ll want to use over and over in your repair and remodeling projects.
Keep in mind, however, only grout should be used to fill grout joints (except for change of plane angles noted above). Caulk is suitable for use virtually everywhere else you need to seal a seam between two materials. Both products come in an assortment of colors to match your needs.