Just finished tiling around bathtub and sealed the Flextile matching grout with Tile Lab.
I left 1/8th to 1/4 inch above bathtub and between adjoining walls.
As this bathtub is also my shower i will caulk around my tub and down the gap between the walls with silicone as standard procedure. The tiles and grout are a taupe colour and I wish to match the silicone with the grout etc. I purchased Polyblend sanded grout from Home Depot in a antique white as this was the only colour they stocked that was close to my grout but when I got home and used a little the colour was quite a bit different.
I also have a tube of regular silicone (the type that fits in a caulking gun)but it only comes in almond.Doesn't the coloured caulk come in a regular tube that fits in a caulking gun? The Polyblend is in a tube that you have to squeeze by hand.
What brand of caulk would match my tiles and seal the water from entering my job?
Could I just grout the corners of my walls and seal with Tilelab?
Also I have some matching tile around a new vanity that is installed in an alcove, as this does not get a lot of moisture could I just grout between the vanity top and tile or is silicone also required here? (Used some sanded Polyblend here but the colour difference realy stands out)
This is my first tile job so i would appreciate some expert advice.

Unfortunately Flextile does not have a matching caulk.
You will have to try and get something close from Tec or Mapei. What's the actual colour of the Flextile grout?

Normally you try to avoid hard grouting corners. If you did grout the corners apply a clear bead of GE silicone 2 over it. At least it will keep it sealed when the corner cracks.

Always caulk between the countertop and wall tile.

I found out that Flextile does not produce a matching silicone caulking for their grout when I went back to the tile store where i purchased my tile. If I had known this when I purchased the tile and grout I would have looked around for another supplier. You would think that Flextile would look at this.
So I went back to Home Depot again and found someone with more knowledge on ther products who informed me to bring in some of the Flextile grout and we could match it with the many Polyblend grouts they have on display (I must have overlooked the samples they have for selection , over 25 )Poly blend makes a sanded and unsanded silicone caulking that matches all their grouts. www.custombuildingproducts.com
It seems that they only carry about 5 or 6 normally but you can order over 25 from Polyblend.Hope this will solve my problem.
Should I order sanded or unsanded silicone caulking?
RC you said that the gap between the vanity countertop and the wall tile should be caulked with silicone not grout. My wife does not like the look of caulking in this area,do you think grouting the area and sealing it with a good sealer would be sufficient as this area only receives water from the odd splash?
I appreciate your information.

The sealant from Custom is not "silicone" unfortunately.It is latex based.

I like to use only silicone caulk for my tile work.

And yes,you must use caulking at the junction of the wall tile and countertop.Grout will inevitably crack and become loose at that joint.Best to apply a nice bead of color-matched silicone caulk there.

Thanks Guys,
Anyone Know where I can purchase TEC or Mapie Silicone Caulking in the Niagara Penninsula.
I would need to take a sample to the store of my Flextile Grout to match it with these companies grouts to get a silicone caulk that matches my grout.
NEED HELP!

Mapie and Tec don't make matching silicone anymore...they used to,and though some of them matched perfectly..others didn't...so now they just do the matching latex like everyone else.

You might want to try Transparent silicone instead of Clear...it doesn't have the shine that clear does, and blends in a lot better.

Thanks for the info Bri. I found a retailer that sells Tec caulking in colors that match their grout at Centura in Hamilton.
Checking the composition of the caulking at Tec website I found that it is latex based but also has a silicone additive. Will check with Tec before purchasing.
After all the work I put into my bathroom renovation, especially the tiling I would really like to finish the job with a colour matched silicone caulk.
If all else fails what is the name and where could I purchase this transparent silicone caulking you suggested in the Niagara Penninsula?
The only silicone caulking I could find is GE clear,white and almond. These are all high shine products and mildew resistant.

Hey Guys,
Did some research on coloured grouting and matching caulking we discussed earlier in this forum.
Thanks to R.C. and Ron I now know that it is neccessary to caulk between shower walls, around bath tubs and even between tile walls and countertops with a silicone colour matched caulking for a water tight job.
R.C. you suggested trying Tech or Mapie products but Bri said both no longer make a colour matched silicone and suggested a transparent not shiny silicone.I purchased Lepage transparent for shower bath or kitchen. Is this the product you recommend?
I contacted the Tech website and read that their caulking was a acrylic silicone added product.
They state that it can be used on the interior or exterior which leads me to believe that it might last a while.
Centura Tiles in Hamilton tells me that it can be ordered though any dealer that carries their products.
NOW FOR THE BIG QUESTION GUYS?
DO YOU THINK THIS WILL DO THE JOB?
BOY WILL A FEW BEERS GO GOOD AFTER ALL THIS.
:rolleyes:

I use the Tec and Mapei caulking all the time. The one big drawback is the excessive shrinkage on the acrylic caulkings.

There is only one true silcone colour match product available in Ontario, but the colour selection right now is limited. The supplier says they may carry more colours in the future.

If your choice is between transparent silicone and acrylic caulk, I would stick with the silicone if it's in the shower.

RANDALL,
I WILL USE PURE SILICONE CAULKING TO FILL THE GAPS BETWEEN WALLS ABOVE MY BATH TUB.
SAME TO 1/8 INCH GAP ABOVE BATH TUB.
THEN I WILL FILL TUB WITH WATER AS RECOMMENDED AND LAY A REGULAR BEAD OF COLOUR MATCHED TEC CAULKING, TAPED OFF TO PRODUCE A NICE CLEAN LINE ON TOP OF THE SILICONE AFTER IT HAS CURED.
THIS SHOULD MATCH MY GROUTING
FOR THE COUNTERTOP I WILL USE LEPAGE TRASPARENT SHOWER AND BATH SILKICONE IN A "NO MORE SEALANT GUNS' TUBE TO BLEND THE TRANSITION FROM MY TAUPE TILE BACKSPLASH TO MY GREEN COUNTERTOP.HOPE THIS IS NOT SHINY SILICONE. (NEVER USED BEFORE)
WHAT DO YOU THINK RANDALL??????

BOB