Hello,

I have a question about grout. My tile installer placed non-sanded grout between my granite slab and his granite tile backsplash in two bathrooms. It is now cracking the very next day.

He also placed non-sanded grout between the floor and the side of the tub, which both have the same non-tumbled travertine. Both joints are 1/8 inch.

Wasn't he supposed to use calking in these two joints? My understanding is that caulking is better due to movement and expansion between the two planes, even though the materials are the same type of stone.

In the kitchen where I used tumbled travertine, he placed sanded grout between the travertine and the granite slab. I also thought this was to be caulked. When he was here he said it would be okay to do it that way.

I am going to call him and tell him the non-sanded grout is cracking in the 1/8 joints (it is not yet cracking in the bigger joint in the kitchen sanded grout but I'm sure with time it will.)

I didn't want to tell him how to do his job and I did ask him but he did it his way. He has a good reputation and I'm sure he will come out and fix it when he comes back to seal it.

What should I expect him to do? Should I ask him to drill out all that grout in those joints between the planes and replace with caulking?

And I won't have to pay him more for that will I?

He has been fully paid now....he was very expensive. Thanks for all of your advice.

Terry

You know everywhere I said is 1/8 with ns grout whre it is cracking I think is really 1/16th....

Terry

Non sanded grout is ok up to 1/8"

The joints between dissimlar materials and horizontal / verticle planes should be caulked.

The joint between countertop and wall if not cracking yet will cetainly crack or start crumbling in the future.

Try to get a good colour matched caulking and caulk before any sealing product is used.

Talk to your installer about the areas of concern and hopefully they will get fixed.

Randall

Also, another option to a colour match is clear.
Good luck.

With granite, marble, etc., using a sanded grout can scratch the surface of the tile quite easily. If the n/s grout is cracking with 1/16th jointlines, is it possible that you put stuff (any type of weight, really) on the counters for the first 12 hours or so? If not, I'd look into how much flexability is in the sub-surface.

Hope this helps.