Awhile back I had a company come to caulk the joints and bottom on my shower. The shower had grout instead of caulking where it meets the shower tray and in the corners. The company was to remove it and apply caulk. Instead they caulked over the grout. Shortly after it started to crack at the shower tray and mold started to form between the grout and the new caulk.
After a lot of back and forth and frustration, I decided to take over the project and re-do the job. The company told me that they only were to scape the old grout past the face of the tile so the caulk had something to sit on. They didn't even do this, which is partly why I think it cracked. Also they said there must have been movement with the shower tray, which is blamed on construction, not the way it was applied. I had asked him why they did not weigh down the shower tray, as I was told by many people after the job was done, that this was the normal way to apply caulk. The company said it was not needed. I think this may have also contributed to the cracking.
They also explained that the tray must have been pitched, to cause water to get behind the caulk and cause mold. I was suggesting that if they applied it over old grout, that mold could possibly grow between the grout and new caulk- especially if it wasn't bleached or cleaned prior to application. They insisted it was the construction
Aside from all that, I want to make sure I apply the new caulk correctly. I wound up removing all the grout in the corners and where it meets the tray. Was this a mistake (I know I should have asked this prior to doing it)? Will the caulk be able to sit if the grout was fully removed?
Also, I am planning on weighing the tray down even though it was suggested it was not needed. I would rather play it safe than have cracking again. Unless I am mistaken, I don't see how weighing it down could pose an issue?
Thanks in advance for the advice.
After a lot of back and forth and frustration, I decided to take over the project and re-do the job. The company told me that they only were to scape the old grout past the face of the tile so the caulk had something to sit on. They didn't even do this, which is partly why I think it cracked. Also they said there must have been movement with the shower tray, which is blamed on construction, not the way it was applied. I had asked him why they did not weigh down the shower tray, as I was told by many people after the job was done, that this was the normal way to apply caulk. The company said it was not needed. I think this may have also contributed to the cracking.
They also explained that the tray must have been pitched, to cause water to get behind the caulk and cause mold. I was suggesting that if they applied it over old grout, that mold could possibly grow between the grout and new caulk- especially if it wasn't bleached or cleaned prior to application. They insisted it was the construction
Aside from all that, I want to make sure I apply the new caulk correctly. I wound up removing all the grout in the corners and where it meets the tray. Was this a mistake (I know I should have asked this prior to doing it)? Will the caulk be able to sit if the grout was fully removed?
Also, I am planning on weighing the tray down even though it was suggested it was not needed. I would rather play it safe than have cracking again. Unless I am mistaken, I don't see how weighing it down could pose an issue?
Thanks in advance for the advice.