TILE AND GROUT REPAIRS (Continued)

This renovation technique can also prevent or put off for a very long time, problems that will occur when tile in wet areas of showers and tub surrounds have been installed directly over drywall, plaster or “greenboard”. (“Greenboard” is no longer an acceptable backing for tile in wet areas.) Water will eventually work it’s way through grout and attack the backing. If the backing is gypsum based on not water resistant eventually the wall will fail and the tile will fall off the wall. Before it fails, almost always black mold is developed in the wet backing and works its way into the shower from the back of the tile! Cleaning the front of the tile and grout with chemicals etc. will be useless as the mold is in the wall behind the tile. By installing large tile (at least 16x16 and up) over the old small tile, the problem can be slowed down for a long time and even eliminated. The new large body tiles will have much less grout joints and the moisture will have to work it’s way through two levels of grout and tile to get to the backerboard and cause problems. This solution can be made with very little fuss, no tear out mess and less expense.

BEFORE WITH 4X4 TILE	AFTER WITH 20X20 TILE	BEFORE WITH 4X4 TILE	AFTER WITH 18x18 TILE

Tile and Grout Repairs Continue