Do tiled shower walls require significant maintenance?

[edprush]

I had planned to have the walls of a shower tiled during a small remodel project.

After speaking with a tiling contractor he made it clear to me that he wouldn't recommend tiling a shower because it requires quite a bit of maintenance.

Is that true?

Aren't there products used to coat the tiles when used in showers?

He kept referring to shower tiling as "60s technology". He said the grout will crack and higher humidity in the summers vs. dry air in the winters would increase the cracking.

What is your opinion?

 

[imported_Rat]

Don't get tiles.

 

[Heisenberg]

You have to clean mold/mildew out of the grout, which is a PITA.

 

[edprush]

Aren't there products used to coat the tiles when used in showers...kind of like a clear-coat to prevent mold/mildew on the grout?

 

[bctbct]

if you seal the grout 1 once a year and make sure the install is correct you should be fine.

BTW seal grout three times before 1st use.

 

[mugs]

We have tiles. Haven't cleaned them in 2 years. They look fine. I think the wife sprays that after-shower stuff on them. Whoever lived here before must have sealed them well or something.

 

[Bulk Beef]

In the Army, we used baby oil. Worked surprisingly well.

 

[0roo0roo]

what he wanted plastic?

 

[T9D]

I installed some white marble looking tile with white grout a year and a half ago. Still looks like new. Never clean it.

Keep it dry and it wont be a problem. Keep the door open when not using the bathroom and use the fan when you you are in there.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Originally posted by: edprush
I had planned to have the walls of a shower tiled during a small remodel project.

After speaking with a tiling contractor he made it clear to me that he wouldn't recommend tiling a shower because it requires quite a bit of maintenance.

Is that true?

Aren't there products used to coat the tiles when used in showers?

He kept referring to shower tiling as "60s technology". He said the grout will crack and higher humidity in the summers vs. dry air in the winters would increase the cracking.

What is your opinion?

It require grout sealing every year and at least a spray/rub down with cleaner every week. It can crack, but a bit of elbow grease and new grout is not that much of work to worry about. The upside is that there are a much greater array of tiles styles & colours to chose from.

<-- redone my bathroom with tiles 2 years ago and loving it.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: edprush
Aren't there products used to coat the tiles when used in showers...kind of like a clear-coat to prevent mold/mildew on the grout?

I use "Clean Shower". Works great.

 

[91TTZ]

The Tiled Wall Association recommends that you inspect (and regrout, if needed) each crevice thoroughly before taking a shower.

This is standard procedure, much the same way that carmakers recommend checking your oil, tire pressure, windsheild wiper condition, power steering/brake/transmission fluid, and headlight/blinker function each and every time you're about to drive your car. You all do that, right?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Bulk Beef
In the Army, we used baby oil. Worked surprisingly well.

I don't want to know what you guys were doing in the shower

 

[Bulk Beef]

Hmm, well there was this one guy...

 

[bctbct]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Bulk Beef
In the Army, we used baby oil. Worked surprisingly well.

I don't want to know what you guys were doing in the shower

:laugh:

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Bulk Beef
In the Army, we used baby oil. Worked surprisingly well.

I don't want to know what you guys were doing in the shower

They oiled each other up to a lustrous, erotic sheen, their naked bodies lubricating each other in a sensuous writhe of manhood.

 

[JulesMaximus]

We have tile in our shower. No problems at all. Clean it every couple weeks and you'll never have to do anything else to it.

Travertine is a bit tougher to keep clean but if taken care of it will look good for many years. We have travertine on our master bath floor and downstairs in the guest bath.

 

[Bulk Beef]

OK-I have to admit, that sounded wierd. So forget it. We didn't use baby oil. We used sandpaper. And we liked it.

 

[FeuerFrei]

If the caulk starts cracking and pulling away from the tile, don't ignore it or moisture will damage the wall beneath. Spray it regularly with mildew killer, even if you don't see any yet.

 

[mrrman]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
You have to clean mold/mildew out of the grout, which is a PITA.

True...I just scrub them down when I clean the tub

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Humidity probably has a lot to do with it. We hardly ever clean our tiles (just a Chlorox bleach pen on dirty looking spots) and they're very clean.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: Bulk Beef
Hmm, well there was this one guy...

and............................?

 

[Allanv]

we used this stuff uffin great beat thing we ever did

http://www.wetwall.com/bathwall.htm

 

[ArchCenturion]

The tile will be fine, but it is a b1tch to clean the grout. It can get moldy and it wears away after a few years. My parents made me fix theirs. In their shower, I had to grind out all of the grout, and then replace it and reseal it. Took forever and working sucks.