what to do with cracked grout on ceiling in shower

Posted by rank beginner on July 28, 2009, 10:26 pm

Hello,

I had a new shower with tiled walls and ceiling put in about 5 years
ago. This year the grout in one specific row of tiles on the ceiling
is really starting to crack. This started last year as a hairline
crack in the grout along the entire length of the row of tiles. Now
the crack has widened and I must do something to repair it ASAP. The
thing is, I'm not sure what it is that should be done.

Photos here:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb241/phungirl/showerstalltile_01.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb241/phungirl/showerstalltile_02.jpg

Should I regrout the whole cracked area? If so, should all the old
grout be scraped out first? What would be the best way to do that (if
indeed that is what I should do)? Tools?

Also, is it a problem if water has seeped into the crack a bit? (There
were drips from the ceiling tile where the crack is today). My hope is
that no permanent moisture has entered the ceiling.

Any and all help or advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Chris.

Posted by John Grabowski on July 29, 2009, 7:08 am

> Hello,
> I had a new shower with tiled walls and ceiling put in about 5 years
> ago. This year the grout in one specific row of tiles on the ceiling
> is really starting to crack. This started last year as a hairline
> crack in the grout along the entire length of the row of tiles. Now
> the crack has widened and I must do something to repair it ASAP. The
> thing is, I'm not sure what it is that should be done.
> Photos here:
> http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb241/phungirl/showerstalltile_01.jpg
> http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb241/phungirl/showerstalltile_02.jpg
> Should I regrout the whole cracked area? If so, should all the old
> grout be scraped out first? What would be the best way to do that (if
> indeed that is what I should do)? Tools?
> Also, is it a problem if water has seeped into the crack a bit? (There
> were drips from the ceiling tile where the crack is today). My hope is
> that no permanent moisture has entered the ceiling.
> Any and all help or advice is greatly appreciated.

*If you have water dripping from the ceiling it sounds as though there are
other issues going on that need to be addressed first. Maybe you have a
roof leak which is causing the ceiling to flex and thus causing the crack.

There is at least one hand tool available for removing grout. Dremel has a
grout removal attachment for their tools.

Posted by Phisherman on July 29, 2009, 9:08 am

On Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:26:37 -0700 (PDT), rank beginner

>Hello,
>I had a new shower with tiled walls and ceiling put in about 5 years
>ago. This year the grout in one specific row of tiles on the ceiling
>is really starting to crack. This started last year as a hairline
>crack in the grout along the entire length of the row of tiles. Now
>the crack has widened and I must do something to repair it ASAP. The
>thing is, I'm not sure what it is that should be done.
>Photos here:
>http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb241/phungirl/showerstalltile_01.jpg
>http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb241/phungirl/showerstalltile_02.jpg
>Should I regrout the whole cracked area? If so, should all the old
>grout be scraped out first? What would be the best way to do that (if
>indeed that is what I should do)? Tools?
>Also, is it a problem if water has seeped into the crack a bit? (There
>were drips from the ceiling tile where the crack is today). My hope is
>that no permanent moisture has entered the ceiling.
>Any and all help or advice is greatly appreciated.
>Thank you,
>Chris.

Correct the moisture issue before doing anything with the crack.

Posted by gpsman on July 29, 2009, 10:35 am

> http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb241/phungirl/showerstalltile_01.jpg
> http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb241/phungirl/showerstalltile_02.jpg
> Should I regrout the whole cracked area?

Probably.

> If so, should all the old
> grout be scraped out first?

Or the greatest portion of it.

> What would be the best way to do that (if
> indeed that is what I should do)? Tools?

The Dremel. The grout removal tool/bit works great.

> Also, is it a problem if water has seeped into the crack a bit?

Probably not.

You could just patch it with caulk, with or without "real" prep.

The underlying issue is what caused it to crack, probably related to
the substrate material/installation but maybe also what goes on in the
room overhead (if any).

If they're practicing martial arts up there, etc., enough flex may
have been induced to cause the crack.
-----

- gpsman

Posted by dadiOH on July 29, 2009, 10:47 am

rank beginner wrote:

The grout is cracked because the ceiling is moving; could be moving
laterally, could be moving down.

If you had drips from the ceiling tile, moisture *has* entered the
ceiling...those drips didn't get there from the shower (unless you are an
extremely frenetic showerer). It is most likely the water that is causing
the ceiling to move.

The first thing to do is locate the source of the water. If an attic is
above the shower, check the roof; if not or if you have plumbing above the
shower, check it too.

Next, fix the source of the leak.

Next, you need to make the ceiling that is under the tile sound once again.
I assume it is drywall? Drywall - even "moisture resistant" drywall - and
water do not play nice together. If it were me, I'd remove all ceiling tile
and replace the drywall. Again, if it were me, I'd not replace tile on the
ceiling...the tile isn't all that heavy but it is pulling the drywall
downward against the screw/nail heads. Drywall isn't all that strong to
begin with and - especially with a bit of moisture - the weight of the tile
would tend to pull the fastener head further into the drywall causing the
ceiling to sag slightly, sag cracking grout.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

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LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
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