Gap between floor tiles and wall

[Lee Nowell]

Hi,

I have a room which has percelain tiles on the floor with water based underfloor heating in the slab below. The tiler laid the floor with a gap of a few mm from the walls as the original plan was to put skirting around.

The walls have all been replastered and we are now considering having no skirting and effectively sealing the gap left by the tiler.

I have a few questions...

1. is the gap needed for expansion reasons? I wouldn't have thought porcelain would expand since the joints between the tiles would presumably crack if it did but thought I would check...
2. What would you fill it with? I was thinking of using the same grout as the rest of the floor - would this work? If the gap is required for expansion, could I use cauk/ mastic or something else?

Any help gratefully appreciated.

thanks

Lee.

[The Natural Philosopher]

underfloor heating in the slab below. The tiler laid the floor with a gap of a few mm from the walls as the original plan was to put skirting around.

skirting and effectively sealing the gap left by the tiler.

would expand since the joints between the tiles would presumably crack if it did but thought I would check...

slightly. I would be inclineed to use a flexible mastic.

rest of the floor - would this work? If the gap is required for expansion, could I use cauk/ mastic or something else? I did this and it has hairline crack. I had silicone underneath expecting that. But my walls are plasterboard over stud, so 'move' a little. If yours are blockwork you should be safe

What *I* wanted to do but never got around to was to seal the tile to wall with silicone and then put a tile skirting up.

[Tim Watts]

On Thursday 13 June 2013 13:17 Lee Nowell wrote in uk.d-i-y:

Fill it with a bead of silicone or MS Polymer sealant. The former certainly is available in lots of colours to blend in (eg match the groute of either the wall or floor tiles).

[Lee Nowell]

Thanks for your reply. Did you use mastic or grout to fill the gap?

Ideally I would use the same grout so I can match the colour. I guess the worse case scenario would be that the grout would crack? I assume it wouldn't break/ damage the tiles themselves?

thanks

Lee.

[Lee Nowell]

Thanks for your reply. Did you use mastic or grout to fill the gap?

Ideally I would use the same grout so I can match the colour. I guess the worse case scenario would be that the grout would crack? I assume it wouldn't break/ damage the tiles themselves?

thanks

Lee.