Snowball job :) bit of advice needed.

[MattWeth]

Went to fix a leaking towel rail at a multi million pound farmhouse conversion today (simple - just the tail to lockshield compression nut loose). Absolutely stunning house with 6 bathrooms.

While I was there the lady of the house asked me to take a look at a shower mixer in one of the wetrooms (would only get barely warm - all the other shower fittings / hot water are fine). I'm guessing that it'll be the thermostatic cartridge (although any advice welcome) but I need to identify the manufacturer and whether I can get a spare (posted a thread in the showers forum for this).

Then while I was in the wetroom I noticed and pointed out that the wetroom tile grout was in poor condition, especially the vertical internal corner which was grouted (not siliconed) and cracked all the way to the floor.

So she's asked me to quote for re-grouting the floors and renewing the silicone in two of the wetrooms

I could use a bit of advice with this last bit - while I've done a fair bit of 'from scratch' tiling, I've never done more than an odd tile or two of regrouting (just when removing single tiles for fitting showers etc), so I'm a bit unsure of timings and process.

There are two wetrooms, each measuring 3500x1500 and the tiles are 10mm thick 600x400 marble.

My workflow guesstimate:

Strip the old silicone and grind / clean out all the old grout (I'm going to buy a multi tool and diamond blade on the back of this job) - not tried one of these tools before so not sure how long it'll take.

Regrout using a 'wetroom suitable' buff coloured grout - (I usually use BAL products). The trouble is, I'm not sure what (if anything) the stone tiles will have been sealed with - they have a glossy polished appearance but I don't know if this is the tile surface or a sealer. Would I better off cleaning and re-sealing the floor?

Finally, redo the silicone.

I'm going to price it on day rate although with an estimate of total time.

Any advice on good practice and timings would be appreciated.

Pic of the wet side of one of the wetrooms:



Any advice on

 

[MattWeth]

Looks like I'm on my own with this one

 

[SimonG]

I hate grouting, I detest re-grouting. It's a pain to get out without damaging tiles.

I'd be tempted to walk away from this one. If they have grouted the corners rather than siliconed what other horrors could await and if you work on it the problems could be yours.

 

[MattWeth]

Thanks Simon - I hadn't fully considered the potential consequences of the regrouting. I'm not sure what tanking was applied before the wetroom tiling (it was done as a part of the farmhouse conversion six years ago) but if it's to the same standard as some of the other work on the house (looks superficially good, but some right lash-ups behind the scenes), then walking away might be the best option.

It's a shame - I think there could potentially be some good future business out of this property - it's vast and there's nearly always something that needs doing, but I don't want to take expensive risks for the sake of some possible future work.

 

[SimonG]

Might be worth dropping the question on the tilers forum for some feedback from the 'pros'.

Your sequence in your original post is spot on to me and I like BAL products (my number one choice). The only difference for me would be a flexible grout and and additive in it. It's a bit more of a pain to clean up but a far more water resistant job.

 

[MattWeth]

Might be worth dropping the question on the tilers forum for some feedback from the 'pros'.

Your sequence in your original post is spot on to me and I like BAL products (my number one choice). The only difference for me would be a flexible grout and and additive in it. It's a bit more of a pain to clean up but a far more water resistant job.

Good thinking Simon - I'll see what people think on the Tilers forum.

 

[Guest123]

About £30 per square metre, is what I charge. Can be messy and time consuming, pack a few tubs of wonder wipes and clean up any spilled or excess grout immediately.

As Simon says, ask on the Tilers forum.

 

[Guest123]

......if the tanking is Tile Safe, you cannot under any circumstances use silicon as it will react with it and irreparably damage it. Use a polysulphide based sealant instead.

 

[REDSAW]

charge double and get dan the tiler to do it.lol

 

[kay-jay]

The shower could just have a bit of debris in the hot side. Remove,flush pipes replace and test to confirm before ordering a cartridge as it may not be faulty

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[PlumbBobBob]

wrong post kay-jay?

 

[SimonG]

wrong post kay-jay?

I thought that as well steve, until I re-read op. There's a paragraph in there about dodgy mixer valve.

 

[MattWeth]

Sorry fellers - lots of questions in one post

Thanks for the input System and kay-jay - very helpfull.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

I thought that as well steve, until I re-read op. There's a paragraph in there about dodgy mixer valve.

lol being too efficient!

 

[kay-jay]

Or too drunk lol

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