I installed tile couple of days ago in my shower. I was wondering isn't it better to put bathroom caulking instead of grout since it is flexible and it will last longer and provide better water resistance. Does grout make tile stronger or is caulking only applied on edges? Would I make mistake if I used bathroom caulking between tiles? Thanks
I'd use grout. It's designed for this job, and last forever. I once lived in a house that was built in about 1929. 50+ years later, most of the grout was good, but the caulk that the landlord had put around the edge of the tub 2 years before was failing. Grout it - and don't use the cheap stuff.
Grout is a hard material that stablizes the tile and is more appropriate when the tiles are going to be walked on, sat on or worked on (as in a counter) Caulk is a soft material that water seals cracks and has little or no wear endurance. In theory, you use grout on shower to make it match the appearance of tiles elsewhere in the room, but these days, that is often the only place tiles are used.
You need to grout the spaces between the tiles and caulk the area where the tile meets the tub or shower basin. Use a grout sealer on the grout.
Caulking is generally used for the finishing touches for the edges of the tile. And the purpose for the caulking is so when the floor is mopped or the counters are wiped that the excess water wont leak into the edges of where the tile ends and the baseboards or wall begins. Grout on the other hand is designed to go in between the tiles. So a proper job is the grout in between the tiles and the caulking to polish it off making the edges seamless with a smooth transition from the wall or baseboard leading into the tile. Hope this helps some.
