I have a recently installed tile shower with a mud base. I was expecting the pitch of the base to be more drastic, or funnel-like. Mine is relatively flat, and although it doesn't drain exceptionally quick, the water does find it's way into the drain.
After my first shower, I squeegied the tile, and then towel dried everything. When I returned in the evening, I noticed that the grout in the tile surrounding the drain (approx. 3 inches or so on each side) was still wet. The rest of the grout in the tile base was completely dry. I kept an eye on it, and didn't shower in it again. It took about 5 days for it to dry out!
The company I contracted with to design/install the bathroom sent out a tile guy to rip up the tile surrounding the drain (the 3 inches on each side), lower the drain slightly, and then retile. I waited patiently for it to cure, sealed the grout twice, and then took another shower.
I went through my ritual of towel drying the tile, and when I returned at night, the grout in the tile that was previously holding moisture was now dry, but the tile immediately to the left and to the right, all the way to the ends of the base were now holding water. (if you can visualize a stripe of tiles, about 6 inches wide on either side of the drain, all the way across the base)
I find it strange that the tiles surrounding the drain are now drying out quickly, but that the area to the left and right are now holding water. I let it go for 4 days, and it finally dried out.
I think there is something wrong with the way the base was created because it doesn't seem right to have some of the tile grout stay perpetually wet. I would think this will lead to future problems, i.e. mold, tiles heaving, etc. The contracter is telling me this is normal.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Shouldn't a mud base have a fairly drastic pitch to it? Why is the replaced tile/grout around the drain now dry, but the adjacent tile now wet?
I'm not sure what to do at this point.
After my first shower, I squeegied the tile, and then towel dried everything. When I returned in the evening, I noticed that the grout in the tile surrounding the drain (approx. 3 inches or so on each side) was still wet. The rest of the grout in the tile base was completely dry. I kept an eye on it, and didn't shower in it again. It took about 5 days for it to dry out!
The company I contracted with to design/install the bathroom sent out a tile guy to rip up the tile surrounding the drain (the 3 inches on each side), lower the drain slightly, and then retile. I waited patiently for it to cure, sealed the grout twice, and then took another shower.
I went through my ritual of towel drying the tile, and when I returned at night, the grout in the tile that was previously holding moisture was now dry, but the tile immediately to the left and to the right, all the way to the ends of the base were now holding water. (if you can visualize a stripe of tiles, about 6 inches wide on either side of the drain, all the way across the base)
I find it strange that the tiles surrounding the drain are now drying out quickly, but that the area to the left and right are now holding water. I let it go for 4 days, and it finally dried out.
I think there is something wrong with the way the base was created because it doesn't seem right to have some of the tile grout stay perpetually wet. I would think this will lead to future problems, i.e. mold, tiles heaving, etc. The contracter is telling me this is normal.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Shouldn't a mud base have a fairly drastic pitch to it? Why is the replaced tile/grout around the drain now dry, but the adjacent tile now wet?
I'm not sure what to do at this point.