Many times if not every time, you will find that the corners where walls meet or where the wall meets the floor the grout will eventually crack in as little as a week’s time after installation. Tile Installers refer to areas where different surfaces or angles meet as a “CHANGE OF PLANE”.
Inherently, these changes of plane will crack due to expansion and contraction, settling or “flex” (movement in the surface due to a load being places on it). In order to prevent this unsightly fail, which will also allow water to seep through the joint, we grout then cover the joint with a color matching caulk.
In wet areas depending on the usage, you may need to apply caulking again every few years and you should inspect it annually.
Simple maintenance and sealing the grout will bring many years of enjoyment to your tile investment.
