Why's Our New Bathroom Grout Of Order?

Feb 10 2008 Donny Sheridan

Q&A Diy Donny

Q We tiled our bathroom but now the grout has cracked inside and outside the shower. What caused this and how do we fix it?

A If you used plywood on the walls instead of plasterboard, moisture may have buckled it, causing the grout to crack. If you used plasterboard but it is not fixed to the wall properly, opening and closing the shower door can cause vibrations, which have the same effect. Get your tiler back to have a look.

Q My kitchen has glazed wall tiles but they seem impossible to remove. Can I tile on top of them and if so, how should I prepare for this and what materials will I need?

A Try to remove the existing tiles as tiling on top of them will make your wall deeper and you may need longer screws for electrical sockets and have to alter door facings. But if you are determined to tile over them, try UniBond's Tiling On Tiled Walls, which will save on mess and time.

Q If I plastered over my Artex ceiling, could I fit downlighters?

A Yes. Once the Artex has been plastered over, core your holes for the lights and fit as normal. But very old (pre-1986) Artex may contain asbestos so get it tested to see if it is harmful. Don't be alarmed as most cases turn out to be negative and safe.

Q My roof slates are stained by a white substance which appears to come from lead flashing around the chimney. Is this from a chemical reaction between the rain and lead - and how can it be cleaned?

A Yes. This is the lead reacting to moisture. The white (carbonate) powder run-off is common to new lead as it starts to weather. This can be avoided by coating the lead with patination oil, which should have been done the day it was fixed to your roof. Apply with a soft cloth in a single direction to prevent more staining. To remove the white run-off, contact your slate manufacturer as chemical cleaning may damage the slates.

Q How can I remove woodchip paper after it has had a few coats of emulsion?

AScore the woodchip with a Stanley knife or orbital scorer to break the surface. This will allow the steam from a stripper to penetrate behind the paper and dampen it. Then simply scrape off as normal. But it will take a few hours to finish the job.