Do I need to caulk the top of my shower?


  #1  
Old 07-03-22, 03:40 PM
M
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 36
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Do I need to caulk the top of my shower?

Working on a project in the main bathroom of my house, and noticed the top of my shower is not caulked. We have tile with grout going all the way to the ceiling and I am wondering if I should be caulking this? Pictures below.


 
  #2  
Old 07-03-22, 04:01 PM
Marq1's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: USA MI
Posts: 9,745
Received 1,210 Upvotes on 1,098 Posts
I would if just to give a finished look!
 
  #3  
Old 07-03-22, 04:34 PM
M
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 36
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
I mean, there's already grout there giving it a finished look. I guess I'm wondering if this is a leaking or water spread hazard.
 
  #4  
Old 07-03-22, 04:40 PM
XSleeper's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 27,045
Received 1,905 Upvotes on 1,711 Posts
Unless you like the look of that crack in the third photo, which is what happens when 2 planes of different materials intersect, you should caulk it. You'd usually want to use a grout caulk that matches the color and texture of your grout. That type of caulk is found at tile stores, or in the tile section of the box store and it comes I sanded and unsanded textures.

Another option is to install a matching cove tile... which might look better since it would hide the entire ugly uneven joint in photo 2. Then at least it would look straight once it's caulked.
 
  #5  
Old 07-03-22, 04:49 PM
M
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 36
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Ok, so cosmetic is one thing and I can certainly decide on that down the line. My big question is....should I caulk this for issues of leaking/sealing? That's my primary concern. And, if I do caulk it, can I do that over the existing grout?
 
  #6  
Old 07-04-22, 02:37 AM
M
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA - N.E.Tn
Posts: 45,643
Received 832 Upvotes on 729 Posts
There shouldn't be a water intrusion issue at the top of the wall ..... unless you ceiling routinely gets wet from showers. You can caulk over the grout but it's better to caulk in place of the grout.
 
  #7  
Old 07-05-22, 06:41 AM
M
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 36
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Thank you!
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description: