Silicone & Sealants

Silicone, not grout, belongs in the joints that move: internal corners, the wall-to-floor junction and around a bath or shower tray. Choose a colour that matches your grout.

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Silicone, not grout, belongs in the joints that move: internal corners, the wall-to-floor junction and around a bath or shower tray. Choose a colour that matches your grout.

Why tiled rooms need silicone

Buildings move. Walls and floors expand and contract with heat and moisture, and frames settle over time. Grout is rigid, so in the joints where two surfaces meet it cracks and lets water in. A flexible silicone sealant fills those joints instead and moves with the building, keeping the seal intact.

Where to use silicone, not grout

  • Internal corners: where two walls meet, in showers and on splashbacks.
  • Wall-to-floor junction: around the edge of a bathroom or shower floor.
  • Baths, shower trays and basins: wherever tiles meet another material.
  • Benchtops: along the joint between a splashback and the bench.
  • Changes of material: where tile meets timber, stone or a window frame.

Large floors also need movement joints at set intervals. Your tiler will plan these.

Choosing a silicone

  • Wet areas: choose a bathroom-grade silicone with mould resistance so the joints stay clean.
  • Colour: match the silicone to your grout so the joints read as one line. Some grout makers, including Mapei, make silicone in colours that match their grouts.
  • Natural stone: some silicones can mark porous stone along the joint. For marble, limestone and travertine, use one labelled safe for natural stone.

Keeping silicone joints in good shape

Wipe shower corners dry and clean them with a pH neutral cleaner so mould does not take hold. Silicone does not last forever: when it lifts, splits or stays discoloured after cleaning, cut it out and replace it. Do not grout over old silicone, or run silicone over old grout.

Help choosing a silicone

For help matching a silicone to your grout, call us on (02) 9567 8971, contact us online or visit the Rockdale showroom. You will also find tile adhesives, grout colourants and the rest of our tiling supplies online, along with shower tiles for your next project.

FAQs

Why is my grout cracking in the corners of the shower?

Corners move as the building expands, contracts and settles, and rigid grout cannot follow. Rake out the cracked grout and fill the corner with a flexible silicone instead. That keeps water out of the wall.

How long does silicone last in a bathroom?

It depends on use and cleaning. Replace it when it starts to lift, split or show mould that will not clean off. Regular wiping and good ventilation help it last longer.

Should silicone match the grout or the tile?

Usually the grout, so the corner joint looks like part of the grout line. If your grout and tile are close in colour, either works. Clear silicone is an option, but it can look grey once it collects dirt.

Can silicone stain marble or travertine?

Some types can leave a dark line along the edge of porous stone. Choose a silicone labelled safe for natural stone, and seal the stone before you apply it.

Matching your grout? Mapesil AC is made in the same colour numbers as Mapei grout, so the silicone in the corners can match the joints in the field. Tell us your grout colour and we will confirm the match.

Ask our team