Gap in the corners
I’m tiling around my alcove tub with 12x24 porcelain tiles (marble look, flat and shinny), using 1/8 grout lines in the field. In the corners, where the back wall tiles meet the side walls (Hydro Ban board), is a 1/8 grout line the preferred gap size? Or should the corner tiles butt up tight with no gap? Or maybe do a smaller 1/16 gap?
Also, another detail that no one ever talks about: if you do the BACK WALL TILES FIRST and then the 2 side walls after, how do you first handle the gap between the back wall tiles, where they butt up to the side walls (to my Hydro Ban board)? Say you have a 1/16” gap there, I don’t think you would want it NOT filled, and then water can accumulate in that area. I always hear TCNA wants 95-100% coverage on shower or tub wall tiles, where it’s wet. I’m assuming that’s because voids can fill with water and eventually you get mold? So in that first stage, when you first tile just the back wall, how do you handle that gap on the sides?
Lastly, I’ve heard some guys say over MUD walls, you can just grout the corners, but over foam board, it’s better to use silicone caulking like Latisil. Any truth to tha?
Thank you in advance.
Thank you both, I appreciate it