u/Historical_Trust2087

I have a client who keeps sending me pictures of their dirty tile. They blame the tile and grout. In the image, the dirt is on the wall as well, so it is not the slope.

I told them it just needs to be cleaned regularly, since bacteria are growing off their skin cells and soap.

They counter that the tile needs to slope more.

The tile slope does not provide self-cleaning. You still have to clean your shower, regardless of the tile type.

Any advice on where I can point them to a resource that shows the dirty grout is due to either hard water + soap scum? I have tried links, but they won't take responsibility. They keep blaming the tile.

Is there an official cleaning expert association that can inspect and let them know what the issue is?

Any advice?

For context- Atlanta, GA Climate Zone 3A (warm, humid)

We are building several passive houses right now, and I am working to rewrite our standard specifications for ALL of our projects.

For new homes, it is "easier" to do a passive house since we are starting from scratch. Not easy- just easier.

Where I struggle is with remodels. I'd love to remodel from the outside in and add continuous insulation, but that's no longer feasible on houses that aren't 100% gutted. If we are doing an addition, I know that there is no payback on energy efficiency if the rest of the house still needs work. Is there an argument to be made about sheathing failure?

We've been doing some modeling, and my suggestion was a minimum of 2 in of continuous insulation on a 2 x 6 wall filled with insulation. This seems to make the models happy for passive house 😄

Most of the "high-performance" (non- passive house) builders in this climate state that continuous insulation is not needed to prevent failure; it is mostly for energy efficiency.

This is for walls- I'll start another thread for my issues with roofs. I'd love your feedback, and if we solve this, I might make a video, and you all would get 100% credit!

The 2 options I am considering:

2 x 6 with 2" mineral wools on the outside of the sheathing
2 x 6 wall with 2 x4 staggered for mostly continuous insulation inside the wall.

For both, our vapor and air barrier would be on the exterior of the sheathing.

Need HELP advice on cleaning tiles in a shower