Good morning, I just had a renovation done with a brand new gutted master bathroom.the tile we used was cararra marble for the shower walls and floor.the tile installer the gc used became an issue with us as he had a hard time with critique,we had him change some cuts and and tiles we weren't happy about and he took it personal and became an ass about it. Anyway the bathroom is done and we had the custom doors installed on friday, so the shower sat for a couple weeks while we waited for the doors.i took a shower for the first time and notice a dank musty smell almost like a wet towel smell coming from the grout lines.it went away and then I took a shower the next day and same thing. It seems that from the steam and warm water something is being activated and causing this smell.any ideas? The adhesive used is acrylpro, grout is tec,durorock was used. I've had a dehumidifier in there for a couple days and it still happens. I'm about to lose my cool.

Never heard of anything like that before---  Maybe try and contact the manufacturer of the grout and see what they say before going ballistic on the contractor--

 

Maybe it just needs a few wet/dry cycles to fully cure

 

You sure it's the grout that stinks and not something from the fresh shower door install?

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Be ready to be racked over the coals for the use of acrylpro instead of thinset and for not using any barrier between the durock and the tile.

Ive never heard of that problem before. Ive worked in hundreds of bathrooms over the years being a master plumber. Ive used many Tec products including their grout and color matched caulk. Their products are usually top notch in my opinion. Did you have the grout sealed before you began using the shower? Thats extremely important because grout isn't water proof, only water resistant. All grout should be sealed initially with grout sealer, then re sealed in the following years to insure water proofing. Some grout requires an addmix solution instead of water when you mix it. Check the package for manufacture recommendations.

that moldy smell could be coming from the caulking used to seal the shower doors as the hot water hits it for the first few times .. but i am not a plumber , nor do i play one on TV .. Deerslayer is the authority here 

My glass guy normally uses clear RTV silicone, almost every glass door installation I've seen has been done this way. It stinks like chemicals when its first applied but normally scent free once it cures.

 

I bet the grout wasn't sealed and water is making its way through the grout behind the tile to the backer board and tile adhesive possibly mold or mildew is now forming behind the tile and the odor permeating through the porous tile grout. Mildew has a distinctive smell cant be mistaken for anything else. Dry the walls well make sure they are clean since you have been using it already, seal the grout allowed it to cure as per whatever brand sealer you use recommendations. Then see if the smell goes away. It cant hurt anything to give that a try, grout sealer is cheap and simple to apply.

hope he used the right kind of sheetrock  Hopefully 

maybe buy some grout sealer

hope he used the right kind of sheetrock Hopefully

maybe buy some grout sealer

The OP says "durarock", thats exactly what you should use or similar product like: dentshield, hardybacker, or wonderboard. They are all water and mold resistant, designed for tile shower enclosures. Sheetrock in a shower is a thing of the past for about the last decade.

I doubt it's mold forming in just a few showers, it's some kind of reaction once the steam and heat hit it. My first reaction was the tile guy put something in there to be a scum bag

You should have used thinset for the tile. Also should have used a water proof membrane on the backer board before applying the the tile.. I would guess there are at least 50% of tile men who do not know what they are doing in a shower.

Do you think I have a case in having everything redone being they used the wrong material, I called acrylpro today and they said it shouldn't have been used for this specific application. Plus I still have this smell

Do you think I have a case in having everything redone being they used the wrong material, I called acrylpro today and they said it shouldn't have been used for this specific application. Plus I still have this smell

 

Problem with that is that Acrylpro's published installation instructions don't specifically prohibit it for shower walls.  They do however prohibit it for shower floors, so if you have a tile floor, you have a rich case...

I've never used any pre mixed tile adhesive in a shower enclosure. I was always told not to do that by my step father growing up, he specialized in Kitchens and bathrooms. always used TEC brand thinset mortar. Maybe this is the reason why! I know a great tile guy if you would like a professional second opinion, sounds like your going to need one.

The OP says "durarock", thats exactly what you should use or similar product like: dentshield, hardybacker, or wonderboard. They are all water and mold resistant, designed for tile shower enclosures. Sheetrock in a shower is a thing of the past for about the last decade.

 

hope he put a waterproof membrane behind that durarock too!  -just sayin.

hope he put a waterproof membrane behind that durarock too! -just sayin.

I usually see most done with a coating they paint on the backerboard prior to tile. Or in really high end homes the entire enclosure is fiberglassed with cloth resin and hardener then tiled. Its not something you see often in a re model because the entire place stinks to high heaven for days after. Usually spec homes New construction.

Identifying the smell as coming from the grout lines is pretty precise.  My nose can't pinpoint things down to the nearest 1/8 inch.   I'd open a window, let it air out, and live with it for a couple of weeks.  All sorts of construction materials can off gas at first.  Once it stops, the smell will be gone.

Jus a thought, could it be coming from the shower drain. Maybe some construction debris in the trap?

 

What you are describing is odd, in my experience.

I've never used anything but thinset over wonderboard /durarock. I have never had anyone come back and say hey my shower smells like a wet towel.

  It could be the adhesive smell leeeching out. I seriously doubt you have a case and i seriously doubt you would get much if any compensation. But you can seek legal advice

Unfortunately there are good and bad contractors as well as good and bad customers.

   The bad contractors are the ones that give good contractors a bad rap. And sometimes its just one of those things in a relationship where the two parties just didnt fit well to begin with.

Well I applied 2 coats of DuPont bulletproof sealer and the smell is still there. Can't figure it out. It doesn't smell immediately it starts about 5 minutes after I get out of the shower.

Well I applied 2 coats of DuPont bulletproof sealer and the smell is still there. Can't figure it out. It doesn't smell immediately it starts about 5 minutes after I get out of the shower.

Was the P-trap replaced when the new shower pan was installed? Is the drain 2"? Is it vented? Is it backpitched? Does your wife use any facial masks with sulfur in them?

 

Everything has been replaced it's a smell coming from the tile.

Everything has been replaced it's a smell coming from the tile.

I'm stumped on this one. I would say either give it some time see if it goes away, or rip it out and start over with a new tile guy.

It's weird it smells sweet a couple hrs after a shower, but pretty much right after a shower is when you get the bad smell.

Definitely weird

I know you don't think it's coming from the drain...for giggles, mix some bleach and water and pour it down the drain.   Let it sit for a while, then run a shower again.  

 

The other thing, it could be coming from the shower head and it's spraying mildew all over the walls.

I know you don't think it's coming from the drain...for giggles, mix some bleach and water and pour it down the drain. Let it sit for a while, then run a shower again.

 

The other thing, it could be coming from the shower head and it's spraying mildew all over the walls.

The shower head is brand new, but I will try the bleach idea. Thanks for the help.

Hell, if it's tile, bleach EVERYTHING.

Baking soda works in drains too.

Baking soda works in drains too.

I love when people put powder into drains, gives me work. Don't do that. Don't use powdered soaps either eventually they turn into concrete inside the drain.

Been doing it for years. My grandparents did it too. Never had a problem. Not suppose to use the whole box but it does neutralize odors in the drain. Otherwise, not often, only when really bad and liquids for all else.

Prob is people don't maintain their drains. Not in op case, but you know.