Remove and Regrout My Bathroom Tile
Old, mildewed and crumbling grout can be a serious problem in your bathroom. Grout helps protect your tiles from damage and seals out moisture from floors and walls. In a wet area such as the bathroom, grout is even more important. When grout begins to break apart, it's important to remove it and regrout the tiles as soon as possible. This will help ensure the long life of your tiles and keep protecting your walls and floors from moisture.
Instructions
1. Cut the old grout from between the tiles, using a utility knife with a fresh blade. Pull the blade in one direction for each joint in short, chopping motions. Cut close to the sides of both tiles surrounding each joint, taking care not to scratch or cut the tiles themselves. When the knife stops cutting smoothly through the grout, replace the blade.
2. Pour dry grout into a bucket and slowly add water. Stop and stir the grout frequently, scraping down the sides of the bucket with a hand trowel to ensure all the dry grout gets mixed in. Do not pour all the water in at once; moisture in the air and the age of the grout can affect how much it needs. Stop adding water when the grout reaches the consistency of smooth peanut butter.
3. Scoop up a baseball-sized amount of grout on the end of a rubber grout float. Hold the float by the handle with the flat surface at a 45-degree angle to the tiles. Pull the grout float by the handle across the surface of the tiles, pressing it flat on each joint to pack the grout in. Move across each joint from several angles to ensure each joint is filled adequately.
4. Dampen a grout sponge slightly and move it across each tile in one direction to remove the excess grout. Rinse out the sponge in clean water frequently to avoid grout haze. Stop wiping the tiles when no excess grout can be detected and all the tiles are the original color and texture.
Tags: each joint, across each, Bathroom Tile, excess grout, float handle