How to re grout tiles?

Grout can become dirty, dingy, cracked, and missing in places with time. No matter how properly it is sealed, it can fall apart over time, especially if persistently exposed to moisture.

This is why the grouts on your bathroom floor and the bottom tiles on your walls tend to crumble faster than other grouts that have little contact with water or other liquids.

Dirty, faded grout can be a true eyesore. After all, the color, spacing, and other features of grout play a vital role in home decor. Removing old grout is a boring task, and the good news is that it is not usually necessary.

Regrouting is a job that almost any homeowner can perform. If you know how to regrout tiles without removing old grout, you can simplify your efforts and achieve the best results.

The first question that comes to mind is, “can you regrout over existing grout?” The answer is very simple; yes, you can regrout over an existing grout.

Applying new grout over the existing grout is a basic home project that you can easily do yourself. This will save you some time and money and also give you the beautiful results you want to see. Let’s learn how to regrout tiles over old grout.

Grout is usually made of cement, and hence it tends to discolor and deteriorate with time. Though cement grout is the most common grouting material, epoxy grout is superior.

Because it has a better bonding property and does not absorb water as quickly as cement grouts. Furthermore, epoxy grout is easy to apply, durable, and available in various colors and finishes.

It’s a messy and time-consuming job to remove the old grout and make room for new. Even removing a thin layer of the grout can create a big mess.

You don’t need to remove all of the old grout before applying the new grout. But the dirty or disintegrating grout must be chipped away before the new grout can adhere to the old grout.

Prepare to spend at least two hours scraping off some of the old grout to make channels for the new grout. The channel should be deep enough to allow new grout to bond. Make sure you are wearing a mask to prevent inhaling the dust.

Remove the upper layer of the old grout using a grout removal tool to a depth of at least 2 millimeters. You can use a grout saw or another type of grout removal tool.

Once you create the channel, vacuum up any loose dust and particles from the work area. You have to maintain the grout line clean and dry before you apply the new material. Even after vacuuming, some minor particles may remain.

As a result, wipe out the entire work area with a damp cloth and leave it to dry. Make sure the project area is completely dry before you fill the grout lines with a new grout mixture.

Tile grout is available in powdered form that needs to be mixed by hand or premixed semi-liquid paste in various tube sizes. Hence the direction of use may vary with the product.

Once the working area is clean and dry, mix the grout according to the instructions on the package.

Scoop a sufficient amount of the mixture onto the grout float and spread it diagonally across the grout lines. Press it down to pack it firmly into the channel.

After that, use a clean, wet sponge to remove the excess grout from the tiles and smoothen out the edges. Cleaning the joints and tiles is a slow process.

Continue moving the wet sponge around the joints and tiles without applying too much pressure until it removes all excess grout and looks perfect.

Allow the grout to dry for approximately one week before moving on to the final step. During this time, it should remain completely dry.

To finish the task of regrouting, you must seal the grout. Apply grout sealer to new grout joints using a dry clean cloth. Allow the sealant to soak into the joints before wiping the tile’s surface.

Once the grout is sealed, caulk the corners and edges of your work area. Cut the caulk tube’s tip to the same size as the joint.

Using continuous pressure on the caulk gun, push the tip of the tube across the joint, providing a smooth, consistent joint. Remove any excess grout with a wet finger.

Taking the time to regrout your tiles can completely transform your room from old and worn to new and more functional in the long run.

Additionally, new grout can make a surface more water-resistant and impermeable to contaminants that can cause havoc in the gaps between loose tiles.

If you don’t use the same grout or one that will adhere well to the existing grout, you’ll have to redo the job in months. While regrouting tiles isn’t difficult, the state of the existing grout may determine whether you should do the job yourself or hire an expert.

How To Remove Stains From Marble Floor

Tiles are a great choice for splash zones in bathrooms and kitchens as they provide a practical yet stylish covering for your walls and floors. However, over time, they can suffer from mould and damage.

If your kitchen tiles or bathroom tiles are looking a little tired and grubby, or you’re simply looking to replace a damaged tile, you’ll need to regrout. To find out how to do this, follow our video and step-by-step instructions below, part of our series of articles on simple “modern” fixes for your home.

At Victoria Plum, we stock many of these tiling tools.

For demonstration purposes, we used the Bordeaux blue flat gloss wall tile 200mm x 457mm in this video.

Congratulations, you have now regrouted your tiles.

Step 1

Removing old grout.

Step 2

Wiping down surface.

Step 3

Choosing your grout.

Step 4

Applying grout along lines.

Step 5

Using a grout spreader.

Step 6

Using a grout finishing tool.

Step 7

Lifting chalky residue.

Step 8

Buffing with a cloth.

Most of the tiling tools used in the video, can be purchased at Victoria Plum.

If you aren’t comfortable with intermediate DIY tasks like these, it’s always best to consult an experienced professional.

Of course, before regrouting bathroom tiles, it's a good idea to prepare your bathroom beforehand. Move items like toiletries, bath mats and towels out of the room and put dust sheets over any surfaces, especially baths or shower enclosures. If your bathroom has a window, open it to ventilate your space. You may wish to wipe down your bathroom tiles before beginning the process.

As a space in which you prepare meals, it's always best to move any food, crockery, glassware or cooking utensils away from your room before regrouting your kitchen tiles. Put dust sheets down to help protect surfaces like worktops, sinks or hobs. Ventilate your kitchen by opening a window. To keep things extra clean, give your kitchen tiles a quick wipe down beforehand.