How to re-grout tiles

Over the years , drought attracts algae and moisture and can become stained and unsightly if you've cleaned your grout and you aren't satisfied with the results , you may want to remove the old drought and replace it .

When grout has dried , it forms into a hard dense material .

So you'll need to work vigorously to get it out .

Luckily , there are some tools that can make the job a lot easier .

One option is to use a grout remover , also known as a grout rake .

It's designed to fit into the tr joints and rake out the grout .

Make sure you wear close fitting goggles before you use this because bits of grout can dry out , open a window or a door to ventilate the air because dust will be in the air .

If you can't do this , wear a breathing mask , cover the area with a dust sheet , it'll make cleaning up much easier .

If you're working over a bath or a sink , put the plug in to help keep the ground out of the drains , you'll need some spare blade too as they become blunt over time to remove the grout , apply some pressure and move the tool so that the blade teeth cut into the ground , the blade teeth only face one way .

So there's no need to move the tool backwards and forwards or up and down .

As you can see , it's fairly straightforward to use , but it's quite labor intensive .

If you have a large area to cover , alternatively , you can use an electric rout remover like this .

It's much less labor intensive and is ideal over large areas .

It has a choice of heads and grinds the grout out mechanically to reduce the risk of damage .

It's best to start in the middle of the tile joint rather than at the corner .

Be careful not to scratch the task or damage the tile edges as you work your way into the ground , do the vertical joints first and then start work on the horizontal to be sure that you don't miss any ground .

Remove the grout to the thickness of the tile .

Once you've removed the grout , wipe the whole surface over with a damp cloth to get rid of any remaining flakes .

Grout is available in powdered and ready mixed forms .

Some grouts are waterproof and are suitable for wet areas such as showers .

Others are only suitable for dry areas and some grouts have anti mold properties .

Grout also comes in various colors .

So pick the type and the color that is most suitable for your job .

Powder grout needs to be mixed on site to form a creamy paste if you're using the powder only mix up as much as you will probably use in 30 minutes as it will begin to dry .

After that time , when you mix the grout , be careful not to over mix as you might create air bubbles to apply the grout .

You'll need to use a grout float or a grout spreader .

If you have a large area to grow a grout float is your best option .

A grout spreader is ideal for smaller areas for this job .

We're going to use a grout spreader to apply the grout .

Use a flat scraper or a trail to place some grout onto the grout spreader , then use the spreader to work the grout into the joints and use the edge of the spreader to clean the surface of the towel .

As you go continue like this until you have sprouted .

All of the joints work at a steady pace because the drought will start to harden after about 20 to 30 minutes .

Once the grout is in place , clean off any remaining excess with a wet but not saturated tile sponge .

If you remove any grout accidentally , while you're cleaning , you can use the spreader or your finger to add some more .

Let the grout begin to harden for about 20 to 30 minutes and then use the grout finisher to smooth the joints to give a neat appearance .

Pull the rounded end of the grout finisher over the joints in an even continuous movement .

As the grout dries , a powdery film will appear on the tiles after a few hours when the joints are dry , use a soft clean cloth to polish off the powdery film .

This will leave your tiles sparkly and that's that your tiles and grouting .

Now look as good as new for more ideas and know how visit diy dot com .