Please pardon mismatched pages as we do a little renovating of our own.

Replacing grout in your bathroom or kitchen tile

If you find it’s time to be replacing grout in your bath tub or shower, a few tools and an afternoon may be all you need to invest.

It is important to remove all the existing grout before you add any new. Get yourself a Dremel tool with a wheel specifically designed for grout removal. It will save you a few hours of time.

Be sure to keep clearing out the grout that gets pulled out as you do this to keep the tiles from scratching.

If you prefer to exercise your trapezius and deltoids as a perk to sprucing up the tile, use an awl or a small serrated grout saw to take that old grout out.

If you use an awl or some other picking type tool, change directions as you chisel. Doing this puts less stress on the tile and that makes it less likely to break as you go along. With any of the removal tools, use a vacuum over each crack to get all the loose remnants out. If any of the tiles are loose or cracked, be sure to fix or replace them before replacing the grout.

Wash all the tile to get all the soap scum off. You can use TSP or a solution containing phosphoric acid to best do the job. Rinse it well and be sure the area is all dry. Better to wait until the next day to regrout than do it while the tile is still wet.

Ok, its downhill from here. Choose a grout that is either premixed or has an additive (like latex) to help it resist mildew when you are using it in a shower or other wet area.
You’ll have a wide choice of colors. So when you are replacing the grout, decide if you’d like the grout to stand out (use a contrasting color) or blend in (use a similar color) with your tile.

You’ll use a rubber or sponge float to spread the new grout on. Run it diagonally over the lines getting it firmly in the cracks. Don’t worry about the tiles; you will be able to easily wipe them down even after a couple hours. Wipe them down with a a damp sponge.