For those who have tiles at home, it is possible that at some point in time they have encountered problems with discolored, missing or damaged grout. Whether it is in the bathroom shower, kitchen countertop or backsplash or floor, when the grout weakens this will cause the room to look lackluster. As a matter of fact, this could make even the most stunning tiles seem totally unpleasant and unattractive. Fortunately, this problem can be fixed easily if you regrout the tiles on your own, without having to call a professional mason and pay an exorbitant sum. In order to make your job a lot easier, this article will provide several tips to assist you in regrouting tile in any area at home.

Whenever any areas of the tile seem moldy and discolored or even if it starts to loosen then this is definitely an indication that the remainder of the grout is in a very poor condition. Keep in mind that the ruined grout might not seem bad on the surface but the things that you are unable to see at the back of the tiles could lead to dangerous conditions. Most importantly, in case there is mold formation this could also lead to severe health problems.

At this point, let’s take a brief look on the use of grout in ancient times to present day.
Similar to most of the procedures and products used these days, grout started during the historical times. The marble masons who cut limestone sculptures and statues usually left deposits of limestone powder while making open-spaced stone flooring. Whenever this powder is combined with water, sand and clay, the end result would be a tough seal on the tile and below the ground. These concepts continue to be used nowadays, utilizing what is currently called “common grout.”

The grout available these days is a much more advanced mixture of epoxy or sand, sealant, dyes and hardening agents, compared to what was used in earlier times. The current modern-day materials are generally made from pretty products and in many instances, water will be the only added substance to be included before installation.

Tips on how to regrout tiles

• First, you need to get items such as a grout saw and/or a small knife; mildew remover; a utility knife or a chisel; vacuum cleaner; grout; tile sponge; grout float and grout sealer.
• How to prepare the tile before regrouting
• First of all, you have to decide on the color grout. When planning to work on the entire floor or wall area, it is best to get the right color to match up with the tile. This is even more important when doing small grouting, because the color must complement the current grout.
• Next, scrub and clean up the tiles using household cleansing solution such as mildew remover.
• After that, by using a small knife or grout saw you can make cuts in the narrow areas and this can remove the grout lines.
• At this point, you are recommended to get rid of the excess grout by using a utility knife or chisel.
• Then, vacuum around the space of the tile to remove any excess debris or chunks.
• Check if some of the tiles need to be replaced. If this is the case, you should do this before regrouting.
• Lastly, you should clean the tile. Make use of any household solution to get rid of any dirt and scum.

Applying the new grout
The grout is generally available in dry form or pre-mixed mixtures. But, you should ensure that you follow the directions on the package before mixing it. As an alternative, it is possible to use grout latex-modified because this is water-resistant and will not crack as time passes.
After that, spread out the grout on the tile. By using a grout float, this will help you to smooth it easily. For this purpose, you can set the float in a thirty degree angle.
Push the grout in the unfilled spaces in between the tiles, by using a float. You can check if the spaces in the tiles are filled up properly by pushing on the grout. If it gets too hard for you to push, this means that the spots are filled out. Get rid of all the unnecessary grout. This can be done by working the grout float on the top of the tiles and let it stay for five minutes. Now, use a slightly wet sponge to run on top of the tiles so that you can clear away excess grout.

• Allow the grout to cure for no less than 3 days.
• Lastly, brush with a grout sealer over the joints in between the tiles in order to seal it properly. By doing this, you can keep mold and water from the grout.

Remember that applying fresh grout on existing one is referred to as “skim coating” and this should be avoided at all cost. It will be impossible for the fresh grout to stick to the existing grout, plus this will not allow you to get enough depth for the fresh grout to set firmly. As time passes the fresh grout may begin to flake and chip away, so you will not get to resolve all of your moldy wall problems with this kind of skim coating process. When doing this type of procedure it is recommended to put on eye protection and a dust mask.

The best tool to use when regrouting is the brush-type one, as this will be able to remove existing grout from the lines. You might discover that there is some leftover grout on the tiles, so it is possible to chip away this by using the scraper device. This scraper can also be used for removing the caulk.

In conclusion, it is recommended that you pay special attention to the product packaging to get specific requirements or even check with your local store which specializes in home improvement items as there are professionals on hand to provide additional details. Hopefully, these simple tips will help you to regrout the bad tiles much easier and get to have beautiful surroundings.