How to Re-Grout a Shower Floor

The grout between ceramic tiles in showers isn't as durable or as easy to clean as the ceramic itself, which is why those grout lines can corrode and crumble. The problem often starts on the tiled shower floor, where most of the water and soap collects. Re-grouting is easy: You dig out enough of the existing grout and lay a new layer of grout over it.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Grout saw (a non-powered tool that looks like a razor blade on the end of a curved handle) Small wire brush Powdered grout Bucket Six-inch putty knife Grout sealer in a sponge-applicator bottle

How to Re-Grout a Shower Floor

1. Use a grout saw to dig out all the loose grout and to deepen the grout lines. It's OK if solid, non-crumbling grout remains in the bottom of the lines. But it's important that you remove at least some of the grout from the top of the lines throughout, so the new grout has somewhere to sit. Go over it again with the wire brush to remove any dirt and residue. Rinse well.

2. Mix the grout with water in a bucket with your putty knife, following the instructions that came with the grout. Work it into the consistency of thick mud, then let it stand for 10 minutes.

3. With the tiles still wet from the last rinsing, apply the new grout to the tile lines with a grout trowel, pressing it into the lines and squeezing it off the tile surface. Let it sit for about five minutes, then wipe it down with a damp sponge. Get all the residue off the tile surface while smoothing out the grout between the tiles.

4. Let the grout dry overnight. Seal it with grout sealer before using the shower.

References

• Re-grout ceramic tile.