How to Regrout & Caulk a Bathtub
Tile shower surrounds for a bathtub and shower are beautiful. On the other hand, over time they become dingy and dirty. In many instances, the grout between the tiles becomes damaged. Instead of replacing your entire shower surround with new tiles, re-grouting and caulking your bathtub can make it look like new. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Drop cloth
- Utility knife or grout saw
- Bleach
- Water
- Grout mix
- Rubber grout floater
- Sponge or soft cloth
- Masking tape
- Silicone caulk
Instructions
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1
Lay a drop cloth into the tub or shower floor. This is important to help prevent scratching of the tub or floor and drain clogs. Be sure the cloth covers adequately.
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2
Use a utility knife to remove the old caulk on the tub. Once the caulk is removed, you can use either a utility knife or a grout saw to remove the old grout from between the tiles. Be careful not to scratch the tiles as you do this. Make sure both the caulk and the grout is completely removed.
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3
Mix one cup of bleach with one gallon of water. Rub the tiles down with the mixture. Wipe down the tiles and the gaps between the tiles. It is also important to wipe the areas where the caulk was removed; this will help to prevent mold. Allow the tiles to dry completely.
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4
Mix the grout mixture. Grout mixture can be purchased at most hardware stores. Mix the grout per manufacturer instructions.
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5
Apply the grout mixture to the tiles. Using the rubber grout floater, squeeze the grout into the crevices. Spread the grout over the entire area of tiles. Always re-grout the entire area, otherwise it will look like a poor tile patch job.
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6
Remove any excess grout from the tops of the tiles with a sponge and water. This may need to be repeated several times. Allow the grout to dry for 24 hours before caulking.
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7
Tape the edges of the tub and shower surround. To create a template for the caulk, apply tape on both sides of the area to be caulked. The space between the tape should be approximately a quarter-inch.
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Apply the silicone caulk to the taped section. Spread the bead of caulk with a finger. Once the caulk has been applied, remove the tape for a clean line. Allow to dry for 24 hours before using the shower.
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