How to Repair Broken Grout on Tile Floors
Grout is the cement fill that sits between the tiles on your tiled floor. It's not as strong or durable as the tile itself, and may eventually start to crack and crumble. Once this starts to happen, you should repair it immediately, because broken grout can admit moisture into the tiled structure and cause more damage. The hardest part of the project is getting the old grout out, which takes some patience and work. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Grout saw (square carbide blade on a handle)
- Vacuum hose
- Grout mix
- Bucket
- Putty knife
- Grout float (flat rubber trowel)
- Sponge
Instructions
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1
Use your grout saw to remove the damaged grout, scraping the carbide blade back and forth over the grout lines and gradually digging down. Dig along the whole length of each tile where there's damaged grout.
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2
Vacuum the debris out of the grout line with your vacuum hose.
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3
Put 1 to 2 inches of grout powder in a bucket. Add water, while stirring with a putty knife, until the mix is the consistency of thick mud. Add more grout and water, if necessary, to make enough grout to fill each of the lines you dug out.
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4
Let the mixed grout sit in the bucket for ten minutes. Stir again with the putty knife.
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5
Use your grout float to scoop up and press the grout into the extracted lines. Use the edge of the float to scrape the grout off the tile face.
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6
Allow the grout to sit in the lines for five to ten minutes. Use a damp sponge to wipe up the excess grout. Let the grout set for two to three days before resuming use of the area.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear eye protection while extracting grout.
