I’m considering re-grouting my shower this weekend and I need lots of advice as I’ve never done this before. The current situation is that some of the grout is starting to fail and fall out. I suspect that this is a second layer of grout over the original, since the failed areas look to still have something between the tiles – best as I can tell. Maybe its just the thinset – how can I tell?
The house is 1960s vintage, so I imagine that its tile over the rock lath – no cement board.
We are going to give the bathroom a proper redo in a year or two when there’s enough cash, but I think I need to take care of this now to avoid bigger problems. That is to say, I don’t want to fix this by retiling now.
Any advice on how to do this, especially how to get the old grout out? I thought about using the grout bit on my rotozip, but I’m afraid I may just go right through the plaster and drywall if I slip up a bit.
Thanks!
BobS
Replies
Roto-zip sounds good to me. It has a collar with a depth adjustment, doesn't it? Just loosen the thumbscrew to adjust it and it shouldnt go deeper than you want. Since the grout is softer than the tile, it shouldn't be a problem with hurting the tile either. There are also hand tools that are like little saws with only a few teeth.
And allow more than a weekend. ;-)Troy Sprout
Square, Level & Plumb Renovations
Good point! Sounds like he has the right idea with removing the old grout instead of grouting over it though.
Yeah, maybe I'll just try one of the three walls this weekend.
If you only need this repair to last a year or 2, you don't really need to remove all of the old grout unless it's almost falling out on its own. Do try to remove at least as much depth as there is width. If the grout line is small, a utility knife (with frequent blade changes) might even work. I've never used the rotozip, but it seems to me that it would be a lot more tedious than a simple grout removal tool.
When you re-grout, use a very well wrung-out sponge because water will weaken the new grout. Since it may not be as thick as the original grout, this might be more important.
-Don
Don,Is the grout removal tool you mean, the carbide tiped blade? Is it that good that it beats out something with a cord? ;)I don't think I can remove all the old grout, but if I can get the second layer off, maybe I'll be in business.Thanks for the sponge tip.I haven't even thought much about getting the new grout in yet.
Is the grout removal tool you mean, the carbide tiped blade? Is it that good that it beats out something with a cord? ;)
Yes, that's the one I'm talking about. The one I use comes with multiple tips so the width can be set to match the grout line.
I haven't used a corded tool to remove grout (yet), but I haven't had to redo a whole shower yet either. I've only re-grouted the floor and part of the walls so take my skepticism with a grain of salt.
-Don