Friday, July 27, 2012

How to Regrout Tile

Restore worn tile surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen, or any other area of the home to their original brightness by refreshing the grout that anchors them.

To select the proper grout for the job, consider the size of your tile: Use sand grout for tile with grout lines that are at least 1/8-inch wide; for lines narrower than 1/8-inch, use nonsanded grout. Premixed grout is ideal for small jobs.

Tools and Materials
  • Mildew-removing bathroom cleaner
  • Safety glasses
  • Handheld grout saw or Dremel 300 series rotary tool kit
  • 2 gallon bucket
  • Grouting and scrubbing sponge
  • Grout (white)
  • Grout float
  • Grout haze remover
  • Grout cleaner and resealer

Regrouting Tile How-To
  1. Scrub and clean tiles with a mildew remover.
  2. With a grout saw or Dremel rotary tool, saw along the grout lines, making cuts into narrow spaces. (Always wear goggles for safety when operating power tools.)
  3. Spread grout over tile.
  4. Using a grout float, smooth out grout, pressing it into the empty spaces between tiles. Remove excess by running the grout float over the top of the tiles. Clean leftover grout off with a wet sponge. Let cure for 24 to 48 hours.

    Note: Premixed grout dries much more quickly and should be sponged off right away.
  5. Apply grout haze remover to tile.
  6. Apply grout sealer along the joints between the tiles.


Source: www.MarthaStewart.com