How to fix damaged grout in your bathroom

During your bathroom remodel, you may have noticed the grout between the tiles and around the bathroom faucets in your shower and on your sink is damaged or crumbling. Grout or caulk is used to seal and protect the area between tiles from moisture seeping through and damaging your walls, so it’s important to fix this problem immediately. Re-grouting is fairly simple, so don’t be afraid to do it yourself! Here’s a step-by-step guide for replacing the grout in your bathroom:

What you’ll need:

• Utility knife or grout removal tool
• Grout
• Bucket
• Grout float tool
• Sponge

Instructions:

• Your first step is to remove the damaged grout using a utility knife or another tool specifically designed for grout removal. Cut into the grout with your knife and chip away until it’s completely removed, being mindful not to damage or scratch the tiles. If you reach a spot that’s tougher to remove, you can try using a small chisel and hammer or even a small drill bit on a power drill to loosen it up.
• Make sure once all of the grout has been removed that you completely clean the area before applying new grout. The more dust and dirt, the more likely the grout won’t be able to stick quite as well.
• Follow instructions to mix your grout in a bucket until it’s the right consistency. It should be smooth and thick, similar to peanut butter.
• When the grout is ready, use your grout float to apply it to the walls. Get a significant heap on your tool and wipe it evenly over your walls, trying to get as much as possible between the tiles. Remember, you don’t have to worry about being messy. Grout won’t stick to the outside of your tiles since it needs a crevice to hold onto when it dries.
• After you’ve applied the grout, wait about 10 minutes, then use a sponge to evenly wipe the grout off of the face of your tiles.
• You should wait about 24 hours for your grout to dry completely before using your shower so steam and water don’t keep it from sticking.

Grout vs. caulk
You may want to consider using caulk rather than grout in the space between your tub and the wall and directly surrounding your bathroom faucets. Grout is made with cement, which means it’s a little less flexible than caulk is. Caulk is generally made with silicone or latex so it’s more pliant and will hold better in the event of any minuscule shifts that can happen over time. A good rule of thumb is that you can use grout between two items that are on the same plane, but you should consider using caulk between two items that are at an angle to each other (for instance, the top of your tub is at a 90 degree angle to your shower wall). Take care when applying caulk, because it will stick to your tiles and other surfaces rather than just the crevice you’re applying it in.

The bathroom is the most important room in your house to protect from moisture, so during any bathroom remodel you’ll want to consider re-grouting your walls.