How To Grout And Regrout Your Tiles

Tiling is a task that looks incredibly complicated, but with the right tools and knowledge, it’s something that you can tackle as a DIYer.

Grouting can become stained and dingy over the years, especially in bathrooms and around sinks, where water damage can make the grout look dirty and aged. Refreshing it can transform the whole room and make it look much cleaner. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to grout or regrout your tiles.

How To Grout Your Tiles

Timing makes all the difference when it comes to grouting your floor or wall tiles. The good news is that once you’ve mastered the art of grouting, the process is the same, no matter the types of tiles you’re dealing with. Grout needs to fill in all of the joints between the tiles completely in order to keep the area secure and watertight.

1. Get Your Tools Together

Once you’ve laid the tiles in place, it’s time to grout them. There are a few tools you’ll need for this, including a tile grouter and the right type of grout for the area.

There are three main types of grout – wall grout, which is un-sanded; floor grout, which is sanded; and specialist grout which is an epoxy solution. For the longest-lasting result, make sure the grout you’re using is designed for the area you’re tiling – it will get between the tiles more effectively and minimise how much work you need to do to maintain it.

2. Add In Additives

There are also additives to certain types of grout that will enable them to perform better in certain environments, such as fungicides and mould repellents for bathroom tiling, additives to improve flexibility between tiles and even colours for aesthetic appeal.

3. Mix Carefully

A grout that you mix up yourself will be easier to work with than a pre-mixed grout which can be firmer and harder to push into the joints. Powder grouts can be mixed by hand using just a small container and trowel, but if you’re mixing a larger quantity, you can use a paddle and electric drill to make the job quicker and easier.

Have two buckets close by – one for mixing your grout and another to rinse your sponges in. Follow the instructions on the packet – most grouts require a 1:1 to 1:3 ratio of water to powder – and slowly tip the powder into the water, stirring until you’ve reached a creamy and smooth consistency. The grout should be workable but not runny.

4. Apply To The Tiles

Add a small dollop of the grout to your tile grouter and push it into the joints, making sure they’re full and completely covered. If there’s any excess, scrape as much as you can off so you’re not wasting the grout unnecessarily. Keep an eye on the waste grout on the areas you’ve already grouted, as you don’t want it to dry out completely and harden, as this will make it more difficult to remove later.

When you’ve grouted everything, use a clean, damp sponge and wipe over the tile and joint to remove any surplus grout. It should be hard enough to require firm pressure to wipe off, but not fully hardened. If it’s not hard enough, the sponge will simply pull the grout out of the joints, so it’s all about striking the right balance. Leave the grouting to dry fully, after which you can wipe away any dust with a damp cloth and go over your grout lines with a scraper to even them up.

Regrouting Tiles

It is possible to regrout an area if the grout is old, chipped or stained. Removing grout isn’t a pleasant job, but it’s necessary if you want to redo the grout in your home. By removing the grout by hand, you can hopefully avoid damaging the tiles, but a power tool might be necessary if you’re attempting to regrout a larger area, such as the Dewalt Grout Removal Blade which provides fast and effective removal.

Lay a dust sheet down to catch the grout and begin removing it from the tiles, either manually or with an electric grout remover. If you’re using a manual tool, place the blade onto the grout and scrape between the join to remove the grout. If you’re using an electric tool, hold it against the grout at a 45-degree angle and keep it on a low speed, gradually moving along the grout in slow strokes to remove it carefully.

To remove the dust and chippings that will have accumulated after this process, vacuum up the worst of the dust and then use a clean, damp sponge to wipe away the reminder. Once the tiles are all cleaned, you can then follow the above steps to regrout the area.

Grouting Made Easy!

Grout can make all the difference to how areas such as shower cubicles and sinks look, so it’s important to keep them maintained and cleaned regularly. Whether you’re tiling a new area of your property, or you want to freshen up an existing tiled area, knowing how to apply and remove grout is a useful skill to have.