Before you decide to rip out your bathroom wall tiles, you may want to think about simply re-grouting your current tiles to get your bathroom back to pristine condition!
Everyone knows exactly what we mean, once the grout between the bathroom tiles starts to darken and smell. It can be ugly, it can be itchy, and it can even cause significant water ingress that does considerable damage and even makes you much poorer. During the eight years I’ve been a bricklayer, moldy grout and weak silicone can be the leading cause of major leaks and water damage in the apartments directly below.
Once the grout within the shower area or around the tub becomes moldy and dark in color, it will develop fractures and begin to leak water onto the sheetrock behind it, which can subsequently absorb it as a sponge and cause even more damage, and this could start to cost you a lot more of your hard earned money. This can go unnoticed for a long time if you don’t notice the telltale signs and smells, by which time too much is gone and the ceiling downstairs has collapsed. I’ve come across it so often and I think most people A – won’t understand how much damage it can cause and B – won’t appreciate how easy it is to repair. These are the two reasons why I am going to demonstrate the correct way to approach the problem. Not only does it help you save money, but it also completely transforms your dirty, stinky bathroom back to how it was all those years ago.
I think a lot of people waste a lot of money re-tiling the areas involved. However, regrouting is often an inexpensive DIY solution to overcome the problem and make your bathroom easier on the eyes and nose. There are a number of reasons why regrouting can be a popular alternative to retiling tiles, including price, time frame, and also the length of time the shower will be out of use while the work is taking place.
The grouting procedure is simple, takes a couple of hours, makes it 100% leak proof and helps make your bathroom look brand new again, all for under £100. Sound good? Well, in this post we’ll take a look at exactly how to go about this project, as well as the advantages it offers along with why hiring a qualified professional could help you save money in the long run.
Tools needed
All can be purchased through your nearby DIY store.
- grout float
- waterproof anti-mold grout for showers and wet rooms
- mixing vat
- mixer blade or mixer attachment for drilling
- Bosch 180e Multi-Cutter with Grout Cutter Attachment
- tile sponge
- anti-mold silicone (if the caulking looks black and moldy)
- grout spray sealer from the good tile store
- gloves
- dust mask
- safety glasses
- silicone (anti-mold)
- glue gun
- Scotch tape
Grouting of tile work
Get rid of the old and add something new!
Before starting work, you should wear your dust mask, gloves, and goggles. Safe practice on the job is important!
1. To get started, you should start by attaching the grout removal blade to a ‘bosch’ or ‘dremel’ multi-cutter and gradually cut through each of the damaged grout lines until you can easily see the initial one. color once more, or if you choose, you can remove all affected grout back to the sheetrock according to the severity of the problem.
2. Wash off any dust from the cut making sure to sponge directly into the grout lines removing all dust and dirt as the grout will not hold firm if left on.
3. Mix the grout following the manufacturer’s recommendations. Using your mixing knife, place some grout on the end or edge of the grout trowel and begin working in diagonal sweeps pressing the grout directly into the lines covering each line several times to ensure you have loaded to its full depth. of the line. Not filling to the full depth can result in cracking not to mention water ingress.
4. Allow to set for 10-15 minutes according to manufacturer’s recommendations, then buff with the rough side of the grout sponge or you can run a finger along the lines to make it very smooth.
5. Let dry for 24 hours, just before finishing using a clear spray sealer that will make it 100% waterproof for many years.
Refinishing your silicone sealant around the tub or shower
1. Get rid of all the old silicone by using a Stanley blade to remove the main lines and then a single blade to clean up the rest. In my opinion, I have found this to be the most effective way to clean old silicone.
2. Work with masking tape to cover the top and bottom of where the fresh lines are likely to go.
3. First cut off the top of the silicone tube, attach the nozzle, determine how thick the bead should be, and cut a 45 degree angle on the nozzle.
4. Hold the gun at a 45 degree angle while gradually depressing the trigger and lower the lines stopping the gun at any time when necessary. This alone is very challenging, however the duct tape prevents the bead from scattering.
5. Peel off the tape and lick your finger. Making sure it is completely wet, move your finger slowly and gradually down the silicone line, stopping and licking again if the silicone begins to stick to your finger. This will leave a nice elegant airtight seal.
Why hire a professional plumber or mason
There are many reasons why you should find a professional to handle the task. The expense to start with because they will most likely already have all the tools needed to get the job done, which can help you save over £100 easily. Second, simply the fact that they have probably done the same job hundreds of times over and will usually guarantee the work they do, giving you the reassurance that no downstairs neighbor will be knocking on your door yelling that their roof is leaking. Water. The expertise of the professional plus will leave the job with a top quality finish. Convenience is another main reason. Hiring a plumber or bricklayer allows you to take things easy as you don’t need to add another demanding task to an already hectic schedule as the plumber or bricklayer will provide you with a precise deadline date for when the job is likely to be finished. . Although working with grout sounds fairly straightforward, it is often difficult to know the best time to clean grout after it is laid, perhaps leaving undesirable grout on the tile surface indefinitely.
Now that you know the basics of regrouting, you may want to check out your own bathroom and see if you think you have the self-confidence to tackle the task. Or rest assured, it could be finished for a reasonable price by calling a professional plumber or mason.