How to remove old grout from tile joints. How to remove old grout from tile joints - tips and tricks

If you are modern, tired of the color of the seam near the tile, then it can be replaced.

You can upgrade the grout yourself, as it is easy and inexpensive. And your tile will look like new. Be sure to check in the manufacturer’s instructions how long it takes for the new material to dry. The total time spent on repairs will depend on what area you process.

Tools and materials

Joint saw
  . Stitching (round bar)
  . Rubber roller or sponge
  . Ironer
  . New grout
  . A solution of vinegar (1: 1)
  . Sealant
  . Rags
  . Dry (or paper) towel

Proper grouting

When replacing the grout, it can be quite difficult to choose the grout of the desired color. Just buy a grout close to the color you need and add water to the grout if a lighter shade is needed. Conversely, make the solution thicker if you need a darker color.

  FOLLOW SAFETY:
Be sure to wear safety glasses when removing old grout.

Types of grout

There are 4 types of grout: with sand, without sand, acrylic latex and epoxy. Choose the appropriate type of grout according to the width of the joints between the tiles.

Measure the distance between the tiles. If the joint width is more than 3 mm, use a grout with the addition of sand. If the seams are narrow (less than 3 mm), then grout without sand, acrylic latex or epoxy will do.
  . Sand grout should not be used for marble tiles, as scratches may appear on the marble. It is better to take a grout without sand or acrylic latex.
  . Grout for ceramic cladding   The table should be resistant to mold and dyes.

Repair of facing seams

1. Treat the damaged grout in the joints with a solution of vinegar.

2. Using a special saw for seams, remove the old grout. Do this carefully so as not to crack the tile.

3. Moisten the seams with water. Blot excess water with a paper towel.

4. Prepare grout according to manufacturer's instructions.

5. Thoroughly fill the joints with grout using
ironers.

6. Use the stitch to align the seams between the tiles.

7. Remove the excess grout with a rubber roller or sponge, washing it periodically with water. Then blot the tile surface well again.

8. Allow grout to set completely. When working, follow the manufacturer's instructions. If you are repairing the grout in the bathroom, then after the seams are completely dry, cover them with sealant

9. Clean the tile with a damp cloth.

10. Let the tile dry well until a smoky coating appears on the surface.

11. Polish the tile with a dry towel until plaque disappears.

If you have changed the grout due to crumbling and the new grout behaves in the same way, the cause may be an uneven floor base or excessive humidity. Consult a professional and repair the floor on which the tile is laid, if necessary.

Looking at the recently sparkling finish of the bathroom or kitchen, the question arises - how to remove the old grout from the tile joints quickly, without damaging the front side of the tile or not breaking off a piece from the side?

The need to clean the grout from the seams occurs in a number of cases:

• Incorrectly selected mixture for seams. For example, a trowel mixture for a bathroom is different from a mixture for a room, because the bathroom has high humidity.
• Joint grouting was not carried out correctly. The presence of defects, scratches and indentations contributes to the accumulation of dirt.
• The composition was broken by the addition of optional components. Or a trivial violation of the instructions for cooking.
• The appearance of mold and fungus.
• Error in the selection of colors.

Types of grouts and technology for their removal

Depending on the type of mixture used, the method for its removal may differ, therefore, a different tool is needed. Renovator is a multifunctional tool for the household.

The renovator can gently remove the old grout between the tiles

Cement fugue

Often you have to remove the cement mixture from the seams - it is hygroscopic, and absorbs everything that gets on it.

In rooms with high humidity in this composition mold and fungus settle, which not only worsens the aesthetic perception of the finish, but also is harmful to human health.

To complete the work you will need a tool:

1. knife for removing grout from tile joints;
2. joint extender;
3. foam sponge.

To remove grout from the tile joints without much effort, it must be softened with water or with a solvent selected for this purpose.

• Using a foam sponge, all the seams are soaked with a special liquid.
• The joint spacer cleans the tile space.

Washing the tiles after grouting is reduced to tedious mechanical work of scraping out the wetted composition from all cracks. When working without wetting the surface, dust will be emitted, therefore it is recommended to wear safety glasses and a respirator.

Epoxy based composition

After hardening, the epoxy composition becomes as strong as stone and therefore lasts a long time. The need for its replacement arises infrequently, but it causes a lot of trouble.

To remove the old grout, you will need an epoxy solvent. The softened composition is removed from the inter-tile space in a standard manner.

It is important! Acquired grout remover can damage the enamel on the front of the tile. The solvent is applied to a small area of \u200b\u200bthe tile - if it has not reacted with enamel, then it can be used for its intended purpose.

In this case, you can remove the grout between the tiles after thorough heating. Make sure that the leaked resin does not freeze on the tile itself when removed.

What to consider when deleting

Removing various mixtures from the seams in composition requires a careful approach, just like applying a new fugue to the cleaned seams so that you do not have to redo it, initially do the job correctly.

• Many people will be able to wipe gaps with a cement composition, but not everyone can do it beautifully. You can spoil your work if it is too early to wash the puffer from the tile when it has not yet frozen in the seams. The seams are overwritten in the normal mode, when they are aligned with a sponge, excess is removed, and the surface remains smeared. You can wipe off grout smudged with a thin layer later.
• It is not easy to wipe the epoxy puffer from the tile if time is lost. Work on filling the seams is carried out on a small area - 1-2 m2, and is cleaned no later than 5 minutes from the moment of applying the composition. The process is complicated by the fact that the epoxy fugue sets quickly and dries for a long time, and you can accidentally wash the substance from the seams. The epoxy grout is cleaned with a fiber-optic nozzle and then with a soft sponge dipped in water. To achieve the desired effect, you need to regularly change water and sponges.

How to wash tiles after repair

After the tile is laid and all the seams are repaired, it must be washed. There are some simple recommendations to do this, but only if special grouts based on epoxy have not been applied.

1. Lemon. At the rate of 1 tablespoon per 300 grams of water.
2. Vinegar is five percent. If it is an essence, it must be diluted.
3. Hydrochloric acid - use with caution.
4. And standard detergents for plumbing, for example, Domestos.

Using these products at home, be sure to wear rubber gloves and preferably glasses, since a drop of acid can damage the retina of the eye, and in the case of hydrochloric acid, the use of a respirator will not interfere.

Now you can independently clean the seams and wash the tiles after grouting.

The bathroom is constantly exposed to moisture and dirt, so good repairs need to be maintained. Even the most beautiful tiles with black and cracked seams look messy. If the old grout already looks bad, and most importantly, does not protect the walls from fungus and high humidity, then you can replace it.

Why is it collapsing?

Seams are destroyed not only due to natural causes, but also due to aggressive detergents. Therefore, when replacing the grout with a new one, carefully consider the selection of household chemicals.
It is better to change the grout after a couple of years, when fungus and mold begins to live in the cracks between the tiles, destroying the entire surface. But if the replacement is performed by an unprofessional and incorrectly selected way, you can accidentally crack an existing tile and then the repair will cost several times more.

Grout can be replaced in two ways: chemical and mechanical.

How to prepare?

Be sure to purchase all the protective accessories for repairs: a respirator, gloves and goggles. Especially if you choose the mechanical method, there will be a lot of dust. It is contraindicated for allergy sufferers to engage in such work. Remove all objects that you do not want to get dirty from the bathroom.

Mechanical methods

Drill

1. Apply diluted vinegar to the seam with a sponge.

2. We wait about twenty minutes before it is absorbed.

3. Insert a drill into the drill equal to or slightly less than the distance between the tiles.

4. Press the tool firmly and select the lowest modes.

5. We clean all with cotton buds or blow off the remnants with a hairdryer. Both methods remove dirt well.

Bulgarian

The principle of operation is exactly the same as that of a drill, only the thickness of the disk should be equal to the thickness of the seam between the tiles. Make sure that it does not cling to the surface of the tile, otherwise there will be splits and scratches. This is not the easiest option, not recommended for beginners. The main thing is to hold the tool evenly.

Spatula or paint knife

We process the seam very well with vinegar and carefully proceed to remove the grout. The method is simple, but very time consuming. You need to walk along the seam several times, methodically pouring out the remains of the old solution.

Chemical methods

Lemon acid

The easiest way at home. A high concentration of such a solution helps corrode the old grout. It is necessary to insist a solution of citric acid and water. Then apply and leave. Later, the solution will be removed with a regular sponge, but some particularly difficult areas will still have to be removed mechanically. Therefore, it is better to combine it with a grinder, drill or spatula.

Household chemicals

Modern tools help soften the old solution and easily remove them. If it does not help the first time, you can try to apply again. Or remove the residues mechanically with the above options.

Photo: www.factroom.ru, takprosto.cc, strport.ru, ru-stroyka.com, vannadecor.ru

Grouted joints are the weakest point of this coating; this is the most prone to damage in the cladding ceramic tiles. Over time, they may lose their original color, chips or cracks may appear on them, while the aesthetic qualities of the surface are significantly reduced and their replacement or repair may be required. How to do this correctly so as not to damage the tile, which tools you will need, we will describe in this article.

Grout damage

During the operation of the ceramic surface, damage to the joints can be caused by various reasons, for example, mechanical stress or the development of fungus. This causes mechanical or aesthetic defects. In some cases, the seams can be cleaned or repaired.

Damage to grouting regarding aesthetics:

• Dirt and stains - can be removed by washing, while the stains are often quite stable dirt and do not always wash. You can read,.
• Change in surface color - this damage can be caused by careless washing and cleaning of the coating, because some aggressive cleaning agents can cause discoloration.
• Loss of original color - this problem usually relates to surfaces that are outside buildings. Color changes occur in places exposed to UV radiation and precipitation.
• Mold and other biological contaminants on the surface, for example, fungus and algae, occur with prolonged exposure to water cladding, as well as with severe pollution.

Technical Damage:

• Cracking - typically found in cement joints, especially near tile edges.
• Crumbling is the most serious damage to the seams, which, as a rule, causes the need to replace them.

The method of recovery depends on the degree and nature of the appearance violation.

If the seams retained their strength parameters, did not lose their original color, but simply became very dirty, then restoration can only be reduced to thorough washing with a brush and warm water with a strong detergent.

If biological contamination occurs, in addition to detergents, it is worth adding special fungicidal agents to remove mold and mildew so that they can no longer develop on the grout surface.

Attention! Fungicides usually have a very strong odor, so work with agents of this type should be carried out carefully and intensively ventilate the room.

If the seams do not have mechanical damage, and we just want to refresh the color, it is preferable to use the so-called renovator for the seams, forming a new, very thin layer on the existing, old seam. Renovators are sold as ready-to-use masses that are applied with a brush or applicator. To do this, thoroughly clean and degrease the joints. Such a tool can be used both on walls and on floors, since the resulting updated coating does not wear out when walking on tiles and flushing the surface.

If the seams are scattered or badly damaged, then the best solution is to completely replace them. How to replace grout and how to remove grout from tile joints? Removing grout between tiles is a time-consuming operation and can ultimately damage the edge or even the surface of the tile. Grout from tile joints can be removed in the following ways:

The latter method (mechanized) is more effective, but requires the purchase or rental of specialized equipment, with which you will be able to remove grout from the joints with less force.

The grout, which is made of mortar, is difficult to remove because it tends to adhere tightly to the tile. It is a little easier to remove when it is old and begins to crack or crumble. Having spent a lot of work, we can remove it manually using scrapers. The most convenient way, however, is the use of electric multifunctional micro grinding, which is sold with a set of different nozzles for different types of work.

To remove the grout you should use a special tip. During operation, it is necessary to carefully monitor the process so as not to damage the tile. After removing the grout from the empty space, you need to remove its remnants. To do this, you should first use a stiff brush, and at the end a vacuum cleaner to carefully remove dust and cement residues.
  After cleaning the cracks between the tiles from the remnants of the mortar, you can make a new grout with the composition in accordance with the instructions and instructions of the manufacturer.

Dilute the mass for the new grout in a bucket of water, pouring the solution into the water, and not vice versa. You should get a thick and plastic consistency. The mass is applied with a rubber spatula. Wet sponge removes residues, then flatten with a spatula to smooth the coating.

At the end, with a damp cloth or sponge, rinse the lining from the remnants of the solution and stains left by the grout.

In addition to grouting, it may be necessary to replace silicone insulating joints. Silicone is usually used in the corners between tiles and a bath or sink, kitchen worktop. She is removed with a knife.

Difficult to separate silicone residues can first be softened by using a silicone solvent, which is sold as a paste.

After removing the old material, the gap is cleaned and washed with gasoline.

Before applying a new layer, the edges of the seam should be glued with masking tape so that the new seam comes out even. Silicone can be matched to the color of other seams. Remember that neutral silicone is used to seal between tiles and acrylic bathtubs and shower trays.

Acid-based silicones are not used for these purposes. The material is applied manually, using a special device, cutting off the plastic tip to a width similar to the width of the gap.

Immediately after application, the silicone is smoothed with a special plastic spatula. Then remove the adhesive tape.

Replacing grout between tile joints is painstaking and responsible process. But do not think that he is subject only to professionals - with certain efforts, work can be done independently. The main thing is to follow the rules and recommendations.

Is it worth it to remove the old grout?

Before you start removing the old grout, just try to wash the seams, in most cases it works. You can use special tools or prepare it yourself - for this you just need to mix soda, lemon juice and acetic acid, dilute the mixture with water. Choose the concentration of the solution yourself - the more pollution, the higher the concentration should be.

If we talk about special tools, then the most budget options is Pemolux. To use this product, moisten the tile well with water and rub it thoroughly for 3-5 minutes. After that, it is worth leaving Pemolux at the seams for another 10-15 minutes. If the grout is heavily soiled between the tiles, the procedure should be repeated several times.

Caution: do not use Pemolux and other abrasive products on a glossy surface (on a glossy tile) - this can seriously damage the surface of the tile! Before using this or that tool, it is highly recommended to check its effect on an inconspicuous area!

If you just could not wipe the seams, proceed to mechanical removal.

How to remove old grout from joints?

The process of removing old grout is quite simple. For work, use a special tool - a joint extender (photo of this tool just below). You can use a regular knife with a sharp blade, but be careful - do not damage the tile.

Removal Steps:

• use acid softener for joints, this is especially true for old joints that have hardened strongly over time;
• now with suitable tools (a knife or a binder, or you can use a small flat screwdriver), carefully remove the old grout;
• vacuum the seams (it is advisable to use a construction vacuum cleaner);
• wash the seams with concentrated soapy water to remove dirt and dust;
• dry the seams and apply a penetrating primer (I mainly use an acrylic primer in 1-2 layers).

You can try to remove the grout with an electric drill, but the method is rather risky, especially if you are not good at using this tool - you can easily damage the tile, so be extremely careful!

Silicone Grout Removal

Such modern material as silicone grout also fails over time - it darkens and crumbles in places. It is not dissolved by any means and is not washed out, therefore the only way to remove it is mechanical:

• seams are cleaned with an extender;

• silicone residues are removed with a vacuum cleaner;
• for complete cleaning, use a special tool. One of the most popular products is Penosil (manufacturer). This tool is applied to the seams with a mounting gun. After 24 hours it is removed with a rag or paper towel (or just paper).

If you are interested in how to remove the old grout from the seams with milder methods, here you can consider several options.

About tools for removing grout.

What to look for?

Before choosing a grout remover, find out the composition and manufacturer. It is VERY difficult to remove high-quality grouts, they simply do not respond to any compounds and in most cases they can only be removed mechanically.

If you want to try a tool to remove old grout, choose solutions with a high acid content. Use the product carefully, observe personal safety measures - work with safety glasses and gloves. The solution must be carefully applied to the seams, wait for the time specified in the instructions. During this time, the grout softens and it becomes easier to remove. If the grout needs to be removed from the tile itself, then select the product with a low acid content, otherwise you risk damaging the surface.

Epoxy grout remover.

The epoxy grout remover is specially selected. They are not cheap! Epoxy grout is highly durable and it will not be easy to remove it even when using special products.

The most popular epoxy grout removers are:

Liton (at the time of writing the article Liton Pro costing about 1300-1800 rubles per 0.5 liter.)

Diamond (at the time of writing the article Diamond Plus Light worth about 800-900 rubles).

Please note: when selecting a product, carefully read the instructions for use, and de consult with the seller when buying. Wrong choice of funds, or inaccurate use of it can lead to extremely unpleasant consequences!

Removing old grout from tile surface

Sometimes grout gets on the tile itself (especially often when grouting joints ш). It must be removed carefully so as not to damage the surface (enamel, glaze).

Important: do not use metal brushes and abrasive products when removing grout from the GLOSSY tile - this can lead to damage (with subsequent replacement since the tile may lose its appearance)!

If the grout has not yet dried, it can be removed with a damp sponge or rag within ten minutes.

The main stages of removing grout from a tile:

• to remove, use products that are suitable for your type of tile (preferably not abrasive);
• gently apply the remover to the dirt, wait a few seconds and wipe with a rag;
• all work is best done immediately (without waiting until the grout on the tile is completely dry).

Restoring joints between tiles

After removing the old grout, restoration of the joints between the tiles is necessary. To do this, you need a special tool - a rubber or spatula (or a spatula for tiles made of soft plastic). An ordinary metal spatula is also suitable, but working with it is less convenient and with inaccurate use there is a chance of damage to the tile. Make the grout liquid enough to make it comfortable to work with. A thicker consistency will quickly set and the seams will end up being uneven.

Gently apply a new grout between the joints with a spatula. At the same time, it is necessary to “push” the grout deeper into the seam, so that all the voids are filled. After grind. If it gets on the tile, remove immediately with a damp sponge. When the composition dries a little, but does not dry completely, rinse the tile thoroughly with warm soapy water (or add a little Feri to the water). Wait for the final drying.