Do-it-yourself tile seam repair

In detail: do-it-yourself tile seam repair from a real master for my.housecope.com.

There are situations that after a certain period of time, part of the tile may fall off, and another may crack. Therefore, a do-it-yourself tile laid with your own hands will be able to solve this unpleasant issue. Since the owner of the dwelling himself will do everything correctly and conscientiously. The picture of a fallen off tile is found in almost all apartment owners. There are a number of major circumstances that have led to these problems. Many of them are related to the oversights of the worker, made by him during the laying of tiles:

serious violations were made in the preparation of the walls;
the entire adhesive base was damaged due to poorly made seam finishes;
concomitant damage to the installation technology, which eventually caused cracks and chips;
the procedure for making glue was grossly violated.

It is possible to avoid the future repair of tiles only in cases where the correct laying and operation work is diligently observed, and it is also important to properly care for the products.

It is known that a lot of unpleasant situations happen with tiles during operation, as a result of which its appearance deteriorates: greasy and dirty spots appear on the tile, a small grid of cracks appears, often the tiles get chipped in the corners or have every chance and completely fall off the wall. With the support of ordinary appliances, you can perform a redecoration of tiles without the help of professionals.

An excellent option for eliminating a large scratch that stands out unfavorably on an opaque surface can be an absolute change of tiles. But in the absence of funds, it is necessary to do the following actions that can hide this small drawback:

If the tile has completely become unusable, then it would be more correct to change it to a new one. In this case, the deformed components should be carefully removed, and then replaced with new ones.

To prevent damage to adjacent tiles, first you need to use a narrow drill or spatula to clean the tile joints. Further, a suitable part is simply drilled, as a result, it breaks up into small parts, and they are much easier to remove. The removal itself is done with a chisel.

Video (click to play).

Over the years, the tile, which was made using poor grout, is subjected to destruction. At the same time, dark mold can be found on the seams, especially in places with high humidity. If this happens, you should change the grout or make a separate repair of the damaged areas. When you need to update a rather huge area of tiled flooring, it is best to use the first option. The updated grout will create the effect of a uniform coating. The old one is carefully removed with a sharp object. If the work is done in a hurry, you can destroy the adjacent tile. To avoid such troubles, the work is performed using a special wooden tool with a pointed tip.

It is known that the tile is not exposed to special effects of chemicals, therefore it is able to maintain its own luster for a long time. But in the end, there is a need for a radical revision of the interior of the walls. For this, painting is widely used. First of all, ceramics must be carefully sanded with sandpaper, then it is processed with acetone. The preparatory stage also includes a tile primer, thanks to which the color is better preserved. When all the mandatory recommendations are followed, you can proceed to the main stage - painting. With a roller, paint should be carefully applied over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe wall.

So, ceramic tiles, laid with their own hands during the repair process, will serve the owners of the home for a certain period of time, while saving the family money.

Usually the main reason for renovations in the kitchen, bathroom or toilet is the need to replace the tiled surfaces on the walls and floor. Over time, they look not so smart and new, which means they need to be replaced. However, do not rush to start repairs - try updating the seams between the tiles. It has been noticed that in 90% of cases it is the wear and tear of tile joints that is the main reason that the tile looks old and untidy.

Look, if there are darkened seams in the kitchen or bathroom, then it's time to start restoring them. In our article we will tell you how to update tile joints.

First, remove everything that can interfere with you from the room - remove cabinets, hangers, hooks from the walls and free the floor. If necessary, remove the sink and even the toilet for a while, you can dismantle the stove in the kitchen. Immediately take measures to protect yourself when working with an acid cleaner, adhesives and cement. Work only with rubber gloves and goggles.

The easiest and fastest method of restoring tile joints is their whitewashing and painting. But keep in mind that from such actions the effect will last no more than six months and often the paint can only be used in dry rooms.

Another easy way to update the seams is to put new grout on top of the old grout. This can only be done if the old joints are deep and there is at least 2 mm of free space to fit the new grout.

Paint is sold to restore the color of tile joints in any large building supermarket. It should be noted that it can be used not only to restore color, but also to even out it, if for some reason the seams have lost their color in a certain area of the tile.

Applying the paint is very simple: you need to clean the surface of dirt, mold or plaque, apply the paint to the seam, wait a few minutes until it dries a little and remove the paint residue that has fallen on the tile with a damp sponge.

The greatest effect will be the complete removal and replacement of the old grout with a new one.

First you need to remove the old grout. It is most convenient to use a special tool for this - a joint expander, which can be found in any hardware store. In general, any other suitable items can be used, but care must be taken not to damage the edge of the ceramic tile.
During removal, do not apply excessive force, usually the old grout is removed quite easily.

Sometimes it happens that the seams are sealed with a "powerful" cement composition. In this case, you will have to soften it and make it more pliable with an acid cleaner. Soak a brush in it and apply to the seams. Wait a while for the cleaner to be absorbed. The old grout should now come off easily.

Do not worry that the cleaner can damage the tile. Most modern acid cleaners are completely harmless to ceramics.

Vacuum the cleaned surface thoroughly, as crumbs and dust particles from the old solution could remain between the tiles.

Before renovating the joints between tiles, thoroughly wash the cleaned joints with soapy water and wait a day until they dry. Now you can treat them with a penetrating primer.

Try to work intensively - special solutions for grouting quickly seize. Therefore, make the consistency rather liquid and, having picked up a rubber spatula, carefully rub the grout inward to fill the entire space. Then the grip will be better.

To form the seams, use a special tool with interchangeable tips that can give the seams the profile you like.If such a set could not be obtained, use a rod of a suitable diameter with a round and smooth end, or you can try working with a plastic handle from an old brush.

In the process of forming the seam, hold the tool so that it touches the edge of two adjacent tiles. Remove excess grout from the tile with a sponge or the same rubber spatula. Finally wash the tile after the composition dries, but do not wait until it dries completely, then the tile will be very difficult to clean. It is very convenient to clean the tiles with a damp cloth.

Now we can assume that the process of restoration of the joints between the tiles is completed. But if you restored tile joints on the floor, then that's not all. The tile must be covered with a special protective layer. If this is not done, then over time cracks will appear on the seams and it may again be necessary to repair, and this will happen once a year, and maybe more often. Therefore, seal the seams in a timely manner with a special compound. That's all - you can enjoy the result!

And although I had to work hard, fresh tile joints will delight the eye not only for you, but also for your guests for several years.

After a certain amount of time, the grouts in the bathroom need to be updated. This is due not only to external aesthetics, but also to simple hygiene requirements. The older the grout between tiles, the less practical it is and the less it can withstand operational loads. Therefore, its reduction to the optimal level is necessary for the normal performance of its functions.

Pollution prevention should take place on a regular basis, especially when it comes to the bathroom. It is best to thoroughly wipe and sometimes rinse the ceramic elements and the gaps between them. Although such maintenance is also unable to ensure a good surface condition, as the mixture may thin out due to constant cleaning. In order to determine whether the grout between the tiles needs to be updated, these signs should be taken into account:

darkening of the joints between the tiles;
the composition began to crumble and crumble;
the presence of mold or fungus;
appearance of dirt and grease.

Worth remembering! If at least one of the above signs is present, then it is necessary to start cleaning the old grout in the bathroom.

An effective method that will allow you to update the seams is used in practice by every housewife. It assumes the presence of detergents available in any store. An old toothbrush with good coverage is perfect for the tool. And cleaning solutions can be of various types:

Washing powder. Pour a little substance into a container, pour a small amount of water, apply the resulting mass on the tip of the brush to the contaminated area. Then wipe the seams with light movements and rinse off the residue with water.

Need to remember! When using household chemicals, it is best to prepare protective equipment. The recommended set is gloves, a mask for the respiratory and vision organs. In addition, it is best to ventilate the room.

Since the use of detergents is considered a dangerous option, especially for those who have an allergic reaction, it is possible to update the seams in the bathroom with affordable and natural ingredients. A mixture of peroxide and baking soda is very simple to prepare, take 4 tablespoons of soda for 3 parts of peroxide and stir. To combat oily stains, it is better to add a little gel. Spread the solution on the grout, rub it in, then wait about 2 hours and thoroughly wipe the seams.

Worth knowing! Natural ingredients are not recommended if your seams are multi-colored.

The most affordable and easy way to renew tile grout in a bathroom. For this, both ordinary soap and household soap and even liquid-based shampoo are suitable.First, grind the soap into small pieces in the form of a powder. This can be done with a knife or with a regular grater. Pour everything with warm water, mix thoroughly, then apply it to the seams with a hard sponge and wipe. Wash off the dirty foam with water, wipe the ceramics dry so that there are no soap stains left.

This method is distinguished by its simplicity, however, its weak side is its fragility. You can use the marker to refresh the grout in the bathroom, for example, before the arrival of guests or the arrival of distant relatives. But after a while, the seams between the ceramics will again return to their unsightly appearance. Wash the surface of the grout with ordinary soap and water, then remove the mold and restore areas where the mixture is missing or cracked. We remove the excess, clean them gently with a sandpaper and draw the seams.

Must be remembered! The marker must be applied only on a dry surface, otherwise the result will remain at zero.

Few people know about the existence of a special paint for grouting, and a water-based composition, in extreme cases, may come in handy, just in time! This mixture not only gives a rich color, but also protects the surface from the effects of fungus, as well as other microorganisms. The paint allows the seams not to darken for a long time, during which you will forget about this problem.

Of course, the water-based mixture will quickly darken, but this is an extreme option! A special composition must be applied to a cleaned and sanded surface. After that, bathroom tiles can even be sanitized with chemicals, not to mention household care products.

Quite often there are cases when the usual cleaning, albeit a thorough one, is clearly not enough. Then it is necessary to resort to more radical measures in the form of partial or complete replacement of tile joints. This method makes it possible to refresh the grout, change its color, which will positively affect the interior of the room.

Using a scraper, you need to get rid of outdated mastic. Initially, the mixture should be softened with water, and then the entire grout composition should be carefully scraped out with a tool. Particular attention should be paid to the scrupulousness of the work, as there is a danger of touching the surface of the ceramics. To dismantle the epoxy, it is better to use a special solvent. Then carry out an antifungal treatment both before laying the mastic and after it dries.

Remember! Such a drastic measure is usually caused by serious problems with the fungus or the final destruction of the material.

Applying mastic between tiles in the bathroom is considered a matter of strength, which even a beginner can handle. Therefore, there should not be any problems with this. For this event, you will need several tools: a rubber spatula, a molding tube and a regular sponge. You must first dilute the dry powder with plain water. It is added in portions, as there is a danger of lack of density.It is necessary to mix the solution properly, and then leave it for 20 minutes so that it settles. Then it must be mixed again and begin to be applied between the tiles in small strokes. Be sure to carefully tamp the mastic for this there is a special tube, and remove the excess. The contour of the joints is formed using an ordinary cloth, it turns out an even and slightly concave seam. Image - Do-it-yourself tile seam repair

There is a possibility that the mastic will begin to crack when it dries, so it is best to lightly moisten it with plain water. If voids begin to form, then the grouting process should be repeated. Then rub it with a sponge or foam spatula-trowel. To avoid in the future the need to frequently update the grout, you need to maintain cleanliness at the proper level.

Worth remembering! After carrying out all the work, it is necessary to wait for the joints to dry completely, which will take from several days to 10 days, then they can be cleaned or wetted with water.

Instead of an afterword, it should be recalled that for prevention it is better to cover the mastic with a protective layer. It allows you to reduce the impact of negative factors on the operation of the grout and increase its service life, and also avoids the appearance of cracks. Thus, after the mixture has completely dried, treat it with an airtight compound, and then enjoy the work done!

Every few years, the bathroom in an apartment needs to be renovated, which is expensive. If repairs are needed only for tiles that are laid on the walls and on the floor of the room, much less money can be spent on it. It is enough to carry out a small restoration of the seams of the tiles in the bathroom, you can update them with your own hands. There are several ways to do this, choosing the best methods.

It is possible to clean the seams using household chemicals, as well as with the help of some folk remedies. Pollution is easily removed by mechanical means. Let's take a closer look at each of these methods.

You can update the tile seams in the bathroom with purchased chemicals intended for household use. They should be selected depending on the degree of contamination of the seams. If they are simply covered with a layer of grease and soap, common products can be used. These include Pemolux, Fairy. To bleach seams affected by ingrained dirt, powders or liquids containing chlorine or acid are needed. Strong concentrates of household chemicals for bathroom renovations are BOZO, Ultra-Stripper, KiiltoClean.

When working with strong agents, precautions must be taken. Ventilate the bathroom thoroughly and wear protective gloves. To remove the fungus, chlorine-containing liquids Domestos and Belizna are used. They are applied with a brush on dirt. After 10 minutes, the product is washed off with clean water. It is not recommended to wash the seams with ordinary soap. It creates conditions for the development of microorganisms.

Dirt is well removed with a steam cleaner. Under the influence of pressure and temperature, it is brought out. It remains to erase it from the surface of the tile. Hot steam destroys all microorganisms and fungus spores. The cleaned seam can be strengthened by applying a protective impregnation or a layer of a special primer.

You can whiten the seams between the tiles in the bathroom with the help of some folk remedies that will return the walls to their former aesthetic appearance. Such remedies include lemon juice or citric acid, soda, vinegar, ammonia, ammonia. Several ways to use them:

0.5 cups of soda is poured into a third cup of lemon juice, a quarter cup of vinegar and 7 cups of water are added. The resulting mixture is applied to the seams, after 10 minutes it is washed off with water. This tool is very powerful and requires the use of protective equipment.
Soda (4 tablespoons) is poured into plastic dishes and hydrogen peroxide (3 tablespoons) is added. The mixture is applied to the places of pollution. After 2 hours, the surface of the tile is brushed and washed off with clean water.
Mix equal amounts of toothpaste, mustard powder, baking soda and lemon juice. Add some ammonia. Spread the mixture on the seams, after 15 minutes brush them with a brush and rinse with clean water.
Composition for fighting mold. A tablespoon of vinegar and the same amount of ammonia, 2⁄3 cups of pure water are mixed and applied to the seams. After 15 minutes, you can wash everything off.

It is not recommended to use vinegar, ammonia and various acid-based compounds for cleaning colored grout. It can unpredictably change the color of the mixture.Aggressive products should not be used when cleaning the joints between glass tiles. It is also not recommended to use products with abrasive substances. They leave small scratches on the surface.

At home, a mechanical cleaning method is more effective. It whitens the seams and removes the top layer of grout along with the dirt that has eaten into it. This process requires a lot of time and labor investment. The layer is removed with a tool called a scraper.

It can be removed with sandpaper or a spatula, which cleans places with dirt, fungus. You can also use a metal brush, but it will leave marks in the form of scratches on the lined surface. You can build a tool yourself from a tube sharpened by a grinder. It is used instead of a chisel. But do not try to use a puncher. You can beat the tiles off the wall.

There is a more reliable way to update seams. They can be updated with painting. This method is not the most durable, but it will last for six months. Lime, water-based paint, special compositions are used as dyes.

The paint is chosen in the same color as the grout. But you can experiment with other colors. It should be remembered that light shades are suitable for any color of the tile and hide its flaws. The most popular coloring materials are Edding and Fuga Fresca.

Edding material is sold in three colors: white, gray and black. It looks like a marker. The diameter of the working part is from 2 to 4 m. It is better to choose it depending on the width of the seams. FugaFresca produces a composition based on acrylic polymers. It evenly fills all the seams. The color range is wide, which allows you to choose different shades. The distance between the tiles is refreshed as follows:

The surface of the tiles and the distance between them are thoroughly cleaned using any of the methods described above. After that, it will be enough to additionally treat the seams with antiseptics.

After the tiles have completely dried, the paint is applied in a thin line into the seams.

Vertical seams require special attention. The coloring composition should not flow down. In this case, the use of a thin brush is required.

Paint that has fallen on the surface is immediately removed with a soft cloth.

A day later, you can apply one or more layers of paint.

After the last layer has dried, a protective impregnation is applied in the form of a special sealant.

Sometimes a complete replacement of the grout is made. This method is effective, but laborious. It is necessary to completely remove the old layer of grout and apply a fresh one. This should be done especially carefully between the bathroom and the wall. If the level of the joints is slightly below the level of the facing tiles, you can apply a fresh layer directly on the old grout. If this is not the case, then the old grout must be removed completely.

This is done with a seam opener. The surface of the tile can be covered with masking tape. If difficulties arise, you need to use an acid cleaner. This happens when removing cement-based tile joints. The cleaner is applied with a thin brush. LITOCLEAN PLUS or PUFAS CEMENT-EX can be used. After softening, the old grout is easily removed. After removing it, it is recommended to clean the residue with a vacuum cleaner.

Grout is a powder or paste. The paste is ready to use, the powder needs to be diluted. Cement mixtures are made up with the addition of sand and polymers. This is a cheap option. It is easy to use and easy to remove. Its disadvantage is cracking and dust and moisture getting into cracks.

When choosing a mixture, its color and shade are important. Light colors visually enlarge any bathroom. Dark colors highlight individual zones. For the floor, shades can be brown or black. Colored grouts should be combined with the interior of the room.

Popular brands of grouts for joints are Ceresit, Mapei and Litokol. Ceresit CE 40 is sold in 25 kg bags.This amount is enough to process an area up to 100 m2. There are several ways to prepare a mixture. It is better to use the mixture prepared by the manufacturer. To apply the grout, you need to have some tools:

The room must be ventilated before work. Humidity in it should be minimal. Seams are pretreated with Ceresit CT 99 primer.

In order for the grout at the joints and just between the tiles to last longer, it must be protected. To do this, use a special composition. This is a water repellent that strengthens the solution and protects it from mold and fungus or sealant. The composition can be applied 7 days after the grout has dried. It is applied exactly along the seam with a thin brush.

Each material has a certain expiration date, tile in the bathroom is no exception. Over time, it loses its former characteristics, it no longer looks as fresh as it originally was. What to do in such a situation, is it really the only right decision to replace the tile? We reveal the best methods of how to update the joints between the tiles in the bathroom, spending little time.Found an alternative solution to the problem. In order to renew your bathroom, it is enough to renew the seams between the tiles. After all, over the years they darken or turn yellow, and plaque or fungus may appear on them. Among the factors that adversely affect the seams in the bathroom are the following:

ignoring the norms regarding the laying of tiles;

the surface of the seams was not subject to pre-treatment;

inadequate ventilation system.

Practice shows that it is enough to update the seams in the bathroom in order to return the tiles to their previous appearance. There are two main ways: Image - Do-it-yourself tile seam repair

If you want to save money, then you can handle this task yourself. The process is not easy, but after reading the step-by-step instructions, you can implement your plan.

Effective work on updating the joints between tiles involves the preparation of the most convenient conditions. First of all, it is necessary to remove all unnecessary items from the bathroom, including furniture and appliances, if necessary, dismantle the toilet bowl or sink.

To ensure your own safety, work must be done in special glasses and gloves. This is especially true if you will be working with chemicals that can cause significant harm.

This method is the easiest and involves the minimum amount of time, but it is characterized by a significant disadvantage. This grout renewal method has a short-term effect, about 6 months. It involves applying paint over old grout between tiles.

Finding a paint to renew the grouts between the tiles in the bathroom is not difficult. Manufacturers produce a wide variety of grouts. Everyone will choose the color to their liking.

In this case, you can not only give freshness to the wall covering, but also even out the color if it was applied unevenly. In order to color correctly, follow a few simple rules:

The enamel layer of the tile can interfere with painting. Remove it using a large sandpaper.
Using fine sandpaper, sand the surface of the tiles.
After wiping off excess dust, degrease the surface with acetone or solvent.
After completing the previous steps, apply a primer.
After the primer dries, you can safely apply paint.

If you wish, you can effectively decorate the tiles using the decoupage technique. To do this, glue the desired image and secure with two layers of varnish. This method will allow you to embody all your fantasies and emphasize your individuality.

There are a lot of tools on the market that will help you update your tiles. But how to choose the most effective among them.We present to your attention a list of products that will become indispensable in this process:

Edding 8200 - is a marker with which you can update the seams between the tiles. The main benefit is water resistance. It is presented in two shades: white and gray.
PUFAS FRISCHE FUGE is a type of paint designed to renew the joints between tiles. It is characterized by white color, dilution with color is acceptable - 5%.
COLORED STAIN REMOVER is a tool that can cope with a large list of contaminants, including organic ones. For example, stains from coffee, nicotine, and is also effective in combating mold.

One of the most difficult ways is considered to be the replacement of grout. It should be used in cases where the old material cannot be updated.. For example, if there are traces of fungus and mold on it. This is due to the fact that applying a new thin layer of paint does not make sense, because after a while the fungus will germinate and there will be a need to reapply paint between the seams of the tile. Thus, the process will be endless.

The specifics of the work, first of all, lies in the fact that it becomes necessary to remove the old grout from the joints between the tiles in the bathroom without significant losses. Since attempts to scrape out obsolete material using rough tools can cause damage to the tile, especially its edges and thus its external characteristics will suffer.. Such an effect is highly undesirable.

In the event that you need to replace the recently applied grout, for a period of not more than a day, then use ordinary water as an aid. After a few hours, the outdated material will get wet and it will be easy to remove it.

If the old grout was applied a long time ago, then with the help of water you will not be able to cope with the task. You need more radical methods. You can't do without chemicals.

The best alternative would be to use specialized tools. One of these is a solvent designed for cement mortars. It is noteworthy that you can find such a chemical agent in any supermarket, and at the same time, the prices for such agents are more than acceptable.The product must be applied to the seams between the tiles in the bathroom. Then you will see a chemical reaction, at the end of which the material will become soft. Only after that you can start cleaning the seams. Using this tool, you can not worry about the safety of the tile, the oxidizing agent will not harm its surface.It is important to remember that in the event of mold, additional actions are needed. You should try to clean the seams as much as possible from the old material that filled it. After that, treat the affected areas with an antiseptic and apply a new grout. Image - Do-it-yourself tile seam repair

Among the most effective tools designed to remove old grout between tiles are the following:

PUFAS CEMENT-EX is a solution capable of removing cement residues and other finishing materials. Effective when removing old grout between the seams.
LITOCLEAN PLUS is a cleaner based on an organic acid. It will clean the lining from plaque, cement, and lime.

Poor ventilation contributes to the appearance of mold on silicone grout, it cannot be restored, so it is necessary to use a radical method - to replace it. In order to qualitatively remove damaged material, the following is necessary:

Silicone sealant must be removed mechanically, use a knife or a specialized scraper.
For a thorough cleaning, use a silicone remover, such as Penosil Silicone R. It must be applied with a mounting gun.
The sealant will help soften the old grout and thus, after a day, you can easily remove it in order to apply a new one.

Following a step-by-step guide, it will not be difficult to update the grout between the tiles in the bathroom and you can easily apply new material to the seams yourself without spending money on calling the master.

The first step is to prepare the surface. After removing the obsolete material, carefully clean the seams. It is necessary to wash them with soap and water and leave for one day, they need to dry.

After that, the best option would be to use a special primer. This is rational if you are unsure that the old grout has been completely removed.

Now you can start the process of applying a new material between the tiles. New grout must be diluted to the consistency of thick sour cream. Using a rubber grouting spatula, rub it inward. The use of a metal spatula is not recommended as it may damage the tiles.

For the best effect, try to fill all the space between the seams. Remove the remaining material that has fallen on the surface of the tile with a sponge. Now the procession can be considered finished. In order to fully learn how to grout tiles, we have an instruction.

But in order for the new aggregate to serve you for a long time, cover its surface with a special protective layer, that is, seal the grout with an appropriate solution. Otherwise, the problem is likely to recur after a short period of time.

Thus, the restoration of the joints between tiles is one of the most alternative options that will help bring your tile back to life and give it its former appearance. The process is quite complicated, as it requires certain knowledge and considerable effort. But by giving it time and due attention, you can independently achieve the desired result, significantly saving on the call of the master.

In most cases, repairs in showers, kitchens and other areas where there is a tile, consist in replacing or updating the tiling. After a certain amount of time, the tiled material loses its former appearance and becomes no longer the same as it was immediately after its installation.

This is a signal that it is time to lay new material. However, you should not immediately buy a new tile and dismantle the old one, it may be enough to renew the grout of the tile. As practice shows, their pollution is the main reason that the tiles have become obsolete and worn out.
Therefore, for starters, you should carefully look at the seams of the tiled material, and if you notice darkening or contamination, then it's time to update them. In this article, we will talk about how to renew the joints between ceramic floor tiles.

Before starting restoration work, you should get rid of everything that could interfere with their implementation. For example, you will need to remove wall cabinets and any other elements that block access to the tiles. It will not be superfluous to take out the furniture, thereby freeing the floor.

If we are talking about the kitchen, then it is better to dismantle the gas or electric stove. In the bathroom, you will have to remove the plumbing equipment, and possibly even take out the bath for a while.

Now you need to think about personal protective equipment, without which it is highly not recommended to work with adhesive materials, acid cleaning compounds and cement mortars. All work must be carried out with glasses and gloves.

Required protective equipment

The easiest and almost instant way to update the tile seams is to tint them. This method has one significant drawback - the effect of it will last no more than six months, after which it will be necessary to renew the grout. Also, most paint compositions cannot be used for a humid environment.

Another non-radical way to improve the seams is to apply a new grout material on top of the outdated one.This operation is feasible only if the seams are sufficiently deep. For a new grout, you will need about two millimeters of depth.

All necessary consumables can be purchased at any hardware or hardware store.

If you decide to use colorful compositions, then it is important to know that they can be used not only to update the seams, but also to restore damaged areas. That is, the paint can be applied not only on top of the old grout, but also used as a grouting material, only this will require a larger layer to be applied.

The paint is easy to use. The first step is to thoroughly clean the area from possible contaminants, such as plaque or mold. Then you need to carefully apply the paint to the tile seam, and wait for it to dry.

If you hooked on the tile during the tinting process, then you need to remove the excess with a rag. The time required for the composition to dry is indicated on its packaging. You can also find some tips on how to use it there.

The above methods are quite simple and do not require much time to carry out, but the effect of them is not long-term. The most effective method for updating tiles is to replace the grout. The first step is to remove the old material from the seams. This can be done in several ways.

In the event that the grouting material has not yet had time to seize and harden, that is, no more than a day has passed after its use, but it has already become necessary to replace it, then you can simply wet it with water.

Half an hour after applying a new grout, you need to get rid of the excess on the tile itself, as well as wipe the joints. To do this, use a clean sponge, it is better to take a new one. If you often do construction work with tiles, then you will surely have all the necessary tools, if not, then know that you can buy a special bucket with a wringer for sponges. With it, the grouting process will go much faster.

Then you need to let the material dry and continue working only the next day. Now you need to remove the white coating using a felt-covered mitt. You can also use special felt-coated trowels, but they are not suitable for embossed tiles.

If during all the work you notice some defects, but the grout has already seized, then you should remove them using sandpaper rolled into a tube.

In some cases, tiles have a relief surface or a large number of decorative details that greatly complicate the work. When grouting such a tile, it is better to seal its entire surface with polyethylene and masking tape to avoid contamination that is difficult to remove.

If the tile has already been contaminated with grouting material, then it can be cleaned with oil (even ordinary sunflower will do) and terry cloth.

Removing obsolete grouting material with this method is a radical remedy and should be resorted to only when there are no other options left. This procedure requires the employee to be extremely careful and scrupulous, since there is a rather high probability of damaging the tile enamel.

Ideally, to carry out this operation, you should purchase a special opener, which is a tool with a sharp blade and a handle, but it is possible to quite successfully replace it with an ordinary sharpened knife.

Before you update the seams between the tiles in the bathroom, you need to run a knife along the tile seam straight, and then at an angle twice from different sides. Particular attention should be paid to the processing of seams in the corners of the tiles, since these elements are the most fragile and it is very easy to damage them.

You can find out about the benefits of and disadvantages of different types of grout. In this article you will find information about laying floor tiles. You may also be interested in the article on how to close the gap between the bathroom and the wall.

For these works, a chisel, a drill or an electric drill with a thin drill are also perfect. Mechanical removal of the suture material can be carried out independently, since the procedure is quite simple and does not require special preparation.

In some cases, mold appears on tile joints that have been treated with silicone grout. In most cases, this is due to insufficient ventilation of the room.

This material cannot be washed off, so the only way out of this situation is to completely remove the silicone and replace it with a new grout. Another reason for removing silicone-based grout is that it was not applied correctly the last time.

Such grouting material must be removed mechanically, using a sharp knife or a construction scraper. After removing the main part of the grout, it is necessary to walk along the seams with a vacuum cleaner to completely remove it.

There are also special detergents that can dissolve and successfully remove old grout. As a rule, they need to be applied with a mounting gun in a small layer, and then left for about a day.

This time is required for the product to penetrate and dissolve the silicone. Then you just need to remove the dissolved silicone using a rag. After that, carefully wipe and remove grease from the surface of the seams so that the new layer of silicone adheres firmly.

Removing silicone grout

Before you renew the seams between the tiles, you need to seal its edges with adhesive tape to prevent silicone from getting on the enamel. Then it is necessary to cut off the tip of the silicone grout pack so that the layer is sufficient to apply the material in one pass. Now you should apply silicone to the surface of the seams with a mounting gun.

After that, you need to quickly smooth out the seam while it has not yet seized. To do this, you need to use a special spatula with a rubber working area or get by with your fingers and soapy water. The masking tape can only be removed after the grout has been smoothed out.

In some cases, especially in older buildings, where Soviet-era repairs were still preserved, the seams between the tiles were rubbed with a cement-based compound. In this case, it is rather difficult to get rid of a layer of old grouting material without preliminary preparation.

Using an acid softener

For this operation, you need to purchase an acid-based cleaner and a few brushes, and do not forget about rubber gloves. To remove cement grout, apply a layer of cleaner to the joints and wait until the product softens the grout. The waiting time is indicated on the packaging of the consumable. After some time, the product should be absorbed, and the grout is very easy to remove.

In some cases, after removing the old grout, some additional operations may be required to completely clean the surface of the joints. For example, small fragments of old grout or small crumbs of chipped tiles may remain in the seams. To remove them, it is enough to use an ordinary vacuum cleaner.

After cleaning the seams with a vacuum cleaner, you will need to rinse them. To do this, you need to make a solution based on soap or a non-aggressive detergent and carefully treat the seam surface with it, after which you will need to suspend the process for up to a day to give time for the seams to dry.

After that, a layer of penetrating primer should be applied. Instructions for its application, as well as the drying time of the substance, are indicated on the packaging and can vary significantly, depending on the manufacturer.

In this case, speed is very important, so you will have to work in a rather intensive mode, ideally, work with an assistant. This haste is due to the fact that the compositions for the treatment of tiled joints dry out very quickly, so delay can lead to a high consumption of these materials.

The consistency of the resulting solution should be liquid - so the solution does not dry out too quickly. It is necessary to apply the grout using a rubber spatula. The material must be carefully rubbed inside, filling it with all the seam space. In this way, much more efficient coupling can be achieved.

Do not be afraid to sort out a little with the grout, after it dries, the excess can be removed with sandpaper, and too small a seam will require replacement very quickly.

In order to properly form a seam, it is better to use a construction tool. It can also be purchased at every hardware or hardware store at a very reasonable price. There are several nozzles of different shapes in the set, which will help to give the seams the look you need.

If you are not new to this business, but there was no such tool at hand, then you can use a metal rod of the appropriate size with a rounded end. Sharp instruments are not allowed. You can also use the plastic handle of an old brush.

During the formation of joints, it is necessary to hold the tool in such a way that it touches the edges of the tile that is laid next to it. After applying the grout material, it is necessary to remove excess from the surface of the tile. To do this, you can use a clean sponge, the same tool with which you applied the grout, or a simple rag.

Now you need to wait about a day and carefully examine the resulting seams. All irregularities can be sanded with sandpaper, after which it is necessary to wash the tile.

The main thing here is not to let the material dry completely, since such a grout is very difficult to remove from the surface of the tiled material. Use a damp cloth to clean tiles.

Now you know how to replace the grout between tiles and you can handle this operation yourself.

Applying grout with a spatula

Edding 8200 is a colorful joint tint. It contains waterproof ink. Produced in the form of a marker for easier application. You can find white and black markers with a line thickness of no more than 0.4 centimeters.

Pufas cement-ex is a cement mortar remover for tiles. Can be used on normal tiles, clinker and terrace tiles. Also, the product is used as a cleaner for bathtubs and sinks.

Colored stain remover is used to clean tile from dirt of varying severity and nature of formation. It is also suitable for cleaning natural stoneware, porcelain stoneware and all types of marble.

Pufas frische fuge. This is a colorful composition for easy updating of seams. Not recommended for permanent use. It is produced exclusively in white colors, but the addition of color is allowed.

Kiilto clean is an aggressive cleaner based on various acids. It is used to clean tiles from serious dirt, so you should not use it daily.

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