im removing grout for the 1st time

[spenny]

hi guys,

im removing grout from my shower as its gone a bit discoloured throughout the years-im only doing it cause its for me, if a customer was to ask id try avoid it like the plague. Any tips or advice as to what to look out for/potential hazards?

[Dave]

Be careful not to chip tiles.......

[TilingLogistics]

If the grouting is OK and just discoloured I would save yourself the hassle and recolour it with Aqua Mix Grout Colourant. I do loads of this type of work! I hate it but I get well paid for it! I would never do it for nothing not even in my own house! Sod that for a game of soldiers

Kev

[spenny]

If the grouting is OK and just discoloured I would save yourself the hassle and recolour it with Aqua Mix Grout Colourant. I do loads of this type of work! I hate it but I get well paid for it! I would never do it for nothing not even in my own house! Sod that for a game of soldiers

Kev

cheers kev,

where do i get a hold of this and how do you apply?

[TilingLogistics]

cheers kev,

where do i get a hold of this and how do you apply?

Tell me where you are in the Country and I will tell you the nearest supplier. To apply it read the directions or tell me what tiles you have in the shower with sizes and grout gaps and I will give you step by step instructions if you want

Kev

[spenny]

sorry,not checked this over the last few days. Im in glasgow mate. Thanks

[bigandy]

why not just retile? average shower about £40 tiles(dependant on what of course)materials you should have in your van!saves all the messing around!!of course thats if it's a seperate shower to rest of bathroom.

[janjul]

Have you seen the Exact saw from JML on teleshopping channel. It looks the business if it works as shown and as you can connect it to a hoover you don't get dust. It's about £79.99 and it designed to cut laminate floors etc up to 12mm and to cut tiles and remove grout. You can set the depth from 0 - 12mm and it does look impressive. I am thinking of treating myself to one so would be keen to hear if anyone already has one and what they think of it.

[TilingLogistics]

Have you seen the Exact saw from JML on teleshopping channel. It looks the business if it works as shown and as you can connect it to a hoover you don't get dust. It's about £79.99 and it designed to cut laminate floors etc up to 12mm and to cut tiles and remove grout. You can set the depth from 0 - 12mm and it does look impressive. I am thinking of treating myself to one so would be keen to hear if anyone already has one and what they think of it.

I think you will find Gary (Highlander has one) ask him or maybe he will see this post

Kev

[janjul]

Thanks Kev, am new to the site so have only read some of Gary's posts but will ask if I see a link to PM him. I would be really interested to know if it works well. Sometimes the shopping channels seem to have good stuff but in reality they don't actually do what they say they will!!

[Grace'sDad]

Use this Cleaning, Janitorial & Polishes,Bathroom Care & Cleaners,Reckitt Benckiser Dettol Mould And Mildew Remover (500ml), Avenue Supplies, Plumbing, Heating and DIY Specialists located in London Ealing W13

It's my special secret - cleans ANY grout back to new.
Spray on and leave alone for 20 mins then simply rinse off.

Available at all supermarkets.

[garretridge]

yes i bought 1 of the tv good job i havent used it to remove grout yet but i have used it to cut out a slot in floor tiles to remove them they were set in cement couldnt get them up, it was quick and easy to use. brilliant to do wooden floors just put piece of ply under and set laminate on. cuts it like butter dont even need to get up of the floor!
hope this helps!
Ian-garretridge

[Leatherface]

Hi, if you really have to remove the grout then the best tool is a Fein Multi master, with a diamond grout removing blade, removes it well without chipping the tiles. I used one on a 15 square metre job after the customer had changed his mind on the grout colour -did it on a day rate

[oldgit]

Use this Cleaning, Janitorial & Polishes,Bathroom Care & Cleaners,Reckitt Benckiser Dettol Mould And Mildew Remover (500ml), Avenue Supplies, Plumbing, Heating and DIY Specialists located in London Ealing W13

It's my special secret - cleans ANY grout back to new.
Spray on and leave alone for 20 mins then simply rinse off.

Available at all supermarkets.

do you think this would have a reactive response on brazillian black slate,ive been thinking of regrouting my own kitchen floor with epoxy,the whole downstairs of my house is done with this slate but the kitchen now looks drab.
ive used a wallpaper steammer with a gadget that comes with it and this really takes the crap out the joint and out of the surface of the slate,it wants doing again i only done this as a test but the grout still looks crap.
any advice chaps.........

[janjul]

Thanks Gaz just what I needed to know. Got to do a few laminate floors at my Dads over next couple of weeks and then I want to remove some of the grout from two of my bathroom floors as have a few cracks in the grout. There is no movement in floors but they were layed on 3/4 exterior ply and I didn't use a flexible grout - silly girl!

I only put minimal grout in the gaps to tide us over as we are removing ceilings in our old Victorian house and from past experience of doing this I knew the grout would end up wrecked when going to have a bath or a shower. The grout is ok but quite discoloured in a few places and my usual bleaching isn't improving it much. This tool makes grout removal so easy I thought it was gotta be worth investing in if it did the job.

As we only have a few more ceilings to remove the time is getting nigh to sort out the grout then I think I will perhaps used sealer on the grout to provide lasting protection.

Doe anyone know if the sealer causes yellowing of the grout as I love brilliant white grouting and the walls have remained perfect with a little bleacing now and again but obviously the floors get much more trafic across them.

Thanks for the info it's much appreciated.

Jan

[Dave]

Little tip jan.........Don't use bleach on grout.....( it don't like it )...very harsh stuff.....

[janjul]

Thanks for the tip Dave, I know what you mean. You can almost see it removing too much grout than you'd like. I have been reading on the site about cleaners and sealers and I think that will be the way I will go from now on.

[Grace'sDad]

Little tip jan.........Don't use bleach on grout.....( it don't like it )...very harsh stuff.....

Dave, I know you're not s'posed to use bleach an all, but the Dettol stuff is basically a powerful, modified bleach. I've used it to restore all manner of disgusting grouts with black and red mould which couldn't be shifted by any other means. Why do you think it works??? It doesn't appear to harm the grout in any way that I can see.

[Dave]

What i mean is NEAT bleach....not products containing small amounts..as they have other additives as well...... and work very well...