How to Repair Loose Grout

Grout is the cement that sits between tiles, spanning the gaps and help seal off the wall or floor behind them. Grout can crack or corrode over time, causing it to start coming loose. Once that happens, moisture can get behind the tiles, which can cause the tiles themselves to start coming loose. Repairing the grout is a relatively straightforward process of digging out the old grout and replacing it with new grout.

• 1

  Scrape along the surface of the damaged grout with your grout saw, digging it out and digging out the grout for a few inches in either direction. If there are multiple areas of damage on a grout line with less than a foot or so of good grout between them, dig it all out rather than just the damaged sections.

• 2

  Use a vacuum with hose to pull out the pulverized grout.

• 3

  Put an inch or so of water in the bottom of a bucket. Pour in enough grout powder to cover it. Mix well, using a putty knife. Add water and grout alternately to get it to the consistency of thick mud. Make enough to fill each extracted grout line.

• 4

  Let the grout sit in the bucket for 10 minutes. Re-stir it.

• 5

  Spread the grout over the open grout lines with your grout float, pressing it into the lines while squeezing it off the surface.

• 6

  Let the grout start sit in the lines for about 10 minutes. Use a damp sponge to wipe up the excess grout from the surface. Let the grout set for two days.