Should I Replace My Grout?

Replacing grout can be expensive, time-consuming and a project that most homeowners prefer to avoid. Bay Area Floor Pros have dedicated restoration and cleaning services to help you avoid this for as long as possible. Unfortunately, there still comes a time when your grout still may need re-done depending on a variety of factors. We’re here to help you identify when you should actually replace your grout.

Identifying When Your Grout Needs Replaced

There are a few ways to identify when your grout in kitchen or bathroom may need replaced. When the tile becomes loose, it usually means the grout is no longer holding. This is one of the most common problems our customers see over time, and it simply shows that the putty used to hold the grout and tiles in place has become ineffective. When grout becomes diminished over time it often absorbs more water, food particles and dirt abrasion. These can lift the tiles from the surface of your floor and eventually lead to abrasion of the actual tile flooring.

A slightly less common, but more hazardous reason to replace your grout is mold growth. When grout or tile becomes cracked and moist, this can lead to a growth in mold or bacteria. If you can’t immediately replace the grout, try using a bleach solution and scrub brush to get rid of as much mold as possible as this can cause serious health effects.

One of the last identifiers your grout may need replaced is crumbling. If you notice the grout breaking off and leaving behind mineral deposts on the surface of your floor this may be a sign it needs restored or replaced. Crumbling grout can happen when your tile flooring is extremely old and simply needs updated; but also be a sign that it was installed improperly. Sometimes utilizing the improper cleaning products can also deteriorate the binding of the grout and cause disintegration. Vinegar is a common cleaning solution used for tile, but when diluted improperly it can be too acidic and cause abrasion, which can eventually lead to crumbling. For a safer option, we recommend using dish soap and warm water on a towel and wiping the grout up.

Re-Grouting Process

For installing new grout, you won’t necessarily need to remove all the original putty. But you should use the same grout type you already have if touching up certain areas. When it comees to mold, it’s recommended to remove a majority of the grout (about half the thickness), and replacing with new grout. If the mold growth has become serious, or is black mold, as much grout as possible will need removed. It’s better not to cut corners, and make sur you put your trust in a reliable service that won’t damage the area of grout that doesnt ned placed. Once the old or moldy grout is removed, you can then begin to apply new grout.