In case you’ve installed tiled flooring in your bathroom or kitchen, sooner or later you’ll have to re-grout the tiles. The crevices or gaps between the tiles on the bathroom floor are filled up with grout (usually mortar or cement) to prevent water from seeping in which could damage the floor eventually. However, with passage of time, the grouts become grimy or discolored and eventually break apart.
Bathroom regrouting Brooklyn will be necessary for resealing the tiles as well as restoring their appearance. Now, getting rid of the worn out grout and closing the gaps by regrouting should be a simple job if you do not have mosaic or stone tiles and the grout lines are straight. All you need for your bathroom regrouting Brooklyn is the right set of tools and an integrated action plan.
Readying the Floor
Before you get started on your bathroom regrouting Brooklyn project, make sure that you drape the bathtub and shower, and other fixtures with a canvas cloth to safeguard the surface from the sandy grout. In case, you’re regrouting a particular spot or a section, you can start right away.
Taking Out Old Grout
Keep a hand-held sharp grout saw handy for extracting as much mortar as you can from the crevices. You can either use a grout saw having razor-sharp teeth or an implement having coarse coatings on the bladed surface. Extract with due caution or else you might end up scraping the tiles.
Be patient while performing this task as it can be quite time consuming. For completely taking out the dust from the gaps, use a vacuum cleaner. A bleaching agent will help you to get rid of mildew and mold. Wash the gaps completely and allow crevices to dry to ensure there is no water or moisture.
Application of Grout
Take a dry container, place scoops of the grout powder in it and add the right amount of water in a gentle manner until you’ve the right texture. Allow the mixture to stay for 7-10 minutes. Thereafter use a grout towel for pouring the mixture obliquely over the tiles. Compress the grout throughout the joints using the trowel, repeating the activity at least twice. Remove excessive grout by holding and moving the trowel in a perpendicular position.
Caulking the Joints
The grout wears out and cracks fastest in the area around the bathtub. So, you should give priority to caulking the joints in this area. Extract damaged or old grout from the joints in this area with the help of a putty or caulking knife. Apply caulk softener for loosening the worn out caulk in the joints. Next, get hold of a caulk gun for refilling the joints with fresh putty. Level off the excess using a caulk tool.
Sealing the Grout
The final step in bathroom regrouting Brooklyn is to seal the newly applied grout. Bear in mind that grout is not watertight and has an affinity for moisture. Let the grout you’ve applied sit for nothing less than 2 days after which you should apply a coat of silicone sealant using a discarded toothbrush.
