For high-traffic areas, like the main bathroom, you should consider sealing it every six months, while low-traffic areas like the guest bathroom can be resealed every two years. If you are using epoxy grout, it might not be necessary to reseal it as it is highly water-resistant.
Grout doesn't last forever. You can expect a lifespan between eight and sixteen years. Its lifespan will vary depending on how you treat your shower. Odds are, you have no idea when your grout was installed.
Regrouting is the best option when tiles and grout begin to show signs of discoloration or the stains are so deep that they cannot be removed. As grout ages, it naturally deviates from its original color. If the white grout turns yellow or is covered with stains, you must regrout very soon.
Optimally, no more than 30 minutes should pass for the initial wiping off of excess grout. This process must be performed gently with a wet grout sponge during regrouting. Once the grout application is complete and excess grout removed, there will be a second waiting process.
Grout needs to be sealed. It's naturally porous and will stain easily. Most installers of tile floors do not seal them because grout has to cure first. It's something you should do to keep your grout looking its best.
High-traffic floor grout: Should be sealed every six months to one year. Guest bath and shower grout: Should be sealed every year or two, depending on frequency of use. Backsplash grout: Backsplashes in high-traffic areas should be sealed once yearly on average.
When grout is not sealed in time, grime and water can seep into it, causing cracks on your tiles and forcing them to break at a certain point. By sealing your grout, you get to prolong your tile surface's lifespan and minimize damage to a considerable extent.
It's a common misconception that tile grout is designed to last forever. The truth is that grout can last for a very long time in ideal conditions but unfortunately, it's not designed to last forever! Traditional grout is cement-based, and whether sanded or un-sanded, it's highly porous by nature.
You can grout with your finger. First apply the grout with a float, then neaten the grout line by running your finger along the lines. Leave to harden off a little before wiping the excess grout from the tiles' surfaces. After you have wiped, check the lines and again use your finger to create a neat finish.
For high-traffic areas, like the main bathroom, you should consider sealing it every six months, while low-traffic areas like the guest bathroom can be resealed every two years. If you are using epoxy grout, it might not be necessary to reseal it as it is highly water-resistant.
ANSWER - It is possible to grout over existing grout if there is enough depth to do so. 1/8 inch depth may or may not be adequate depending on the type of grout used. A latex modified grout may work, but you have to properly clean the existing grout to ensure the new grout adequately bonds.
You can apply new grout right over the top of the old grout. To do this, all you need is a grout removal tool. Use the tool to strike out the old grout, making sure the depth is at least 2mm, which is about the thickness of two dimes stacked one on top of the other.
At this point you may wonder if a complete re-grout is necessary or if it would be possible to simply put new grout over old grout. The answer is, yes, it is possible to put new grout over old grout.
This may make one wonder, is grout waterproof? The answer is, no, grout is not waterproof. However, it is water resistant. That means it will need to be submerged in water for a very long time before the liquid starts seeping through its material.
Regrouting can be a worthwhile home improvement project that keeps your floors looking good as new. It makes your tiles more resistant to mould, prevents water from seeping behind the shower floors and walls, and ensures they have a longer life span.
You may not need to remove most of the grout. It may be possible to apply new grout over old grout without removing it at some places. However, where the grout has deteriorated heavily through crumbling or become too dirty, it is best to remove it before applying new grout.
How often should you clean grout? Grout cleaning should be done pretty regularly if you want to kick butt and get results. At least once a month, you should try and scrub any stained grout clean. (Even better, try to clean stains on grout as soon as you see them to prevent setting.)
Regardless of the size of the project, certain elements might get between your tiles if they are not grouted. It can be dust, dead cells or other debris that will find a way between your tiles no matter how compact you think the installation looks. Grout can prevent such scenarios.
MAPEI offers Penetrating Plus Stone, Tile & Grout Sealer which is a water-based sealer and Penetrating Plus SB Stone & Porcelain Tile Sealer a solvent-based sealer. Let's be clear, sealing does not make grout stain or waterproof.
Let dry for at least 8 hours. Finally let the shower wall or floor grout to dry for a minimum of 8 hours before getting this area wet and using the bathroom again.
“Not only does grout fill the voids, it makes the floor, wall, or countertop stronger by bonding the tiles together and preventing the edges of a tile from chipping and cracking,” says David Goodman, the tile contractor for This Old House's Nantucket project.
Signs Your Grout Isn't Sealed or the Seal Is Deteriorating
If you notice your tile grout is changing color, specifically getting darker when it's wet, you can be pretty sure the seal is broken and needs to have some grout sealing reapplied by a professional.
You can seal the grout the day after you applied it or 100 years later. If it isn't dirty, seal all three sides of the shower with a tile sealer or masonry sealer. That will make the grout water-resistant, if not waterproof, and help prevent the growth of mold and dirt.
As it's made of cement it means that it's naturally very porous. Sir Grout writes that this means that, unsealed, it will absorb a lot of the water, dirt, and debris that it comes into contact with. This can mean within a few short months your tiling can go from looking immaculate and clean to discolored and dirty.