How often should you regrout shower tiles? Moisture and direct water contact contribute to grout deterioration over time, and eventually, the tiles will crack. This is why you should consider regrouting shower tiles every six months.
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.
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.
Loose tiles, mold growth, and crumbling are all key signs that your grout needs attention.
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.
A full regrout of an average-sized shower might cost anywhere from around $560 to $1,750. The overall price depends on various factors, including the type of grout used and how much old grout needs to be removed.
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.
Benefits of Putting New Grout Over Old Grout
Putting new grout over old grout is not as complicated as a complete re-grout as it does not require the removal of the old grout. It can also strengthen the surface to increase water resistance and make it less susceptible to impurities.
The short answer is, “no.” You cannot put new grout over old grout. With regard to filling in holes and cracks on the surfaces in our homes, we might compare grout repair to drywall repair. For holes in drywall, we would simply purchase spackle, and fill the hole in.
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.
Epoxy grout is water resistant and made from resins and fillers that help it work like a sealing adhesive. Epoxy grout is a better choice for showers, kitchen, bathrooms, and other damp areas because it is stain resistant and requires no sealing, unlike cement-based grout.
If your grout is a few years old, it's normal that in time, it will crack. This results from a few key causes: Exposure To The Elements. A common problem for wet areas in the home, like the bathroom or shower, grout tends to crack here as a build-up of water slowly eats away at the material.
Many authorities recommend sealing shower grout at least once a year as a rule of thumb.
You may be wondering how long does a ceramic or porcelain tiled shower last. Ideally, it should last around 60-80 years with yearly maintenance. You may need to reseal the tiles once a year and replace the grouting every ten years or more if you use the shower too frequently.
Fortunately, it's well within the range of the average do-it-yourselfer to remove and replace grout. Indeed, regrouting tile can restore lost luster and is well worth the time and effort.
The grout should be dug out a minimum of 3mm deep (preferably deeper) so that new grout can have a firm base and a larger surface area of the sides of the tiles to adhere to. Do not attempt to apply new grout over the damaged existing grout.
If you don't have any serious damage to cover, you might pay as little as $1.70 to $5 per square foot. This would cover a basic cleanup job with some “spot” grout removal. On the other hand, a full professional removal and regrouting goes for around $10 to $25 per square foot.
It may not be necessary to re-grout the entire shower, but we think it will look the best. Partially re-grouting risks a rough, uneven look. Your first job is to remove the old grout.
Re-grouting is more affordable than retiling as far as bathroom flooring options go. This DIY project can be done in about four hours, which makes it much faster than retiling.
Average cost only $445 to $795 including GST
*Should the shower be too deteriorated then we may suggest alternative solutions such as tiling, waterproofing and or renovations works.
Yes, certainly. Grout isn't a waterproof material, and lets water through. A properly-built shower takes that into account by giving water a path to the drain beneath the tile. If you don't have a leak, however, you can choose to fix little cracks or openings as an aesthetic choice.
Depending on the size of the project underway, regrouting your tiles can take about a day or two. It's a convenient, and far more practical, solution to sprucing up your space.