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.
How Long Should Grout Last Before Cracking? Non-sanded grout coupled with successful application will help your grout last at least 15 to 20 years. However, this largely depends on how much attention you pay to its maintenance.
Too Much Water or Additive
If the original solution is not mixed correctly, this can lead to cracked grout. As the grout dries, the water in the mixture will evaporate. Adding too much water or additive can lead to air pockets and make the grout weak. Thus, making it crack easily.
Adding a grout additive to your dry grout will assist in preventing cracking, as it will improve the grouts flexibility.
A number of cracks or having to patch cracks more than once on a floor means you need to phone a professional. If you see numerous cracks in the grout, it can indicate an uneven installation of your subfloor or a weakening subfloor. Not only may you need to replace the grout and tile, but you may need subfloor repairs.
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.
Although you can replace cracked grout with newer grout, some areas will continue to crack. These joints are referred to as “maintenance joints” and require regular repair unless an elastic sealant is used in place of the grout.
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.
Cool down the tile for grout application
Porous tile that is too warm will pull moisture too quickly from the grout, increasing the potential for future cracking.
The best line of defense and protection for your grout is to have it sealed. Sealed grout will not only get the protection it needs against crumbling, but it will also be protected against heavy staining as well. Your tile and grout need to be professionally cleaned before getting sealed for best results.
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.
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.
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.
If your grout is visibly cracked or crumbling, it's likely going to be letting water behind your tiles. Even if your grout doesn't appear to be damaged, if it's not water-resistant it could potentially be the source of the leak.
This tile needs periodic maintenance; cracks can develop in the grout between the tiles, allowing moisture to seep through. To stop the leak and prevent further damage to the underlying plaster or drywall, you'll need to seal all the places where water can penetrate.
Water evaporates faster with high temperatures, low humidity, solar heating and high winds which causes the cementitious material to lose water early (before final set) leading to plastic cracking, which is evident by the appearance of these fine cracks within hours of application out to 72 hours.
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.
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.
Epoxy grout is superior compared to its cement-based counterparts and can last longer. Some epoxy grout doesn't even require sealing, but it can still begin to have issues over time.
It might simply be old enough that it has started to crumble. More commonly, however, it's movement that causes the cracks. The walls behind your shower or the floor beneath it may shift a little with time and repeated use, and that bit of flex can cause grout to crack.
Epoxy grout won't crack, shrink, or discolour, making it ideal for applying in wet areas, such as showers. It's also highly resistant to the harsh chemicals found in cleaning products. As an added bonus, unlike traditional cement grout, epoxy grout does not need to be sealed, due to its non-porous nature.
The primary reason why grout deteriorates is that it was not mixed and installed properly. If too much water is added to the grout at install, it will not seal with the required density to withstand prolonged exposure to moisture and (most of all) water.
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.
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.