How to remove old grout from tile joints?

The facing tile embodied in more modern and hi-tech options, has almost record durability. This is not the case with tile joints: they become dirty, darken with time, become covered with fungus. There comes a time when it is necessary to choose whether to change the entire coating or just the joint, from which it is often difficult to remove the old grout. Correctly pick out the grout is quite possible on their own, if you decide in advance what you need to buy, and on what you can save.

If the decision is made, you should decide on the main side of the process - mechanical. Grout solutions are amenable to softening with chemical compounds, but in any case, the old grout is held tightly enough. To remove it, you need a special tool and targeted efforts.

To extract the old solution can be used:

• paint knife;

• stitcher;

• Dremel with a special nozzle;

• other power tools;

• improvised means.

This is one of the best hand tools you can use to clean the grout. Thin blade, hitting the corner of the tile, is able to bend, and this often prevents chipping of the glaze. The cheapness of replaceable blades allows you to constantly use a sharp working edge, without losing time for sharpening.

The first movement is a cut in the center of the seam. It is repeated 2-3 times until the blade goes to the desired depth. Then, tilting the tool, begin to remove the solution towards the edges of the adjacent tiles. If deep clearing is needed, the blade is pressed to the edges of the tiles in turn, again making movements for the recess.

A slightly different principle of operation for special knives for jointing.Their blades are relatively thicker (1–1.5 mm) and covered with the abrasive over the entire length of the working part. Thus, the trimmer starts to clean the seam at once across the entire width. Since the blades are removable, they can be easily purchased. The most popular is the Archimedes interfing knife.

Multifunctionality is the calling card of this tool. To clean the seams, developers offer a carbide drill (Dremel 569) and a guide (Dremel 568). The drill diameter is 1.6 mm. The guide allows you to keep the drill strictly between the two tiles, it is also possible to adjust the depth.

For floor seams suitable drill with pobedit drill 3mm as an analogue Dremel. And for the walls you need to search the market for some solid carbide version of a smaller diameter (the same Dremel 569). On the drill expose small or medium speed. You can apply a restrictive nozzle on the drill so that it does not sink deeper than necessary.

The Bulgarian with a disk will be suitable for rooms where several sawn tiles will not spoil the general appearance (for example, a basement or a box for a car wash). It is very desirable to have a model that allows you to reduce speed.

A broken hacksaw blade, a shoe knife, a chisel, a trowel, an old string with an abrasive, a thin diamond file can help out.

After the operation of the main tool, traces of mortar that remain on the edges of the tile are removed by the hard side of the kitchen sponge.The stiffness of this material is such that it "takes" the solution and does not scratch the glaze at all. Another option is to use fine sandpaper (null).

Learn how to easily and easily remove the old grout from the following video.

It is sometimes said that chemical cleaners remove old grout. This is not entirely true. For a perfect result, it is not enough just to apply the product, and then run a rag along the seam. However, chemicals can actually make the solution more malleable and facilitate its removal.

You can use different cleaners depending on the components that make up the old grout.

This is the most common type of grout. The reagent for them is acid. For two parts of water, add one part vinegar (9%). Seams after impregnation should be left for one hour. Suitable concentrated citric acid or even lemon juice.

More significant help will be provided by industrial developments. They are called differently: “Means for removing cement contaminants VALO Clean”,“Good Master mortar remover”, “Atlas Szop concentrated cement residue remover”, “Neomid 560 cement screed cleaner”. The instructions should mention the grout (joint filler, fugue).

After applying the composition should take from several hours to days. Some types of tile and stone can be hopelessly damaged after contact with concentrated cleaning solutions. You should read the instructions from the manufacturers of tile and cleaner. The tool is tested on an inconspicuous site. If necessary, protect the edge of the tile with masking tape.

Epoxy compounds are completely waterproof and resistant to chemicals. Therefore, only special cleaners can help to remove them: “Litostrip” from Litokol; “Mapei Kerapoxy Cleaner”, “Fila CR10”, “Sopro ESE 548”.

Sealants quickly get dirty and often "bloom", after which they are not subject to any restoration or improvement. It is quite possible to remove the old sealant mechanically (with a knife, old credit card, coarse salt, etc.) or a stream of hot steam (if there is a steam cleaner at home).

To use household chemicals at hand, you need to know the composition of the sealant. The acidic composition is softened with vinegar (at a concentration of not less than 70%), alcohol - technical or medical alcohol, any solvent is suitable for neutral.

In order not to guess the composition, it is easier to look for universal industrial means on sale: Penta-840, P, Mellerud Silicon Entferner, Lugato Silicon Entferner.

Power tools should be worn in safety goggles and a respirator. Chemistry procedures cannot be started without rubber gloves. The window should be open.

One square meter of tile may account for ten or more meters of the seam. If you count on the entire area of ​​the cladding, the thought arises: "Is it possible to do without repeated grouting?"

Find out how necessary to replace the old grout can be after small restoration measures.

You can try these methods:

• wash the seam;

• remove the top layer with emery;

• paint over the special composition.

Concentrate for tile joints HG is marketed by Dutch manufacturers asspecialized cleaner for cement-based joints. For 10 minutes, the substance removes layers of soot and fat.

Seams with contaminated white grout can be refreshed with chlorine-containing agents. These are White, Domestos, Cif Ultra White. If there is simple bleach, dilute it with water, apply, and then rinse off after 10 minutes.

For colored surfaces, chlorine is contraindicated: discoloration will occur, and uneven. If there is a site for experiments, you can try out folk remedies: baking soda, hydrogen peroxide (mix with water in a ratio of 1 to 2), acetic acid. Finally, you can use general purpose detergents, which are presented in a wide range: Ultra Stripper, Pemolux, Santri, Silit, BOZO and others.

If the contamination does not penetrate deeply, you can use fine sandpaper. Emery should bend or wrap them edge of thick cardboard or other material. Of course, the former aesthetic level cannot be achieved, but this way you can update the seams in low-light areas, above the baseboard, in the hallway.

Painting the old seam is a simple and effective way.

It can be done using the following types of products:

• marker with waterproof ink Edding 8200, 2 colors: white and gray, line thickness 2-4 mm;

• Pufas Frische Fuge (white);

• whitening pencil "Snowball" from BRADEX;

• Fuga Fresca (white).

You can often see how the seam has crumbled around and has become half-empty around one tile of the floor covering. This means that the tile is now just lying on the screed. In this case, the problem with the seams cannot be solved until the tile is glued again.

If the grout is cracked on the walls, it may mean that all the tiled flooring has peeled off and is holding up extremely badly, so it will be easier to re-tile the tile.

Useful insights can be drawn from any experience. Before buying a grout, you should consider how to extend the life of a new joint.

Where the wall has been exposed to the fungus, it will be unwise to reapply the usual composition. Cleared seam to the full depth should be treated with antifungal agent, it is worth choosing a troweller with the same properties or, at least, to carry out the appropriate impregnation (Ceresit CT 10).

The seams near the washbasin or above the tub do not remain clean for long.But they can be protected with Atlas Delfin or purchased with a composition of the required quality, for example, CERESIT CE 40 with a water-repellent effect and dirt repelling technology.

Sometimes it is still better to replace the old grout, if you can not remove the effects of operation. Get rid of the ceiling grout will help the above means.

So, you can clean the old grout yourself. For this, it is not necessary to have an expensive tool. If the amount of work exceeds 10-15 squares, you should consider buying a special solution that softens the solution. This will save you time and energy.