Having problems re-grouting my shower

[cyclistca]

I looked around on the web and found a site that gave the basic instructions. So I went out and bought a grout saw. Went home and started to saw away. Four hours later I had hardly made a dent in the old grout. Went to Home Depots website and found out that you could get a grout attachment for a Dremel. So I went out and got one. Well it went a bit faster except that it is a pain to keep the bit between the tiles. I even bought an attachment for the Dremel that suppose to help guild the bit. Better then nothing but not great.

Ok what's the trick to doing this so that

1. it's reasonably efficient
2. does not damage the tiles

 

[iamwiz82]

http://www.doityourself.com

 

[SearchMaster]

I regrouted a shower floor a few years ago, but I don't remember it being THAT bad. It was tedious but it probably only took 3-4 hours with a grout saw. Wonder if yours isn't really grout or a grout-mortar mixture that is harder than normal?

 

[cyclistca]

Hmm I never thought of that. How would I tell the difference between grout and a grout-motar mix?

 

[iroast]

use non-sanded grout mix for walls and sanded grout mix for floors. don't forget about the grout sealer.

if you want to replace the tiles, now is the time to do it.

 

[cyclistca]

Yep, already got the right kind of grout. Just having a a lot of trouble removing the old stuff.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: cyclistca
Yep, already got the right kind of grout. Just having a a lot of trouble removing the old stuff.

Go to your local hardware store and get a small cold chisel. If the grout lines aren't too small, you can probably tap a couple of grooves in it to try to chip it away. If it's extremely old, it may actually be mortar you're chipping away rather than grout. They used to use the same stuff for both back in the old days if they were doing the job for cheap. 😛

I just finished grouting 2 bathroom floors, a kitchen floor, and a complete corner shower. I'm going to be doing my second bathroom's tub walls next Spring probably. Persistance is what it takes to remove that stuff...the chisel will help I hope...

 

[Fritzo]

Yeah, it's probably mortor instead of ground, which is where your problems are coming from. You'll probably have to do the chipping method.

 

[dquan97]

dynamite? 😉