Caulk – or silicone – offers more flexibility and is waterproof and is used in areas where there may be more movement, such as around the edge of a bath. You could use silicone caulk in the vertical where two walls meet as an extra water repellent in showers. What Can I Use Instead Of a Grouting Tool? If you’re tiling on plasterboard, a new skim coat of plaster must be allowed to dry for at least seven days prior to tiling. If you’re tiling directly onto a sand or cement render, then the render must be a minimum of two weeks old. It’s not advisable to tile directly onto a painted or papered wall.

Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration. You might want a simple refresh or you are looking to change the colour of the grout and the current grout is in decent condition you don’t need to remove all of it. Just make sure that you remove at least 2mm so that the new grout can cover the old. How often should grout be replaced? To help you successful remove grout from tiles and replace it with new grout, we have created the below guide that covers each step of the process. What You’ll Need In this guide, we’ll take you through the whole process of fitting wall tiles, from planning, to cutting and laying tiles, and finishing off with sealant and grouting. Keeping your bathroom tiles clean is a relatively easy job but when the grout starts to become dirty or discoloured, it can ruin the appearance of your bathroom. If you haven’t tried already, there are many high quality grout cleaners you can use but if they weren’t up for the job, the best way to clean the grout upon your tiles is to remove and replace it.Tiles are usually given batch numbers, so to ensure proper colour matching try to buy all your required tiles from the same batch. You can use one of the best grout cleaners to easily do this. Alternatively, you can use a 50/50 bleach and water mix and scrub with a toothbrush. Or, for a harsher clean, you can try a bicarbonate of soda and distilled white vinegar mix. Make sure you reseal the grout afterwards to prevent further discolouration. For most tiling jobs a grouting tool is the ideal choice for getting a smooth uniform finish on larger gaps i.e. 5mm or larger.

On average grout should last at least five years if looked after properly i.e. cleaned and resealed (where necessary). But it's more a judgement call on the state of the grout that will decide when it should be replaced. Tiles are durable and easy to clean, meaning that in the long term they’re very cost effective to install. Other than regular cleaning and occasional replacement of sealant or grouting, bathroom tiles are also low maintenance. Thorough preparation is crucial if you want your tiles to be laid properly and last a long time. Before you start laying tiles your wall needs to be absolutely clean, dry and free of dust and grease. Yes you can, but its not recommended as a wholesale replacement. Grout is developed to provide a solid, hard wearing finish in areas that have no – or very minimal – movement, such as walls and floors. Apply a thin coat of sealer to porous stone. Follow the application instructions on the label. Wipe up excess sealer with a cloth to avoid puddles. Then let the sealer dry before you grout.Get your grout removal tool and start in one corner, work in one metre square sections. Hold the tool and use your other hand to steady the tool-holding hand. Apply pressure and drag the removal tool along the grout line. Repeat until you have removed the grout and move onto the next section.