My existing tiles can't be re-grouted? What are my other options?

[gnix29uk]

Hello all,

I'm a complete newbie, and I really dont know much about tiling.

Today I had my brother round to re-grout my tiles for me (as the existing white grout looks dirty no matter how much I scrub). He said that the electric grout remover and the manual grout scraping tool were too big as the tiles haven't been spaced. They are apparently too close together to be able to get the grout out without damaging the tiles.
Its frustrating because the tiles (also white) are prefect, its just the grout that needs to be replaced.

So.. what do I do?

• Are there any other options for removing group from tiles that are tight together?
• If I have to re-tile the whole bathroom where would you recommend buying tiles from? (i live in London and i think i'd probably want big glitter/sparkle tiles)

Any help and advice will be greatly appreciated, I want to do this as cheaply as possible, I dont own the property, its Housing Association, but I still want to have a nice bathroom.

Thanks so much

Nicola

 

[Dave]

You can use a grout re-colourer...

 

[Andy Allen]

You could try grout colourant to re colour the grout.
Trade tiler sell it..

 

[Andy Allen]

Ha ha snap..lol

 

[swanman]

yes what David said would be your best option

Go to the Tile Doctor web site

 

[CJ]

http://www.tradetiler.com/consumabl...eal-grout-rescue-colour-seal-237ml-white.html

 

[Just Rizzle]

have u got a steam cleaner? got a hand held one recently and with the jet nossile and small hand held nail brush was able to clean my own grout up nearly back to new you can get them for about£35

 

[Taylormade]

Agreed steam cleaner or grout re colour. If the tiles are that tight sounds like a poor job in the first place. Do you know how long have they have been up?

 

[gnix29uk]

Hey, thank you all, I will give these suggestions a go.

Are you all tilers? If I use the grout rescue, what colour looks good/trendy? Like would black grout with white tiles look awful? I can't visualise it

 

[RDTiling]

Steam cleaner would be my first option. You can pick them up cheap enough and I'm sure you'll find a use for it in the future around the house!

 

[Rookery]

Hey, thank you all, I will give these suggestions a go.

Are you all tilers? If I use the grout rescue, what colour looks good/trendy? Like would black grout with white tiles look awful? I can't visualise it

I've done a full bathroom in white metros and black grout. Not my cup of tea but the customer was very happy with the look. I'm not a fan of grout colourant, I'd re-do the tiling.

 

[Taylormade]

Steam cleaner first then decide! Re colour can always be iffy!

 

[Just Rizzle]

dont use a red grout will look like a rubbish football team on the river wear lol

 

[gnix29uk]

Well I've been here 13 years so defo longer than that. They aren't too shabby, just very close together.

If I can find out how to post pics I'll defo do some before and after

 

[gnix29uk]

Thanks, I'll give it a go

 

[MTiler]

Ive used Grout re-colourants, theyre very good and very easy to use, but on very old, stained grout it can end up a bit patchy, deffo do a good clean first.
The tiling ideally needs to be very good and spot on to have a contrasting grout colour otherwise it'll show up every dodgy bit.

 

[mean_in_green]

The contrast of black will make the grout lines jump out so they would need to be nice and consistently sized to look right. If their width is too variable you might want to leave them white.

 

[AMtek]

use a stanley knife and a big pack of new blades then re grout

 

[jSPENCEINC]

Lowes sells a electric grout removal tool, i usually pass on regrouting jobs if the price isnt right, but recently took on a 300sq/ft master bath and had the same issue with manuel grout removal tool, after one tile chip i picked up what lowes had to offer and it worked like a charm