Many people want to have there grout restored but do not know what type of grout restoration service options are available for their particular grout.

 

 

There are many different options available for restoring your grout. Many times no matter what types of cleaning solutions or cleaning procedures you use it is impossible to clean your grout to restore it back to its original new looking appearance. In these cases you need to consider what options are available to you for restoring your grout back to its original look and appearance.

 

The first thing that must be done is to analyze your grout and determine what type of grout you have and what problems you are having with your grout.  In analyzing your grout you should determine if you have sanded or unsanded grout. Sanded grout has sand in it and it will have a gritty feel to it. Sanded grout is generally used on grout joints 1/8 inch and larger. Unsanded grout has a smooth feel as it does not have any sand in it. 

Unsanded grout is generally used on grout joints less then 1/8 inch. Many times unsanded grout is used in areas where there should be sanded grout and also many times sanded grout is used where unsanded grout should be installed.  If you are unsure of what type of grout you have then you can read here about the differences sanded grout vs unsanded grout.

 

Cracked grout is a common problem in many tile installations.

 

There are many reasons why the grout may be cracking. One of the most common reasons why grout cracks is if there is movement in the tiles. If the tiles are not properly attached to the subfloor or sub wall then they may move around and cause the grout to crack. In this case it is important to properly attach the tile to the substrate before doing any grout restoration service. You will most likely have to remove the grout surrounding the loose tiles so that you can replace the broken tile. Then you can install new grout around the newly set tile. It may be impossible to match the color of the new grout to the old grout. In this case you may want to consider using a grout colorant on all of the grout to make all of the grout have a uniform appearance.

In many cases the grout has cracked due to movement in the subfloor or sub wall.  If you see that the tile is adhered to the sub surface but the tile still moves in relation to the surrounding tiles then you have a subfloor or sub wall problem. In these cases there is no permanent grout restoration service available that will last. When tiles move due to sub floor or sub wall problems then the only thing that can be done is to remove the tiles and fix the sub surface issues and replace the tiles.

Sometimes grout is cracked due to issues with the grout itself.  There are many reasons why grout may crack.  It could have been installed wrong or the wrong type of grout may have been used.  The grout also may not have been properly cleaned and maintained with the proper cleaning solutions. In these cases it is best to remove the existing grout and replace the grout with a tile floor regrouting procedure.  If there are only small areas of broken or cracked grout then you may be able to replace the just the cracked areas of grout.  In some cases with older grout or grout that there is no color match for the new grout will not match the old grout. In these cases it is best to just replace the broken and cracked grout and apply a grout colorant to all of the grout lines to make the grout have an even looking appearance.

In cases with unsanded grout that has cracked or broken then a complete regrouting procedure is the best option.   Many times unsanded grout in showers tile will become cracked or broken due to normal wear and tear. It generally looks best to replace all of the unsanded grout and replace all the grout in a complete shower regrouting procedure.

 

Sometimes grout is just impossible to clean.  

 

Many times grout will simply not come clean with any type of grout cleaning products or procedures.  Sometimes the grout is neglected or cleaned with improper cleaning products or procedures. Often times the grout was not professionally installed and never had a uniform color or look. Also many times people just choose a grout color that they do not like after the grout has been installed. For unsanded grout like the kind in showers the best solution is to remove the old grout and install new grout with a shower regrouting procedure. If you have sanded grout then it is best to use a grout colorant to restore your grout to like new condition. A grout colorant can make your grout look better then the day it was installed. Additionally grout colorants come in many colors so if you are not happy with the color of your grout you can change your grout color to practically any color you can imagine.

Restoring grout can be a difficult and time consuming project.   Even with the proper techniques it can still take a long time to complete and not look as clean as you wanted.  You may want to hire a professional tile and grout restoration contractor to restore your grout for you. 

You can read some valuable information and tips on how to hire a tile, grout and stone cleaning and restoration contractor at our contractor information page here. Grout Restoration Contractor.