Weapons grade grout removal options

[Davie]

Wife has made a start on the bathroom... which means it's now been left to me to finish it. It's completely tiled on the walls and I'd say more than 50% really needs the grout dug out and reapplied.

She's been vainly scraping away with a hand rake... getting nowhere. I have a DeWalt 18v multi tool bug having looked at a few dedicated tile remover blades from Einhell and SMART, the reviews are mixed with some saying said blades all blunt within a couple of meters.... which will be a dear day out at £12 a blade.... others saying they've done full bathrooms.

My other option is to go full Tim the Toolman Taylor and go at it with a cutting blade on the angle grinder and accept it'll be messy. Perhaps overkill but in lieu of a grout blade that lasts, might be the cheapest / fastest option.

Any suggestions / definitely avoid purchases? Already considering chucking wet wall over said tiles as it might be less faff!

[OutInTheShed]

Grout is quite variable stuff.
But quite likely you are blunting the tool on the tile edges more than the grout?

Last time I removed a lot of grout, I used a stanley knife for most of it, and cleaned up with a dremel.

[MyM2006]

I used a multitool, think I bought both a Bosch blade at £20 and a pack of 4 of some random chinese make off amazon for £12.
Both worked fine, I reckon I had about 7 to 8 square meters to do, A4 sized tiles.

Had used a hand rake and that was a faff! Just be careful to get a thin enough blade for the grout line and make sure you dont chip the tiles.

[Shooter McGavin]

Why does the grout need scraping out? Is it dirty/mouldy?

I took on a similar task in our bathroom which has loads of tiles. A hand rake and an electric grout remover were really fiddly, and I manages to damage the edge of a couple of tiles with the latter so soon put that aside.

Somewhat frustrated and in need of a quick fix, I tried some Mould Magic. I was extremely sceptical but it is really good, our grout came up as good as new. Really no need to remove it, so then I just filled in a couple of tiny bits that needed an infill.

https://musthaveideas.co.uk/products/mould-magic

£12.99 for two tubes. They ain't the biggest but they did our modest sized bathroom with a tiny bit left over.

[Davie]

Thanks chaps.

The biggest issue is yes, there are area around the shower and bath that are discoloured but the main issue if it's even that is the grout, whilst pretty neat looks very porous and there's a few areas where hairline fractures are starting.

Wife would like it redone but so it's a smooth finish rather than being sorted of pumice stone esque and as there's precious little height difference between the grout and edge of the tiles, it probably wants taking back a bit to not only dig out any issue areas but also to give sufficient depth to get the new stuff in.

I've ordered a SMART branded grout blade for the multi-tool via Toolstation for tomorrow. It's the one that seems to have the most positive reviews and isn't a small fortune... will see how it goes and for any bigger issues, might try the grinder.

Next question will be "Rough price to re-tile a bathroom?" once I've ruined what's there already!

[B'stard Child]

I've removed grout with a tile cutting blade on an angry grinder - christ it's a messy job. I was going to re-tile the bathroom but Mrs BC liked the tiles and couldn't find something she did like.......

(I did it with the window open, a dust mask on and having first taped the door shuts to stop it going into the rest of the house.) biggest problem is visibility after you've done a few lines. It did the job nicely and I was able to re-grout - it gave the bathroom a few years of extra life. (the first two were push backs as I said "I bloody spent a day cutting out and replacing the grout because you said it looked dirty - if you think I'm now re-tiling it you are mistaken.............." Push backs only get you so far

[OutInTheShed]

Sometimes it's enough to scrape the top of the grout, which removes the worst discoloration, then apply a top-up of grout or a grout realer/reviver product.

I did a quick 'temporary job' like this and it was fine.

[.:ian:.]

I had to replace some tiles on a shower after the silicone sealant failed and let water get behind the tiles. The tile cement was mush but the grout was hard as nails.

Tried to clean some of the grout off with a dremel, but it needs a keener eye and a steadier hand than I possess

Maybe try some acid to eat the grout clean? Depends on the tiles though.

[rix]

Davie said:

I've ordered a SMART branded grout blade for the multi-tool via Toolstation...

Came here to recommend exactly this. Did a fine job of de grouting our large tiled floor and plenty of life in it left. Tho: Job. Took. Ages!!

The follow up question is to recommended a grout/technique... After I re did mine, it looks as bad as it did before only a couple of years on, with lots of staining and broken bits!

[B'stard Child]

rix said:

Came here to recommend exactly this. Did a fine job of de grouting our large tiled floor and plenty of life in it left. Tho: Job. Took. Ages!!

The follow up question is to recommended a grout/technique... After I re did mine, it looks as bad as it did before only a couple of years on, with lots of staining and broken bits!

For me it's always key to make sure the adhesive is not filling up the area to be grouted - that way you can get a good depth to the grout and plenty of strength in it - I'm sure a pro tiler will comment - I'm just a diy'r but it's what works best for me

[Russet Grange]

Smash the tiles off, repair a bit, whack up wall panels.

[Vanden Saab]

Stanley knife and plenty of blades. Cut down each side of the grout line and then scrape down the middle with a grout rake of your choice.

[Vanden Saab]

B'stard Child said:

For me it's always key to make sure the adhesive is not filling up the area to be grouted - that way you can get a good depth to the grout and plenty of strength in it - I'm sure a pro tiler will comment - I'm just a diy'r but it's what works best for me

Yep, either clean the joints with a wet sponge as you go, highly recommended, or before it has fully dried with a rake. I cut slots in a small non-scratch sponge scourer so it will fits tightly in the joint and clean the joints as I go. Run from the end of the tile to the middle from both ends.

[Mad Maximus]

Multi tool worked really well for me. It made a bugger of a mess. Mask up to spare the dust on your lungs and it’ll tear through it with the right bit.

[mart 63]

Try using brick acid and a stiff wire brush. That's what they use here in Spain, when they regrout swimming pools. It takes enough grout out, to grout over.