Shower Regrouting and Sealing: A Guide

If your shower unit is looking grotty or if the water is beginning to leak through cracks in the grouting, it is time to take action. This article will provide a step-by-step guide to regrouting and sealing the tiles in your shower unit. Read on to find out everything you need to know.

Remove the old grout

The first step is to remove the old grout. The easiest way to do this is to use a grout rake.  Remove the grout from the shower area with a plastic or rubber grout rake. Grout rakes are very cheap and widely available in DIY stores. If you do not have one of these, a steel trowel will do. Grout can be very difficult to remove as it is not water-soluble.

Apply fresh grout

After removing the old grout, you need to apply the new grout. Grout is a concrete-based adhesive that sticks to the stone in the shower. You will need to work from the drain outwards and pull the grout into the drain to form a seal. If the grout gets into the drain, you will need to clean it out. You can buy new grout ready to go from most DIY stores. Grout comes in different colours to match your tile colour scheme.

Remove the excess grout

As you apply the grout to the small areas around each tile, it is inevitable that some will spill out. If left to dry, these pieces of grout can look very unsightly. To avoid this issue, you need to take the following step. Once you have applied the fresh grout, you should use a damp sponge to remove any excess material from around the tiles. To do this, simply run the sponge lightly over each tile to pick up any excess grout.

Deploy the grout shaper tool

A grout shaper tool is a thin piece of plastic with a round end. By running the round end of this tool between each tile, you can smooth out the freshly applied grout to create a professional-looking finish.

Seal the grout

Finally, you should apply some sealant to the fresh grouting. The sealant product will help to lock out moisture created when you use your shower, protecting the tiles and the grouting from damage. You can typically purchase sealant from a DIY store. If you're unsure, you should ask a staff member for advice.

To find out more about shower regrouting and sealing, contact a repair and restoration contractor today.