Are you looking to give your shower a face-lift? Regrouting is an easy and cost-efficient way to improve the look of your bathroom with minimal effort. You may wonder “Is it hard to regrout a shower?”. Of course not. With the right tools and correct steps, regrouting a shower wall is a piece of cake. In this article, we’ll take a closer look and teach you step-by-step how to regrout a shower wall.
Why You Need to Regrout Your Shower Wall?
Before we begin to know the best way to regrout a shower wall, let us have a look at the reason to do so.
Even though the tiles used in shower walls are durable, grout does not have the same features. Eventually, grout wears down. And hence, regrouting periodically can help you make the wall more beautiful and avoid future problems.
If avoided, grout can crumble and can be a reason for your wall to be a new home to fungus. Therefore, to prevent a huge hole in the pocket and make your shower wall appear as good as new, learn how to regrout and seal a shower wall with the help of this article.
Prepare Your Bathroom Beforehand
Before you begin to learn how to regrout a shower recess, make sure you have certain things and arrange your bathroom products in a manner that will be suitable for you to perform the procedure. Below are a few things that you should take into consideration before regrouting showers.
- If the grout on your shower wall has fungus, make sure to clean it properly. Failing to do so might make your regrouting useless.
- In addition to this, remove heavy water stains if any. This can be done using nylon pads or a razor blade. Doing this will maintain keep your wall dirt-free and clean.
- Last, but not least, a good tile sealant can be useful to keep the tiles and the grout white.
What You’ll Need?
To learn how to regrout and seal your shower, there’s a lot you’ll need to have ready for a rainy day.
1. There are some things you may need to buy because something like a grouter is not common in the home. So generally, you need a grouter, powdered or pre-mixed grout, grout spreader, shaper, and trowel.
2. Some things that can be found at home. For example, clean rags and sponges are available at home and do not need to be purchased.
3. Also, a dust mask should always be worn for safety when handling tiles and their components.
How to Regrout Tiles?
This section talks about how to regrout shower floor and wall easily.
Getting Rid of the Old Grout
Some users might try to know how to regrout shower tile without removing old grout. Even though this is possible, it is highly not recommended to do so. It is always better to remove the old grout before applying the new one. Users can use a rake to get rid of the old grout. However, remember not to damage any tile in this process. Start by removing the grout from the horizontal joints first and then the vertical ones. Once done, you are all set to apply the new grout.
Creating the Grout Mixture
Grout comes in a powder form and users need to create a mixture by adding some water. In addition to this, you can also purchase pre-mixed and ready-to-use grout. Make sure you know that the mix you create for regrouting tile is sufficient for the area you wish to cover.
Applying the Grout
To regrout shower tile, begin by taking tiny portions of grout and pressing it onto the surface of the tiles using the trowel. With the help of a grout spreader, spread it in upward and long diagonal strokes. Make sure to work it between the tiles into the joints. Make sure that all the joints are grouted. Also, keep in mind that you need to work quickly since the grout will soon start to harden.
Removing Excess Grout
When done using the tools to regrout showers, remove the excess grout. Use a damp sponge and make sure not to drag any grout from the tiles.
Using a Grout Shaper to Finish Off the Joints
Once the grout is hardened a bit, finish off the joints with the help of a grout shaper for a clean finish. If regrouting is needed, just pull the tool along the joints. All you have to do is press in a bit more grout with your finger if any gaps do appear in the joints. Users can use the same process for regrouting shower floor corners as well.
Polishing With a Soft Cloth
Lastly, to finish off the regrout bathroom procedure, polish off the tiles with a soft and clean cloth. This is because the entire procedure will produce a powdery film on the tiles as the grout dries.
Conclusion
Now you know the procedure of how to regrout a shower wall. Regrouting a shower wall will help keep it looking good, prevent mold and mildew buildup, and generally extend the life of your shower. It can be DIY if you want to save money. With proper care and instructions, you can learn to regrout shower walls and make the shower wall and floor look as good as new.
FAQ about How to Regrout a Shower
The average price for regrouting is between $560-$880, depending on the size of the area and whether you’re doing it yourself. Professional installation usually costs more but gives you peace of mind knowing the job was done correctly.
If you plan accordingly, regrouting yourself can be a relatively inexpensive project, and you can regrout bathroom tile for about $1.7 to $5 per square foot of tiled surface.
Depending on your living environment and how dirty your shower wall has turned, you may regrout your bathroom every year, at least every three years for it to remain satisfactorily maintained. Not only does this help stop dirt from accumulating into bad patches, but also ensures that clogged drains don’t occur due to the build-up of debris in the grout lines.
Whether it is better to clean grout or regrout can depend on the condition of the existing grout. If the grout lines are in decent condition, one could opt for a professional cleaning or DIY solution using a grout-cleaning tool and specialized products.
However, if the grout is discolored, chipped, cracked, or shows other signs of damage, then regrouting may be the better option. Regrouting involves completely removing all existing grout and replacing it with new material to get a cleaner overall look that lasts longer.
