Re-grouting a counter?
Question:I have some cracks in the grout on my bathroom counter. Can I just fill in the cracks or would I need to remove the old grout first? Help!
Answers:
No you cannot just fill the cracks. Go to someplace like Home Depot or Lowes and purchase a grout removal tool. It is made of carbide and is triangle shaped. You can scrape out the old grout with this tool but it is time consuming. Then regrout the tiles and make sure you put at least two coats of sealer on the new grout. Keep putting on the sealer until it no longer penetrates the grout. Forty five minutes between coats of sealer. Grout will not absorb moisture and will not get dirty if properly sealed.
If it's cracked then it means it's old and probably should be removed. You can just fill the cracks in and it will be ok for a little while. But if you're looking for a long term fix you should remove it all start fresh. And buy a really good grout sealant. The sealant makes it last a long time.
Cracks indicate that the grout was too dry or you have a shifting in the countertop. I would suggest removing the old grout and redoing it. A Dremel tool works great for this.
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