How To Fix Cracked Grout on Tile Floor. What Pros say

Keeping your home looking its best is a never-ending task of painting, scrubbing, moving, and grouting. However, many homeowners are unsure about how to repair cracked grout in their homes. Not to worry, though; sorting out cracks in grout is a straightforward task that anyone can manage. 

To fix cracked grout on your tile floor, you need to clean and remove the damaged grout using a grout saw. Then, you’ll need to apply new grout and fill in the gaps between the tiles. Lastly, you must clean the tiles of any excess grout and wait overnight for the grout to dry and set. 

Keep reading this article for a guide on removing the cracked grout from your tile floor. I’ll examine the best method for fixing this issue and offer some advice so you can avoid common pitfalls that DIYers often encounter on this task. 

Step 1: Clean the Cracked Grout 

If the grout in your tile floor is cracked, it’s likely been there a while. As a result, the grout will also have retained dirt and stains from years of wear. Therefore it makes sense to clean the grout before proceeding with the repair job. 

The best way of removing tough dirt and stains from the grout between tiles is by using a mixture of vinegar and water. A one-to-one mix works best for eliminating dirt and restoring your grout to its original color. Take note of this color later in the process, as you’ll need to find a suitable grout mix. 

Once the area is clean, you can get to work. 

Step 2: Remove the Damaged Grout 

The next stage of this process is removing all the damaged grout from the area. The best, easiest, and safest way of eliminating grout is by using a grout saw. The grout saw can help you scrape away the grout between the tiles without damaging the tiles themselves. 

You need to remove the grout until there is a clear gap between the tiles. You don’t have to get every spec of grout from the area. However, you do need to cut at least 1/8th of an inch (0.32-cm) down into the grout. This allows for enough space to fit the fresh grout into the gap. 

Step 3: Get the Right Grout and Mix It 

At this stage, you’ll have a gap between the tiles on your floor where the grout once was. To resolve this, you’ll need to fill the gaps with fresh grout. Therefore, you need to go to the store and buy a grout that is either the same color as the old grout or a new color that matches your floor. 

Once you’ve selected your grout, you need to prepare the mixture for your repair. To get your grouting mix ready, follow the instructions on the bag and put the mixture aside for now. 

Step 4: Prepare the Tiles for Grouting 

Now that you’ve removed the old grout and prepared your mixture, it’s time to get your tile floor ready for the new application of grout. In order to do this, you must first vacuum the gap to pick up any tiny pieces of grout you missed earlier. 

After sucking up the last vestiges of the grout, you should get the tile surfaces ready for the fresh layer of grout. The easiest way to prepare your times is by wiping them with a clean, wet cloth. This removes dirt and dust from the tile while also covering the surface in a layer of water. 

This layer of water helps during the installation of fresh grout, and it prevents the mixture from sticking to the tile floor. 

Step 5: Fill In the Gaps With Grout Using a Grout Float

It’s time to install the fresh layer of grout so your tile floor can look its best again. The easiest way of applying grout is by using a grout float. You place the grout on this tool so you can then evenly spread it across the tile floor until the gaps are evenly filled with the grout. 

Continue to apply the grout over the affected area until the gaps have entirely filled. In order to do this, you will need to cover areas of the tile along the gap. Don’t worry about getting grout on the tiles, as it’s more important to fill in the gaps between tiles at this time. 

Step 6: Clean Up the Excess

After successfully filling in the gaps between tiles with a fresh application of grout, you’ll likely have an area roughly an inch (2.54 cm) thick on either side of the hole where extra grout has spilled over. 

While this is not an issue during installation, if you leave it there, it will harden and remain there forever, ruining all of your hard work. 

Take the time to remove all of the unwanted extra grout by wiping it away with a dry cloth. You may also need to use a scraper to pick up larger spills. 

Step 7: Wait Until Dry 

Your tile floor should now look good as new; however, you’re not out of the woods just yet. The grout is still malleable like putty and can shift or move if you are not careful. As a result, you need to leave the new application of grout to dry and harden.

Don’t walk on the tiles or grout that you’ve just worked on as it will likely cause issues. It typically takes anywhere from 12 hours to a full day for the grout to dry. However, you can purchase faster-drying grouts that can harden up and dry out in no time. 

Once the grout has dried completely, you can use the tile floor as you wish, and your cracked grout is no more. 

Final Thoughts 

That’s the end of the guide on repairing damaged grout between your tile floor. Hopefully, you learned everything you need to get to work so you can restore your tile to its former glory by replacing the damaged grout with a sleek new look.