grout removal and sealer?

[krissie]

ok i have never done this before so feel free to laugh at this one.
i laid my tile and put up the grout but i didnt wipe off the excess grout and now all the tiles are covered. after 8 day of picking at it, i dont want to do it any more. is there an easer way to get it off. i herd viniger works. and i guess i have to seal it too? i'm lost.... please help

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[groutkleen]

Well, if you are looking to completely remove the grout and do it the "right way", I can tell you that acetone will help with that. It will break down the grout making it very easy to be removed. BUT, and I stress and big BUT, be careful. Whenever you are working with acids, make sure the area is well ventilated and you wear gloves and safety glasses!

[Davestone]

I would suggest finding a professional restoration or cleaning co. to do this. It will be difficult.You said you put up the grout.I assume this is a wall,or bath walls, hopefully it's unsanded grout.First i would use a dull scraper to remove the bulk of the grout,unless it's stone.If the tile isn't stone, and it isn't unglazed ceramic, or especially soft i would next use a product like sureclean diluted 25% and use a charcoal filter mask, chemical gloves, a fan open window,goggles..you get the picture,and remove any metal like shower door trim, fixtures, metal drain,faucets...or cover them alll with plastic, and tape.I would sponge the sureclean onto the tile and let it soak in for awhile, then take a black scrubby pad on a holder and work away at it,unless you have a hand machine that will hold a pad,then i would soak the walls for 10 minutes, then rinse them then use the machine with the scrubby pad.As you can see this is gonna be difficult.

[doitright]

Hi Krissie, Welcome! :)

Can you post a picture? :shades:

Is this an epoxy grout or a cementitious grout?

This will determine if an acid or a solvent is needed to remove your grout. Acetone is a solvent.

Acids will eat minerals. Portland cement is a mineral.

Depending how much grout is on the surface will determine whether or not a mechanical method will need to be employed also.

Your grout may also contain a latex additive which is another component. What grout did you use?

All these details will help us best evaluate your project to give you the proper advice.

[krissie]

bathroom

[doitright]

Hi Krissie :)

Did all the tile look like the area that's still covered? :eek:

It would probably be easier to tear it out and start over. Since that's probably not an option, I would start with a razor scraper.

[Ceacy]

Hi There,
I am no expert on anything but I did just finsih dealing with a similar problem and we were able to remove dried grout on a floor that had been on a week before we tried a product called Acid MAgic by Certol and it took all the dried grout off. The grout was very thick on a texttured tile floor. We bought the product at Aubochon's and used it full strength according to the label.
It worked for us.
Good luck Ceacy. You can follow the thread about my mess under the heading Major (Grout) Mess

[krissie]

yes all the tiles looked the same, all covered with grout. i have been scraping it off with a plastic putty knife. i dont want to scrach the tiles. some of the heavy spots i use sand paper but i dont sand it all the way down, just enough so the putty knife can get the rest. can i put caulk over the grout to make it look better? i figure i can sand the grout down a little and the fill the rest in with caulk. if i do this do i still have to seal it?

[doitright]

Hi Krissie :)

I don't recommend going that route. :shake:

[krissie]

grout i used

[krissie]

up close

[krissie]

my floor at least turned out good.

[doitright]

Hi Krissie :)

The grout was your culprit. I doubt you'll ever find a tilesetter using that grout (except maybe for a repair...as the box clearly states).

[krissie]

this is what the guy gave me at the store. is this the worng stuff? do i need to redo it then?

[doitright]

Hi Krissie :)

No you don't have do redo it (as long as the grout is filling the joint). I meant to indicate that some of the additives that are in grouts such as Customs, Mapei, Hydroment, etc. facilitate application, and cleanup.

[krissie]

thankyou, it says waterproof so do i still have to seal it?

[doitright]

Hi Krissie :)

If it darkens when you wet it, it needs to be sealed.

[krissie]

thanks for all your help

[krissie]

here it is, its all done.

[Davestone]

:clap1:

[doitright]

Hi Krissie :)

Great job! :tup2:

By my calculations, you were able to clean approximately 1.875 tiles per day since you posted! :lol2:

[krissie]

After my husband busted out all the glass because he put the seals in to tight i decided to replace the glass with blue plexiglass. and now i'm glad he broke the glass because i love the blue.

[doitright]

Hi Krissie :)

I hope you're not referring to the blue plastic protection on the plexiglass. :eek: :D

Seriously, all things seem to happen for the best, don't they? :shades:

[krissie]

no no no i pealed off all the plastic on it. i ordered blue special.

[krissie]

ok now the grout is cracking. all around the bottom of the floor. i fill it in, it cracks. i dig out the old grout and fill it in, it cracks. i put culk down, it comes up. whats the problem?
:cry: :fish2:

[Davestone]

Movement kiddo, shrinking and swelling,is my guess.That's the problem with shower floors,too wet for caulk, and grout cracks.If it's white dry it out and use some white silicone.

[krissie]

thank you i will try that.

www.houselifes.com
:yo: