Q. What is grout?
A. Grout is thin mortar (a mixture of sand, water, and cement
or lime that becomes hard like stone. Use: in building to hold
bricks and stones together) used to fill gaps, especially between
tiles.
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Q. What is regrouting?
A. Regrouting is a procedure where all of the grout, between
tiles, is removed by hand by individually scraping out each grout
line. This is followed by replacing the old grout, with new grout.
We also remove and replace the caulking, polish up the tiles, and
leave your shower looking as new as possible
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Q. When should I regrout?
A. When grout becomes moldy or filled with mildew, the only
way to completely get rid of it is to regrout. Mildew lives inside
the grout. If not completely removed, it will just grow back again.
If you suspect leakage or see water stains on the ceiling below the
bathroom. 9 times out of 10, leakage is due to missing grout or
caulk and not a plumbing problem. Even tiny holes, or hairline
cracks, can cause major problems. A grout specialist can easily
assess the condition of your grout and whether or not it is likely
to be the cause of leaks. Regrouting can save you from having to
spend thousands of dollars remodeling your bathroom. Leaks, left
unchecked, will eventually result in rotted wallboard behind the
tiles. Tiles will fall off. Mildew will become rampant and the wall
will have to be replaced.
If you cannot get it clean no matter what you do, it is best to
regrout.
If a few tiles are loose, but not all we can repair and then regrout.
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Q.
What about floor grout, can that be regrouted?
A. Floor grout, which is a stronger sanded grout, is normally
not regrouted. If floor grout becomes cracked and starts chipping
out, it is because the tiles are loose and no longer adhering to the
underlayment.. It’s possible no underlayment was used at all in
which case, tiles were originally set on wood. This is always a
problem.
If your tiles are loose, which is normally the case when you see
cracked floor grout, removing the grout will most likely make the
floor fall apart. At his point it is best to get a new floor
installation. If you choose to go with tile again, make sure the
tiler uses underlayment, preferably screwed in place.
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Q. How long does
regrouting take?
A. For an average sized shower, the process takes 3 to 4
hours. A few things can extend this time:
-
Heavy mildew that needs to be
scraped, even from chrome
-
If the window/door caulk was
used originally instead of bath/shower caulk.
-
If tiles are covered in soap
residue.
-
If a grout additive was used,
originally.
-
If tiles fall off and need to
be repaired. (Regrouting will not loosen tiles.Tiles will only
come off during regrouting if they were already separated from the
wallboard and being held by grout alone.)
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Q. How long will
the new grout last?
A. With proper maintenance, it will last a very long time. We
show you the proper way to care for grout so it lasts for many, many
years. Heavy bleaching agents, like the kinds most people use on a
daily basis, ARE NOT good for grout and eventually eat it away.
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Q. Should I seal the grout?
A. We recommend sealing grout. It helps to keep it cleaner
and resists mildew. We can show you how to do this or we can do it
for you. This is normally done 2 days after your shower has been
regrouted. You have to wait at least 48 hours for the new grout to
cure.
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Q. How long do I have to wait to use my shower after a regrout?
A. Ideally you would wait 48 hours. Often, this is not
possilbe. It is okay to use your shower the following day.
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Q. I have a few missing tiles I need fixed. Why can’t I find tiles
to match the rest?
A. Just like carpeting, and other home decor items, tile
colors (dye lots) were created
to match what was popular at the time. These colors may not be being
reproduced now and will be impossible to find. We will try to use
the tiles that have fallen off. Sometimes this is not
possible.Depending on where the tiles are missing from, you may be
able to get away with strategically placing decorative tiles in
these areas.
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Q. Do you install floor
tile?
A. Yes, we do. Both residential and commercial?
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Q. Do you clean floor
grout?
A. Yes, we do and on the same day we seal it for you too.
This is something that is often neglected by the original installer.
Floors need to be sealed. Cleaning floor grout is not only necessary
but can make a dramatic difference in the look of your home.
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Q. Do you warranty your
work?
A. Absolutely! We give this to you, in writing, when we do
your job.
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