How can I fix bathroom tile grout that is breaking up?

Answer 1

You need to dig it out and replace it. Get a tile grout saw. It looks like a single-edge razor blade with a handle and an edge that has grit fused to it. Use that to scrape out the grout that is failing.

Then get a small box of grout that is colored to match the existing grout (bring along some of the old grout you scraped out if the color is not obvious). Mix that per the box directions and put in between the tiles as per the box directions.

Answer 2

Several reasons that can happen.

One the grout is failing due to improper mixing, or the debris in the grout lines and some bonehead grouted over it. It should be clean before grouting. If the grout is the problem, use a grout saw to cut out the grout, shop vac the floor, making sure you get the debris out and regrout.

Another more likely reason, the tile is loose. Tile can lose it's bond due to several reason. The setter used the wrong adhesive, which nine times out of ten should be a latex modified thinset mortar. Maybe the mortar wasn't mixed correctly, the setter used the wrong sized trowel, or didn't apply the mortar correctly. Or the wrong substrate (the material the tile is set on) Or there are structural problems causing excessive deflection (but usually that causes cracked tile) To tell if tile is loose, simply knock on it with knuckles. You'll hear the difference, it will have a hollow sound. If the tile lost its bond, the only remedy is to pull up the tile, clean up the mess, and reset with new tile, using the right substrate (Hardibacker or better) the right mortar, and a tile setter that knows how to do the work properly.

No matter what you have a messy problem. If you contracted the work out, contact the tile contractor, and have him fix it. If you bought a new home, call the builder. If you did it yourself, well, sorry, it's a learning experience.

Answer 3

This site may help:

http://www.msbuilder.com/lib/ms006.shtml