How to I fix tile that has been overgrouted!?

Question

We laid tile in our shower and I used too much grout. Now I need to know how to get the grout lines even without damaging the tile. Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

If the grout is over the edge of the grout lines and on the face of your tiles, you could try an nylon abrasive pad. If that doesn't work, you could try something more abrasive like sandpaper but I would be VERY gentle with it and try it on a scrap piece of tile before I thought about touching the shower. You coulld also try a flat edge scraper like a putty knife or one you would use to put on the first coat of drywall mud.

Now, if our talking about the grout lines themselves and the grout has already set up, the only way to knock it down will be to grind it out. I know that probably sounds horrible but it's not as bad as you would think. It's still going to take alot of elbow grease but it can be done. Also, I'm not sure you'll be able to level out the grout so that it is even but I would give it a try. If it doesn't look good you can remove enough so that you can just regrout. You don't have to take all of it out but if you could get out at least half of it, new grout will hold.

You have a few options. As WIliam B said you could use a grinding wheel but I would be concerned about damaging the tile. Another way to do it would be to use a Dremel tool. We used one to remove the grout on a tile floor and it's actually fairly forgiving as far as hitting the face of a tile. The bit tended to slide across the face of the tile as opposed to digging into if you accidently hit it. Unfortunately you'll probably go through a few bits.

The last option is the cheapest and takes the most manual labor but is probably the safest. You can purchase a grout saw at Home Depot or Lowes for about $7 or so. It's just a handle with a double blade on the end that you rub across the grout and wear it away. You can replace the blades for only a couple of dollars and there's very little chance that you will damage your tile. You could also try using a tile file which can also be bought fo less than $10 at the same stores. I think these last two options offer you the best chance of getting the grout even. Just try to use long, even strokes and wear just a little at a time.

Answer 2

Kudos to William

After installing multiple thousands of sq. ft. of tile, and hundreds of gallons of grout, I so want to not offend you; but the WIPE process probably should have been more resolute on your part.

Grout is "Mortar/Cement" essentially, and when doing tile grouting; the sponging might often be considered as a 3 stage process. Barely moist immediately after application; then as the grout sets, the sponging can increase in how wet you work it. The final result is often just "DUST" that can easily be wiped away.

The issue should have been easy to relate to; as most tile has compressed edges; designed to allow wiping, but not strictly grouting flush with the tile face. In your case, and again; no offense; it seems it's beyond those stages. I guess I'm also curious as to the type of sponge you used.

Knowledge is something we so often gain AFTER we NEED it.

Certainly you'll have to use abrasives, and possibly a rounded paint knife blade or dinner knife. Nylon/woven scrubbers will likely be ineffective. With care; and if the tile is decent; scraping at the grout shouldn't scratch the tile; to any extreme.

The deeper truth however; is that it may never look as it should; and almost as if the grout is squeezed out or bleeding onto the tile face.

I do wish you well.

Steven Wolf

Answer 3

If you let the grout get *really* wet, and if you haven't sealed it yet, after it soaks for a while, you should be able to rub it off with a towel or rage, if you use a bit of elbow grease. It will come off without damaging the tile

Answer 4

thats a problem, grout is cement , it will take something thats abrasive, like a wheel grinder, ? got me stumped i,v been at this for 50 yrs, never have figgered that one out,