Bathroom Caulk and Grout

Home repair expert Henry Harrison shows a guest how to remove loose bathroom tiles, then clean the surface and reinstall the tiles along with fresh caulk.

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Home repair expert Henry Harrison shows a guest how to remove loose bathroom tiles, then clean the surface and reinstall the tiles along with fresh caulk. He also helps chip away old grout and apply new grout. On his elbow grease scale of one to four, Harrison gives this job a two.

Materials and Tools:

grout saw
grout float
putty knife
utility knife
kneepads
bleach
towels
old toothbrush
bucket
paper towels
caulk
all-purpose waterproof adhesive
sponge
rubber gloves
grout

Figure A

Steps:

1. Remove any loose tiles, and cut along caulk lines and remove old caulk using a utility knife. Also scrape away old material from around the drain using a putty knife (figure A).

2. Mix up a solution of one part bleach to three parts water in a bucket, then scrub the joints using an old toothbrush. This will kill any remaining mold and mildew.

3. Dry the area completely with a clean towel.

Figure B

4. Cut the tip of a tube of caulk so the bead is the same size as the joints you have to fill. Run a continuous, even bead of caulk along the joints (figure B).

5. Clear away excess caulk using your finger and a wet towel.

Figure C

6. Clean old grout off the sides of loose tiles using a grout saw (figure C).

Figure D

7. Put on rubber gloves and apply a liberal amount of adhesive to the back of the tile (figure D).

8. Replace the tile and give it a bit of a twist to force adhesive into an even layer behind the tile. Repeat process to replace all lose tiles. Wipe of excess adhesive with a paper towel.

9. Clean out old grout between other tiles with a grout saw. Mix up a batch of fresh grout according to directions.

Figure E

10. Apply new grout using a grout float. Hold the float at a 45-degree angle and fill joints (figure E). Don't worry about being messy, just wipe away the excess grout with a damp sponge. Let the grout set up for about 20 minutes.

11. Buff away haze with a soft, clean cloth. Mist the grout with a water bottle each day for about a week so it cures properly.