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Removing grout

Does what it says on the tin
MyNameIsUrl
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Removing grout

#404147

Postby MyNameIsUrl » April 14th, 2021, 12:01 pm

I'd like to remove the discoloured old grout from my shower and replace with new. I'm looking for a suitable tool ie 'grout rake'.

The challenge obviously is to remove the grout without scratching the tiles, so I'm surprised that the grout rakes online seem to have an abrasive coating on the sides, positioned to risk chipping/scratching the edge of the tiles.

Anybody have any tips on removing grout or recommendations for a grout rake?

I don't mind spending some time doing a good job, I'm not necessarily looking for the the quickest method.

pompeygazza
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Re: Removing grout

#404182

Postby pompeygazza » April 14th, 2021, 1:25 pm

Is it that your grout has gone a bit yellow? If it is I can recommend the HG range of mould spray and grout whitener, they are amazing.

csearle
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Re: Removing grout

#404188

Postby csearle » April 14th, 2021, 2:19 pm

I have a mysterious, sexily triangular, bit for my multi-tool (a Fein) that claims to be explicitly for removing grout. Never used it. Maybe something like that might help? C.

Edit Not the one I have but this has a similar edge.

richlist
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Re: Removing grout

#404204

Postby richlist » April 14th, 2021, 3:06 pm

Most of the DIY sheds sell a hand held scraping tool for removing grout.
I've never tried them because I've always found the whitening kit's to be very successful.

kiloran
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Re: Removing grout

#404207

Postby kiloran » April 14th, 2021, 3:13 pm

MyNameIsUrl wrote:The challenge obviously is to remove the grout without scratching the tiles, so I'm surprised that the grout rakes online seem to have an abrasive coating on the sides, positioned to risk chipping/scratching the edge of the tiles.

Anybody have any tips on removing grout or recommendations for a grout rake?

I had similar problems last year, the rakes with abrasive coatings in the sides were far too thick and caused too much damage.
I finally found this, and it worked fine:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plasplugs-He ... Sw8-VgShaR

--kiloran

servodude
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Re: Removing grout

#404373

Postby servodude » April 15th, 2021, 12:10 am

After my hand cramping up about 10% of the way into de-grouting the shower I made my self one using an old flat head screwdriver
- file it in to shape
- give it a bend using the bench vice

and bob's your proverbial - an ergonomic tool I could hold and apply force with without developing a wizened monkey paw

- sd

Mike4
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Re: Removing grout

#404374

Postby Mike4 » April 15th, 2021, 12:23 am

In my experience having tiled a few hundred bathrooms, grout hardness varies enormously.

If the grout is soft and crumbly then raking it out is easy. If properly set and bullet-hard, raking out the grout is near-impossible and chiselling off all the tiles and re-tiling will be quicker and easier. Or anything in between.

So have a bash at raking out a small bit of grout and assess how hard it has set. Then decide which way to jump.


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