home repair; how to correct grouting and other tile problems

By EDWARD R. LIPINSKIJAN.
Good tile surface should last for many years, no problem.
In the end, however, the grouting in the seam between the tiles may deteriorate or crack.
Although the broken grouting joint may indicate that there may be problems with the underlying substrate, there are usually some cracks here and there are signs of improper grouting mixing.
You cannot correct this problem by applying a new grouting on an old basis, as grouting is an inflexible material that is not strong or durable in a thin layer.
In the end, the added mud will fall off and expose the deteriorated material below.
In order to correct the problem, you must first remove the old mud.
You can use a tool knife, a hacksaw blade, or a grouting saw (
Available in Family Center and tile shop)
See or scrape all traces of broken mud
Clean the gap down to the substrate, but be careful not to damage the surface of the substrate.
Use a vacuum cleaner to suck out all the dust and debris from the gap;
Then clean the surface of the tile.
Many tile shops sell products dedicated to cleaning grout residues (
Often referred to as \"grout haze \").
Or you can mix a cup of vinegar in a gallon of clear water to be a good alternative.
Allow the area to be completely dry before applying grouting.
The advertisement for proper application of grouting is not only to push the grouting into the gap between the tiles.
A good grouting job can usually cover up defects in tile installation, while a bad job can become an excellent tile installation in March.
In order to look good, the grouting must be smooth in order to form a uniform boundary around each tile.
Advertising this work can be divided into four stages: stirring grouting, applying grouting, removing excess grouting, and then cleaning the seams. There are pre-
Mixed grou goods on the market;
These are useful for filling small gaps.
However, it is better to buy powder grouting and mix with liquid before installation.
This mud will be stronger and more durable than pre-appliedmixed.
Depending on the product, the mud can be mixed with any kind of water (
Should be clean, no impurities)
Or a special liquid additive.
Read the instructions on the package carefully to find out the exact amount of liquid mixed with the powder.
However, it is better to start with only two
Thirty of this amount.
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Pour the liquid into a clean and dry bucket.
Add the powder slowly until the mixture becomes plastic and can be applied.
Add more liquid if it gets too thick.
You can mix the mud with a hand spatula, or you can mix the paddle with the power in the electric rig.
Choose the electric drill mode and keep the motor speed below 300 r. p. m.
Otherwise, the paddle forces the bubbles into the mixture.
It is important to match correctly.
Too much liquid will weaken the grouting, and very little liquid will make the grouting stiff and hard to work.
The properly mixed mud should be strong enough to be able to hold the peak, but the plastic is enough to spread without running.
After the mud is mixed, let it stand for about 10 minutes.
This waiting period is called the \"mature period \".
After applying, the mixture may be slightly harder.
If so, add a little more liquid and wait another 10 minutes.
When the mud is properly mixed, it can be applied to the seam.
Ideally, it should be applied when the ambient temperature is between 65 and 75 degrees F.
Spread the mud into the seam using a mud spatula. (
It has a rubber surface so it can\'t scrape the tiles;
There are different versions of the walls or floors in the tile shop and home center. )
Hold the tro knife at 30-
Degree angle and push the grouting into the gap.
It is important to pack the joints to eliminate all the gaps.
Next, keep the spatula almost perpendicular to the surface of the tile and work on the tile, scraping off the excess grout, but be aware that the corner of the tool does not cut out any grouting from the seam.
When most of the surface grouting is scraped off, remove the remaining material with a wet wipe.
Use grouting sponge (
Thick Sponge with rounded corners)
Wipe the residue on the surface of the tile.
The sponge should be damp but not damp, so it does not add moisture to the grouting in the seam.
It is best to gently turn the entire surface over three times and remove the residue without interfering with the joint.
Use the rounded corners of the sponge to smooth the joints and remove any lumps on the surface.
Allow time to dry the mud;
Then wipe the surface with a clean and dry cheese cloth.
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A version of this article was printed on page NJ14 of the National edition on January 18, 1998, with the title: home repair;
How to correct tile problems such as grouting.