Bathroom Grout-HELP!!

[dizneegirls]

The grout in my bathroom floors keeps cracking out Does anyone have an idea on the best way to fix this???

 

[dolcezena]

Been going through the same thing - what it boils down to...bad contractor (in my case, my uncle )

Anywho, means your sub-floor isn't level (or something like that). From what I've been told, no, there is no cosmetic fix, it'll just keep cracking.

Good luck

 

[liveforthemagic]

Yep--the subfloor is probably moving. We had this problem in our old house--we replaced the vinyl kitchen floor with ceramic. didn't realize you're supposed to put down this cement fiberboard called backerboard down over the subfloor before you lay the tile. This holds the tile totally still--so walking over it won't let them wiggle and crack your tile.

The true way to fix it is to start over. Yuck.

I tried a few things in that kitchen (which thankfully--is no longer my kitchen). If the crack is just tiny, you can try to find a matching caulk and fill it in with caulk. Its not visible from standing position, but it hides the crack and since its pliable, will probably not crack itself. Also--my kitchen tiles themselves were cracking--mostly by the dishwasher and dryer--where apparently heat was causing expansion and contraction. They make this stuff called Bon Ami which is really used to clean sinks and pots and pans. But you can make a paste with it and rub it very gently into the cracks --if your tiles and groute are the right color--it will blend in and hide the cracks.

Ultimately, if the cracks are just too big, and grout is actually popping out of the floor, your best solution is to get down on your hands and knees and remove the old grout. they make new grout now which is stain resistant and which also can be re-grouted over with the same product. So if you do get a crack, rather than having to get down and dig out the whole joint, you can patch it. I found that at Home Depot--its great--and really is pretty stain resistant.