I just posted a response under my old "bifold door" thread, but
thought it might be a good idea to cross-post under a better subject
line. I'm getting ready to redo/repair some tile around my bathtub.
The tub caulk needs to be redone, some of the tiles are loose, and
some of the grout is very discolored. I kinda know what I'm doing
with tile, and what the heck, I'll never get better if I don't try.
I'm thinking I'll use my Dremel with a grout saw attachment to get the
old grout out, but thought I'd ask if there's some other way you'd
recommend. Any other suggestions? Also (get ready for stupid
question), when I take out the old grout, will the tiles that aren't
loose stay attached to the wall? Or should I be prepared to redo them
as well as the already loose ones?

Jo Ann

Jo Ann wrote in news:a25dd9d0-14f8-48ca-9432-
:

I just posted a response under my old "bifold door" thread, but
thought it might be a good idea to cross-post under a better subject
line. I'm getting ready to redo/repair some tile around my bathtub.
The tub caulk needs to be redone, some of the tiles are loose, and
some of the grout is very discolored. I kinda know what I'm doing
with tile, and what the heck, I'll never get better if I don't try.
I'm thinking I'll use my Dremel with a grout saw attachment to get the
old grout out, but thought I'd ask if there's some other way you'd
recommend. Any other suggestions? Also (get ready for stupid
question), when I take out the old grout, will the tiles that aren't
loose stay attached to the wall? Or should I be prepared to redo them
as well as the already loose ones?

Jo Ann


Disclaimer: Not a tile pro.

will the tiles that aren't
loose stay attached to the wall?

If the wall is in tact and not damp then the thinset should hold.

Or should I be prepared to redo them
as well as the already loose ones?

Of course! **** happens...

What is the grout spacing? If it's like 1/16 inch, keep in mind the each
edge of each tile may have two 1/32 lips (right where the grout goes).
These are made to touch as the tile is laid out giving a 1/16 spacing.
When you start removing grout, be aware you may be cutting into them.

My experience is very old grout can be very hard.

What size are the tiles?

I've never been impressed using a rotory Dremel with a grout bit.

I've used a Roto Zip with a diamond blade. VERY dusty but very fast.

The latest thing is oscillating tools. Made by many manufaturers ranging
from $35 at Harbor Freight to the Fein Multimaster at around $400. Never
used one on grout but they are awesome on wood. The half moon or grout
removal blade allows you to get right into corners.

The different manufactures call them by different names but they are all
known as oscillating tools. They come with changable blades that do
anything from wood plunge cutting, to sanding to scraping. That scraper
blade would probably be a big help getting the old thinset off the wall
as well as the tile backs of the loose tiles you're going to reuse.

I never tried this but the guy who told me this sounded like he knew
what he was taling about. He said, you push as much dry grout into the
cracks then bottle spray water on top. THen you duck tape sheet
plastic on the repaired portion one panel a day so you don't lose use.



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Vasos Panagiotopoulos, Columbia'81+, Reagan, Mozart, Pindus, BioStrategist
http://www.panix.com/~vjp2/vasos.htm http://www.facebook.com/vasjpan2
---{Nothing herein constitutes advice. Everything fully disclaimed.}---
[Homeland Security means private firearms not lazy obstructive guards]
[Urb sprawl confounds terror] [Phooey on GUI: Windows for subprime Bimbos]

On Dec 27, 7:40*pm, Jo Ann wrote:
I just posted a response under my old "bifold door" thread, but
thought it might be a good idea to cross-post under a better subject
line. *I'm getting ready to redo/repair some tile around my bathtub.
The tub caulk needs to be redone, some of the tiles are loose, and
some of the grout is very discolored. *I kinda know what I'm doing
with tile, and what the heck, I'll never get better if I don't try.
I'm thinking I'll use my Dremel with a grout saw attachment to get the
old grout out, but thought I'd ask if there's some other way you'd
recommend. *Any other suggestions? *Also (get ready for stupid
question), when I take out the old grout, will the tiles that aren't
loose stay attached to the wall? *Or should I be prepared to redo them
as well as the already loose ones?

Jo Ann

Any chance oyu could post some photos? Dirty / discolored grout can
be cleaned....often times easier than removing / replacing it.

Grout is the filler between the tiles, if the mud or thinset
(depending on the age of the installation) is sound the tiles will
stay in place.
Saw or grout rotary bit can be a bit hard to control, damaging the
tile is a risk.

Try to do as little removal as needed.

cheers
Bob

I just posted a response under my old "bifold door" thread, but
thought it might be a good idea to cross-post under a better subject
line. I'm getting ready to redo/repair some tile around my bathtub.
The tub caulk needs to be redone, some of the tiles are loose, and
some of the grout is very discolored. I kinda know what I'm doing
with tile, and what the heck, I'll never get better if I don't try.
I'm thinking I'll use my Dremel with a grout saw attachment to get the
old grout out, but thought I'd ask if there's some other way you'd
recommend. Any other suggestions? Also (get ready for stupid
question), when I take out the old grout, will the tiles that aren't
loose stay attached to the wall? Or should I be prepared to redo them
as well as the already loose ones?


*You should be prepared to replace the wallboard behind the tiles. It is
quite possible that moisture got behind the tiles and that is what caused
them to become loose. The discolored grout could be an indication of mold
behind the tiles.

Jo Ann wrote:
I just posted a response under my old "bifold door" thread, but
thought it might be a good idea to cross-post under a better subject
line. I'm getting ready to redo/repair some tile around my bathtub.
The tub caulk needs to be redone, some of the tiles are loose, and
some of the grout is very discolored. I kinda know what I'm doing
with tile, and what the heck, I'll never get better if I don't try.
I'm thinking I'll use my Dremel with a grout saw attachment to get the
old grout out, but thought I'd ask if there's some other way you'd
recommend. Any other suggestions? Also (get ready for stupid
question), when I take out the old grout, will the tiles that aren't
loose stay attached to the wall? Or should I be prepared to redo them
as well as the already loose ones?

Jo Ann

I redid the grout in our shower with the Dremel grout remover. It went
very well, other than for all the dust created. Need breathing and eye
protection, but no big deal. Replacing the grout, for me, was most
difficult because it takes a little muscle. Kneeling to do the lower
tiles is a bit of a chore ) Need good lighting to be sure there are
no gaps in new grout. I probably went through 3 tips for the Dremel.
Our tile is 1x4" and in a couple of spots the tiles were a tiny bit
closer to each other and narrower than the tip - the tip skipped out of
the channel and probably could have chipped or scratched the tile. Ours
is matte finish, so no scratches seen.

Be sure to tape something over the drain so's you don't drop a tool down
the drain - I did fine until I was replacing the drain cover and dropped
the screw - my husband got a telescoping rod with a magnet on the tip to
retrieve the screw )

Loose tile is worrisome, possibly a sign that the wall is wet. Don't
know for sure, but if that is the case you may need new wall. My
daughter had that problem, discovered when a guest put their arm through
the wall in getting out of the tub.

DD_BobK wrote:
On Dec 27, 7:40 pm, Jo Ann wrote:
I just posted a response under my old "bifold door" thread, but
thought it might be a good idea to cross-post under a better subject
line. I'm getting ready to redo/repair some tile around my bathtub.
The tub caulk needs to be redone, some of the tiles are loose, and
some of the grout is very discolored. I kinda know what I'm doing
with tile, and what the heck, I'll never get better if I don't try.
I'm thinking I'll use my Dremel with a grout saw attachment to get the
old grout out, but thought I'd ask if there's some other way you'd
recommend. Any other suggestions? Also (get ready for stupid
question), when I take out the old grout, will the tiles that aren't
loose stay attached to the wall? Or should I be prepared to redo them
as well as the already loose ones?

Jo Ann

Any chance oyu could post some photos? Dirty / discolored grout can
be cleaned....often times easier than removing / replacing it.

Grout is the filler between the tiles, if the mud or thinset
(depending on the age of the installation) is sound the tiles will
stay in place.
Saw or grout rotary bit can be a bit hard to control, damaging the
tile is a risk.

Try to do as little removal as needed.

cheers
Bob

Dremel grout removal set has a guide which attaches to the tool - very
easy to guide. It has a tip that runs in the grout space.

On Dec 28, 8:18*am, "
wrote:
Jo Ann wrote:
I just posted a response under my old "bifold door" thread, but
thought it might be a good idea to cross-post under a better subject
line. *I'm getting ready to redo/repair some tile around my bathtub.
The tub caulk needs to be redone, some of the tiles are loose, and
some of the grout is very discolored. *I kinda know what I'm doing
with tile, and what the heck, I'll never get better if I don't try.
I'm thinking I'll use my Dremel with a grout saw attachment to get the
old grout out, but thought I'd ask if there's some other way you'd
recommend. *Any other suggestions? *Also (get ready for stupid
question), when I take out the old grout, will the tiles that aren't
loose stay attached to the wall? *Or should I be prepared to redo them
as well as the already loose ones?

Jo Ann

I redid the grout in our shower with the Dremel grout remover. *It went
very well, other than for all the dust created. *Need breathing and eye
protection, but no big deal. *Replacing the grout, for me, was most
difficult because it takes a little muscle. *Kneeling to do the lower
tiles is a bit of a chore ) *Need good lighting to be sure there are
no gaps in new grout. *I probably went through 3 tips for the Dremel.
Our tile is 1x4" and in a couple of spots the tiles were a tiny bit
closer to each other and narrower than the tip - the tip skipped out of
the channel and probably could have chipped or scratched the tile. *Ours
is matte finish, so no scratches seen.

Be sure to tape something over the drain so's you don't drop a tool down
the drain - I did fine until I was replacing the drain cover and dropped
the screw - my husband got a telescoping rod with a magnet on the tip to
retrieve the screw )

Loose tile is worrisome, possibly a sign that the wall is wet. *Don't
know for sure, but if that is the case you may need new wall. *My
daughter had that problem, discovered when a guest put their arm through
the wall in getting out of the tub.

Good reminder on the drain, thanks! Yeah, wet wall is definitely one
of my worries here. If I have to replace the drywall/backer board/
whatever is behind there, I will probably be out of my depth pretty
quickly. On the plus side, I want to install a new bath/shower
faucet, so if I end up tearing the wall out, that will be a good time
to do that. Always trying to see the silver lining, LOL! It's the
only way to stay sane with an old house, I think.

Jo Ann

Jo Ann wrote in :

On Dec 28, 8:18 am, "
wrote:
Jo Ann wrote:
I just posted a response under my old "bifold door" thread, but
thought it might be a good idea to cross-post under a better subject
line. I'm getting ready to redo/repair some tile around my bathtub.
The tub caulk needs to be redone, some of the tiles are loose, and
some of the grout is very discolored. I kinda know what I'm doing
with tile, and what the heck, I'll never get better if I don't try.
I'm thinking I'll use my Dremel with a grout saw attachment to get the
old grout out, but thought I'd ask if there's some other way you'd
recommend. Any other suggestions? Also (get ready for stupid
question), when I take out the old grout, will the tiles that aren't
loose stay attached to the wall? Or should I be prepared to redo the
m
as well as the already loose ones?

Jo Ann

I redid the grout in our shower with the Dremel grout remover. It went
very well, other than for all the dust created. Need breathing and eye
protection, but no big deal. Replacing the grout, for me, was most
difficult because it takes a little muscle. Kneeling to do the lower
tiles is a bit of a chore ) Need good lighting to be sure there are
no gaps in new grout. I probably went through 3 tips for the Dremel.
Our tile is 1x4" and in a couple of spots the tiles were a tiny bit
closer to each other and narrower than the tip - the tip skipped out of
the channel and probably could have chipped or scratched the tile. Our
s
is matte finish, so no scratches seen.

Be sure to tape something over the drain so's you don't drop a tool down
the drain - I did fine until I was replacing the drain cover and dropped
the screw - my husband got a telescoping rod with a magnet on the tip to
retrieve the screw )

Loose tile is worrisome, possibly a sign that the wall is wet. Don't
know for sure, but if that is the case you may need new wall. My
daughter had that problem, discovered when a guest put their arm through
the wall in getting out of the tub.

Good reminder on the drain, thanks! Yeah, wet wall is definitely one
of my worries here. If I have to replace the drywall/backer board/
whatever is behind there, I will probably be out of my depth pretty
quickly. On the plus side, I want to install a new bath/shower
faucet, so if I end up tearing the wall out, that will be a good time
to do that. Always trying to see the silver lining, LOL! It's the
only way to stay sane with an old house, I think.

Jo Ann


I will probably be out of my depth pretty
quickly.

Why? If you can replace tiles and grout then replacing the wall behind
really takes equal or less skill. It's just a big mess. But when you're done the
mess is gone and you have a good solid foundation for any tile you want
to put up.

If you use a shower rated drywall you just cut that with a razor knife.
Tune goofy corners with the knive or Surform Plane. Screw in. No taping
or mudding. Maybe caulk the joints at least.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/images/pr...TA21111C_l.jpg
http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/P...es/8137661.jpg

If you use tile backer board you may need a tool or two to score and
snap, cut/notch/trim. Hey, this is how you get a collection of all kinds
of tools :-) One of the key things is the wall has to be flat before
tile is put on. Smaller tiles (vs say 12") will be more forgiving to
this. The backer board is attached to the studs using special cement
board screws (not with a screwdriver) or roofing nails depending on what
the mfgrs installation instructions say. Don't try anything else but
cement screws for cement board. They won't countersink flush.

Of course there are more details but maybe even my playing it down is
more than you want to give a shot.

Jo Ann wrote:
On Dec 28, 8:18 am, "
wrote:
Jo Ann wrote:
I just posted a response under my old "bifold door" thread, but
thought it might be a good idea to cross-post under a better subject
line. I'm getting ready to redo/repair some tile around my bathtub.
The tub caulk needs to be redone, some of the tiles are loose, and
some of the grout is very discolored. I kinda know what I'm doing
with tile, and what the heck, I'll never get better if I don't try.
I'm thinking I'll use my Dremel with a grout saw attachment to get the
old grout out, but thought I'd ask if there's some other way you'd
recommend. Any other suggestions? Also (get ready for stupid
question), when I take out the old grout, will the tiles that aren't
loose stay attached to the wall? Or should I be prepared to redo them
as well as the already loose ones?
Jo Ann
I redid the grout in our shower with the Dremel grout remover. It went
very well, other than for all the dust created. Need breathing and eye
protection, but no big deal. Replacing the grout, for me, was most
difficult because it takes a little muscle. Kneeling to do the lower
tiles is a bit of a chore ) Need good lighting to be sure there are
no gaps in new grout. I probably went through 3 tips for the Dremel.
Our tile is 1x4" and in a couple of spots the tiles were a tiny bit
closer to each other and narrower than the tip - the tip skipped out of
the channel and probably could have chipped or scratched the tile. Ours
is matte finish, so no scratches seen.

Be sure to tape something over the drain so's you don't drop a tool down
the drain - I did fine until I was replacing the drain cover and dropped
the screw - my husband got a telescoping rod with a magnet on the tip to
retrieve the screw )

Loose tile is worrisome, possibly a sign that the wall is wet. Don't
know for sure, but if that is the case you may need new wall. My
daughter had that problem, discovered when a guest put their arm through
the wall in getting out of the tub.

Good reminder on the drain, thanks! Yeah, wet wall is definitely one
of my worries here. If I have to replace the drywall/backer board/
whatever is behind there, I will probably be out of my depth pretty
quickly. On the plus side, I want to install a new bath/shower
faucet, so if I end up tearing the wall out, that will be a good time
to do that. Always trying to see the silver lining, LOL! It's the
only way to stay sane with an old house, I think.

Jo Ann

I've never done it, but time-wise it would probably be quicker to
replace the whole thing. That is, if you aren't taking off old tile and
cleaning adhesive and grout off of it. In my daughter's case, I wasn't
there when the wall was replaced. When it broke through, about one
third of the tiles were affected. For some reason, being wet made it
easy to get the cement/grout off the tiles...just picked it off with my
fingers. They were small, 2" tiles.

My daughter's home is a '20's bungalow...would love to do all the rehab
work. Reglazed a bunch of the windows, but they have been replaced. If
it were mine, I'd have taken apart the old ones, put new ropes, etc.

On Dec 27, 10:40*pm, Jo Ann wrote:
I just posted a response under my old "bifold door" thread, but
thought it might be a good idea to cross-post under a better subject
line. *I'm getting ready to redo/repair some tile around my bathtub.
The tub caulk needs to be redone, some of the tiles are loose, and
some of the grout is very discolored. *I kinda know what I'm doing
with tile, and what the heck, I'll never get better if I don't try.
I'm thinking I'll use my Dremel with a grout saw attachment to get the
old grout out, but thought I'd ask if there's some other way you'd
recommend. *Any other suggestions? *Also (get ready for stupid
question), when I take out the old grout, will the tiles that aren't
loose stay attached to the wall? *Or should I be prepared to redo them
as well as the already loose ones?

Jo Ann

If you have loose tiles, this could be a sign of a much bigger
problem. We are in the process of redoing a bath. We had loose tiles
that fell out and upon inspection found that the tiles were placed
directly onto "greenboard" (a big no no in wet areas). I had to tear
out all the drywall and use cement backer board. On the positive side,
with all this demo, we are doing some upgrades.