# Repairing grout in tiled shower (also floor) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 21, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repairing-grout-in-tiled-shower-also-floor/235590 "2004-03-21T19:50:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MyOld85MG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@MyOld85MG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyOld85MG)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repairing-grout-in-tiled-shower-also-floor/235590/1 "2004-03-21T19:50:10Z")
I have two problems in the bathroom (fixable ones, anyway, I hope). The shower wall is grouted ceramic tile. Apparently because of some settling, the grout in one corner has cracked pretty badly and is falling out. Should I chip the remaining grout out and re-grout it, or should I use some sort of caulk instead? Other problem: The floor is also a ceramic sort of tile (approx. 1 foot squares) with about 1/4" of grout between. Near the bathroom door, apparently the subfloor has flexed a little and the grout is deteriorating. Is there a way to repair this without pulling up the whole floor and shoring up the subfloor? (It seems like a pretty small flexing, but it’s doing quite a job on the grout.) Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repairing-grout-in-tiled-shower-also-floor/235590/2 "2004-03-21T23:56:26Z")
Where tiled walls meet one another, and likewise for the tile/tub joint, a premium grade kitchen and bath caulk is preferred to allow for expansion and contraction of the supporting substrates. For a repair job to have longevity, first remove all of the old material, ensure that surfaces are clean and free of bond-breakers such as soap scum, old caulk or grout, etc. Also make certain that you are not trapping moisture in the joint by allowing it to air for a day or so. Buy the best stuff you can find-typically around $5 or 6 per tube at the big box stores-I’ve had good results with GE and DAP. Finally, allow proper time for curing before wetting the new joint. Regarding the floor, flexing and tile don’t get along well. Latex-modified grouts will forgive a tiny amount of motion, but a properly prepared subfloor-I prefer cementitious tile backer boards set in a combed bed of mud-is the only way to preclude grout and/or tile failure. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repairing-grout-in-tiled-shower-also-floor/235590/3 "2004-03-22T00:02:17Z")
That’s ex_act_ what I was going to say. 😉 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![MyOld85MG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@MyOld85MG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyOld85MG)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repairing-grout-in-tiled-shower-also-floor/235590/4 "2004-03-22T03:58:21Z")
What more is there to say? Thanks, folks! ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repairing-grout-in-tiled-shower-also-floor/235590/5 "2004-03-23T02:56:39Z")
Mr. Ujest just cleaned and re-grouted our tub after ten years. We have hard water, even with a water softener, the rust stains on grout is rather groady. ( I clean with either with baking soda and then spraying on vineagar, then scrub with an old tooth brush. Or I just chemical it up with " The Works." Depending on if I am in my Earth Mother Save The Planet Mode or Fuck It And Your Little Dog Too mode. My only advice, besides to have him do yours 🙂 , was that when you are finished, you seal the grout by wiping lemon oil over it. Advice was given to us by the Tile Guy who did our inlaws bathroom.