Why Grout Erodes and What You Can Do About It

A kitchen or bathroom is really only as beautiful as it’s floor. The problem is that many homes in Greenwood Village, CO have remodeled these rooms without replacing the old tile flooring. What you end up with is a modern kitchen with off-colored tiling that, no matter how hard you scrub it, will not come clean. Or you end up with a bathroom that might have a new shower head and tiling but also boasts a leaky tile floor because of grout erosion. If this describes your situation, then let me be the first to tell you: you need new grout installation on those old tiles!

Living in a home with features from various generations is not a bad thing by any means. In fact, it’s quite charming to keep a tile bathtub from the 70s if you are so lucky as to have one in your home. Homes with amenities and features from across the generations is not going to change anyhow because people tend to remodel one area of the home at a time. This is all well and good, but if you want to truly enjoy your new kitchen cabinets or shower design, you need to take care of grout erosion in the pre-existing tiles. The same is true if you are putting in all new tiles. Over time, grout erosion will leave a lasting mark on your tiles, so the sooner you combat this problem, the longer it will take to emerge. Here is a little bit of background on why grout erosion happens and what you can do about it.

Why Erosion Happens

The primary reason why grout deteriorates is that it was not mixed and installed properly. If too much water is added to the grout at install, it will not seal with the required density to withstand prolonged exposure to moisture and (most of all) water. While a lot of it has to do with the quality of the installation, even the most professional grout install begins to deteriorate after prolonged exposure to heavy amounts of water. A combination of these two factors determines how fast grout erodes, and a quick glance at your tiles should tell you how serious the situation really is.

What to do About Grout Erosion

Rather than apply sealant over the deteriorating grout, it’s important to call in professionals and have them make an assessment. It could be that a new installation is needed, or it could mean a thorough rinse and the application of sealant. Every situation is different, but all situations of grout erosion require expedient attention.  

For all your grout, tile, granite, and stone cleaning needs, contact the Grout Specialists today.