If architects and major property development upgrades aren’t within your budget at present, you can still give tired bathrooms and kitchens a facelift with new ceramic tiles, or even simply cleaning and re-grouting old ones. Clean, neat, white grout makes a big difference. Whether you’ve re-tiled or just scraped out the old grout, here’s how to apply the new stuff. It’s a DIY ‘no brainer’ – far easier than plastering or even painting and decorating.
With newly fixed tiles, wipe away excess adhesive with a damp sponge but let it dry fully before you begin grouting. If you’re using stone tiles rather than ceramic, seal them before grouting. It’s best to use a grout spreader for this job but a squeegee will do. Slap a clump of grout about the size of a golf ball onto a tile, and start spreading it firmly and methodically into the gaps between the tiles. Hold the spreader at a 45˚ angle throughout and work diagonally.
Don’t do more than a square metre at a time – the grout will start to dry if you do more and will be harder to clean up. Use the damp sponge to clean up excess, rinsing it regularly to keep it unclogged. Go across the gaps at right angles. Keep going until you’ve covered and cleaned the entire tiled surface, and then polish all of it with a clean, dry cloth. Use a silicone sealant to form a watertight seal between tiles and sinks, baths and work-tops. Finally, admire your work and get someone to congratulate you!