Grout Removal....grout Removal Machine

coastalcc

I believe they put in unsanded grout on 12 by 12 tile with 3/8's spacing and it's cracking and coming out. Is there a better way of removing grout other than scratching it out?

TileLady

Honestly I've found the easiest way to remove grout, especially unsanded, is to just use that triangle grout removal tool.

You could try a dremel with a bit but you're risking damaging the tiles. There are also grout removal bits for a dremel but you have to be REALLY careful not to damage the tiles.

smithfix

RotoZip. Wide Grout bit. Eazy fast. Charge a bunch. The bits are not cheep. Run at lowest speed. Do not buy a Roto unless it is veriable speed.

JazMan

If it's a large area the Fein Multimaster is the tool you'll want to buy. Expect to spend at least several hundred $$$.

http://www.fein.de/fein-multimaster/...ing_tiles.html

Jaz

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coastalcc

It's about 80sq. ft. ...I already have a saw-zall (recipracating saw) I heard you could get a grout removal bit for that! Has anyone used one and how much are they?

Bud Cline

The grout removal accessory for a reciprocating saw is the "Grout Grabber". Actually they work pretty good and I think they now cost around $35.

rservices

I use a 41/2 grinder with a diamond cutting blade, just be very careful and have a shop vac with a really good filter on it (change often) hold it right up to the cutting wheel.

I grind out floors all of the time, granted they are mostly quarry tile but I have also done it to ceramic.

pscinteriors

tilelady had it right.The easiest way to get that grout out is either a quad point or tri point grout rake. Its actually rather easy on old or new.If you use power equipment its too easy to damage tiles. 80 SF should only take a laboror a few hours. We did one a while back that the grout ended up with mineral deposits on top of it because of the hard water that the GC forgot to mention. We charged them to remove the grout on a 4 piece master suite and it only took 6 hrs for 2 of us and there was over 300 SF of 6x6 and 12x12 tiles with 1/8" grout lines. Ended up buying gallons of drinking water to grout it.

pscinteriors

just another quick note...Ive tried it with the Fien multi-master tool. Also the angle grinder with a diamond blade and I spent more time trying to keep the tool off the tile rather than cutting grout out.!

Bill_Vincent

BINGO-- We have a winner!! 80 feet would take about 15 - 20 minutes using this method.

Try pulling it back toward you, rather than cutting away from you. You won't lose as much dust past the vacumn, either that way.

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Bud Cline

GRINDER WITH DIAMOND BLADE
The trick I have found to degrouting with a grinder and diamond blade is to cut a groove down the center of the grout, cut down to the substrate. Then lay the grinder over to one side and undercut the grout at the substrate. First one side then the other. You'll find that the grout when undercutting will break away from the tile edge and the diamond blade never has to get close to the tiles edge. Any grout that doesn't want to cooperate at that point (and there won't be much) can be easily scratch-away with a margin trowel.


THE GROUT GRABBER
The Grout Grabber works really well also but it takes some getting used to. Years ago when the Grout Grabber was in its experimental stage I was one of the testers before it went to market. A few improvements have been made since the original tool and today it is a very capable tool.


DREMMEL TOOL/ROTOZIP
I also have been known to use a Dremmel or RotoZip to remove grout. The truth is if your careful and keep the bit straight up and down the bit will never get close to the tile edge because the tile is wider at the bottom than it is at the top and the bit will ride the bottom edge of the tile holding itself off of the top edge of the tile. Use the tools router-platform to keep the bit vertical.

All three options work very well and it would be difficult to damage the tile if not impossible. Stone tile however is an entirely different story. The first method is the only way to go with stone tile in my opinion.

MattCoops

To original poster:

Why would a 12 x 12 tile have a 3/8" spacing anyway?

The only way I'd go that big is if it was Satillo tile or a ceramic tile I baked myself in a home-based kiln.

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PrecisionFloors

I see ho and handyman done jobs with joints wider than that all the time Matt.....musta been what the "flooring" guy at Home Cheapo recommended

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MattCoops

For all residential grout removal jobs I use a screwdriver handle with a triangular cardbide tip at the end.

Most all other means of removal is gonna get grout dust EVERYWHERE.

If you don't feel like chiselin' - try a grout colorant.

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Bill_Vincent

Not if you back it up with a shop vac.

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Floordude

Grout grabber and a sawz-all...

Pull it to you, instead of pushing away from you. Way more control, to stay off the tiles.

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wopachop

cool info. anyone use a multi tool to remove grout? i might just buy the cheap $100 dremel multi max.

its a 6 foot shower with tile on the ceiling. i have not see tile or grout size yet but wondering how many blades i can expect to go through.



here is the little multi max in action...haha how new you think that grout is i bet it just barely dried!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieAum2Xm35E

olzo55

Grinder and shop vac makes quick removal. For real unsanded joints, a wood working spade bit works pretty good.

olzo

AboveAndBeyond

Link up plz?

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Bill_Vincent

For unsanded joints, this works better:



Funny thing-- I just posted almost this exact same post and pic to almost this exact thread over at John Bridge's forum.

Deja vu!

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