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Home Improvement Category: Home Improvement, Home Depot, Home Decor, Home Decorating, Home Remodeling, Home Decor, Home Interior, Home Furniture, Home, Do it Yourself, Doityourself, DIY, Diy Network, Do-it-Yourself

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HOME IMPROVEMENT

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TILE CARE AND REPAIR

Replacing Caulk

The grout joint between my bathtub and the ceramic tile is cracked. What's the best way to get a leak-free joint?
You don't need to regrout between the tub and the tile—a solid bead of caulk will keep the water out. Pry out any cracked grout with a screwdriver; then clean the area with a phosphoric acid solution. Let the surface dry completely before applying a bead of high-quality caulk. Use your finger to smooth the bead, and keep a wet rag handy to wipe away any excess. While you're at it, caulk around the handles and spout to prevent water from getting behind the wall tiles.

Use clear caulk if you can't find a caulk to match the grout color.

Caring for Grout

Our tile still looks good, but the grout is discolored and is missing in a few spots. What can we do?
Discolored or missing grout requires immediate attention. Cleaning it and making minor repairs can prevent more serious problems later on.

Where the grout is intact, all it needs is a thorough cleaning. Most grout can be cleaned with a phosphoric acid and water solution. If the grout's really dirty, use the acid undiluted. Wear rubber gloves.

The best way to scrub grout is with a nylon-bristle grout brush. The long, stiff bristles let you scrub hard enough to remove the dirt and mildew but won't scratch the surrounding tile.

To repair a small patch of missing grout, try to get grout samples from a tile store to match the color as closely as possible (two or more colors can be blended if necessary). Mix a sample batch and let it dry for 3 days to see how the color compares to the existing grout. Remember to wear gloves; grout is a cement product and contains caustic lime.

Mix the grout with a latex additive instead of water to make it more flexible. To protect the grout lines, use a penetrating sealer.

Sealing Grout

Can sealing ceramic tile make it easier to clean?
Yes, it certainly can. A sealer keeps water and dirt from penetrating and staining the grout.

For new tile, allow a week or two for the grout to dry before applying the sealer. Reapply sealer annually to extend the life of the grout. Apply sealer only to the grout lines; it may dull the tile.

Repairing Chipped Ceramic Tile

We have Italian tiles in our kitchen and some of them have chipped over the years. Can they be repaired?
The best repair would be a replacement. Unfortunately, unless you have a few leftovers, finding an exact match is almost impossible. The color of all types of tiles varies slightly from batch to batch.

If you don't have any left, try filling the chipped spots with the polyester resin that's used to repair bathtubs. It will be difficult to match the color of the tile, and the repair will definitely be visible. For smaller chips, try using appliance touch-up paint.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

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TITLE: Home Improvement, Home Depot, Home Decor, Home Decorating, Home Remodeling, Home Decor, Home Interior, Home Furniture Store

Home Improvement Category: Home Improvement, Home Depot, Home Decor, Home Decorating, Home Remodeling, Home Decor, Home Interior, Home Furniture, Home, Do it Yourself, Doityourself, DIY, Diy Network, Do-it-Yourself

Shopping Mall: Home Improvement offers do-it-yourself Home Improvement guide and store, Home Improvement, Home Depot, Home Decor, Home Decorating, Home Remodeling, Home Decor, Home Interior, Home Furniture, Home, Do it Yourself, Doityourself, DIY, Diy Network, Do-it-Yourself Store

Home Improvement Topics: Home Improvement, Home Depot, Home Decor, Home Decorating, Home Remodeling, Home Decor, Home Interior, Home Furniture, Home, Do it Yourself, Doityourself, DIY, Diy Network, Do-it-Yourself