Simple way to grout these tiles (pictures)

Vanilla · 18 Jul 2020 at 19:00

I have a few tiles near my patio that has lost its grouting. So much so they wobble when you walk on then and it's only a matter of time before someone heavy stands on it and cracks it most likely.

I bought one of those grouting 'pens' but afterwards realised they are more for re-coating grouting than actually grouting (facepalm). These need a fair bit of grout as it's not just the little sections shown in the second picture but almost the whole 'line' closest to the door in the first pic.

I know grouting isn't rocket science but I guarantee you i'll mess it up. Is there any kind of easy grouting applicator? Squeeze it in and let it settle?

Mark M · 18 Jul 2020 at 20:00

If the tile wobbles I suspect you’ve got issues underneath and not just with the grout? By no means an expert but I’m not sure the group is the problem?

Minstadave · 18 Jul 2020 at 20:03

They've lost their bond underneath, you have to lift them, scrape off the old adhesive, resite them with fresh adhesive and regrout them.

Seen some people that squirt adhesive under the tiles from the sides but looks like a bit of a bodge.

200sols · 18 Jul 2020 at 21:07

Wobbling tile is not a grout issue, you need to lift the tiles, get rid if the old adhesive on them and relay with new adhesive. Then you can regrout.

Vanilla · 18 Jul 2020 at 21:16

ahh that makes sense about the bonding, guess I should get someone in

2004typer · 19 Jul 2020 at 12:55

Sounds like they were laid poor in the first place - likely to be uneven adhesive under them (maybe just a blob in the centre that has not spread out under the full tile) - so over time the pressure from walking on the edges has caused them to debond.

Only real solution is to lift and relay - but there's a chance if you're not careful the tile might crack (if they've used rapid set adhesive it sets extremely well and extremely hard) - you got any spare tiles lying around?

200sols · 19 Jul 2020 at 13:46

2004typer said:
Sounds like they were laid poor in the first place - likely to be uneven adhesive under them (maybe just a blob in the centre that has not spread out under the full tile) - so over time the pressure from walking on the edges has caused them to debond.

Only real solution is to lift and relay - but there's a chance if you're not careful the tile might crack (if they've used rapid set adhesive it sets extremely well and extremely hard) - you got any spare tiles lying around?

Dot n dab. Shoddy work.

Abyss · 20 Jul 2020 at 11:09

200sols said:
Dot n dab. Shoddy work.

Given it's over a decent area I'd have thought it unlikely they've dot and dabbed the tiles, it's no quicker/easier than laying a screed bed when working with indoor tiles. Given it's the narrow cut tiles on the edge that have failed I'd suspect movement over time that's caused the tiles to pop. My best guess is the tiles getting hot/cold from the windows have caused the tiles to expand/contract and as there's no expansion gap between the tiles and the UPVC doors the last row have popped.