Tile grout

[marinabrid]

Evening all
The tile grout in my bathroom has started to hairline crack along the lines between the tiles over quite a long distance.
do i have to dig out all the grout or do you just put new over the cracks as some of the grout is still solid.
Thanks

[gregers]

try to dig out as much as you can,use a dremel type tool.
if theres that much movement then maybe your theres to much expansion/contraction going on??whats the wall type?

oh and when you come to regrout get the powder type you mix up yourself rather then the ready mix crud.

[marinabrid]

Hi Gregers
Thanks for the advice
the bathroom wall is the very old type  as is the rest of the house built in 1911
its brick  then the old lats and whatever they used in those days to hold it up !

we do get hairline crack due to movement in a few rooms as these are very large old houses.  The tiles and grout have been up now for 5 years in the bathroom    but then again    many of the other rooms with ensuites are tiled and they are still perfect after 20 years

[gregers]

if its brick on the outside and stud on the inside,then as you say the age of the property the inside will no doubt be lathe n plaster.
does that bathroom have a mechanical vent?
stab in the dark,just thinking along the lines of condensation,so the walls are absorbing the moisture etc.
if no vent then consider fitting 1.

[marinabrid]

there is a electric fan vent in the wall   though it is on the opposite wall to the bath   ,  the cracks seem to be along the tile lines in each row above the bath on the long and short sides     nothing cracked on any other walls    so i think it must be condensation problems     
odd thing is in the guest house ensuites  the rooms are much smaller though with a vent fan in each   but we have had no problems at all for over 15 years
i don't know much about tiling and grouting  when the chaps finished the job  they never said anything about grout sealing   which i have read about.  should this be done ?    think i will take your advice and get a dremill type thing and dig it out.

[gregers]

dunno i havnt heard of that either m8  but im not a professional tiler,just make sure you get a flexible grout.

[marinabrid]

apparently   grout seal is some kind of liquid you brush over some types of grout to make them waterproof   and then redo every couple of years.   just something i read on the web.

[gregers]

mmm sounds like 'snake oil' to me.but im not a tiler by trade so not saying it doesnt work just never heard of it.

[Stumuzz]

You can pick up a good cheap oscillating tool and grout blades.
Just remember mask and gloves. your going to have alot of dust.
Stuart.

[Stumuzz]

A lot of bloomin dust

[gregers]

nah thats not dust.

[Stumuzz]

nah thats not dust.

:)That's a desert storm
The photo was taken with a good camera phone. i had a wet n dry hoover running all the time.  Bathroom door sealed and window open.