Made up of a cement-base and enhanced with polymers or latex, grout is used to fill in the spaces between tiles in order to create a smooth and fluid surface. Grout is also water resistant, very easy to upkeep, and is available in a number of colorful shades. However, there are a few ways that grout can become powder or crumbly-like substance and begin to fall out. Here’s a look at the causes of this phenomena and how it can be avoided.

Causes

When you purchase grout, there’s a mixing procedure that is required before it can be applied to any surface. One cause of powdery grout is poor mixing. When grout and water have joined, a reaction called hydration occurs, which causes the grout to go from a paste to a hard tile joint. When the grout isn’t mixed into a consistent, thick paste, it may become very crumbly and fall out easily. Other reasons for grout falling out is if the joints aren’t wet before application, the grout is passed its expiration date or is very old, or the joints aren’t properly compressed during application.

Ways to Avoid Fallen Out Grout

In order to avoid grout from falling out, first, make sure that you are mixing it properly. If the grout seems too thin or too thick, adjust accordingly.

It’s also important that you wet the joints where the grout is going to be applied. This allows the hydration process to be slowed down, therefore allowing the grout to be applied smoothly before it dries into a hard tile-like substance. In addition, the tile surrounding the grout will also suck up some of the moisture, allowing a nice transition between grout and tile. If the grout isn’t applied with some moisture to the joints, it may dry awkwardly or result in this powder or crumbly substance, causing it to fall out.

Another way to avoid fallen out grout is by making sure there’s enough compression during the application. In order to ensure this, you may want to use a trowel to apply pressure to the grout and joints. Sweeping across with a trowel will also make sure that you’re not missing any spots by filling in gaps in the joint.

As mentioned earlier, old grout can also cause a falling out. Avoid this by making sure the grout you have is up to date. This substance normally has a shelf life of about a year from its manufacturing date, so if yours has been sitting in the garage for longer than that, you may want to take a trip to your local Home Depot. When purchasing new grout, be sure to check the date it was manufactured to ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck.

How to Deal

The only way to deal with fallen out grout is to start fresh. Scrape out the grout and replace it with a new, clean round. If you are experiencing trouble with grout application, you may even want to hire a professional to do it. In addition, keeping your grout sparkly clean will only preserve its life. Those tiny cracks are sometimes very hard to reach, and you may also want to consider hiring a professional for this task.

Steam Pro uses a top-quality cleaning system to wipe away any mold or dirt when it comes to tile and grout cleaning. Call at 1-877-STEAMPRO or visit their website to get a quote and be on your way to fresh, clean grout today!