🖼️
The project:
We couldn’t afford new flooring when we renovated our kitchen a few years back, and kept the original tile floors. After the install we were left with two majors issues:
- Problem: A few broken tiles and gaps from old cabinets with no surplus tiles left by the previous owners. As these were original from 20years ago, there was no popping to Bunnings for a couple spares. We had to find some creative workarounds.
Solution: a combination of strategic tile cutting, plus finding hidden tiles under the island bench, and around the fridge area that we could re-purpose to fix the broken ones. - Problem: Grouting that was dated, dirty and clashing with the modern white kitchen.
Solution: A deep clean and scrub, grout refresh with a light modern grey and sealed for lasting impact. It really brought out the grey and cool tones in the tiles to help match the new kitchen.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
- Materials:
Sugar soap:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/selleys-1l-wall-surface-cleaner-super-concentrate-sugar-soap_p1230181
Premixed Resaflex adhesive:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/dunlop-4kg-premixed-resaflex_p6829395
Ready to go misty grey grout:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/dunlop-800g-ready-to-go-coloured-grout-misty-grey_p6650145
Grout sealer:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/dunlop-250ml-grout-sealer_p6820014
- Tools:
Wet & Dry vacuum:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/ozito-1250w-12l-stainless-wet-and-dry-vacuum_p6290589
Ryobi ONE multi tool plus grout remover blade:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-18v-one-multi-tool-skin-only_p1024308
https://www.bunnings.com.au/dewalt-3mm-oscillating-multi-tool-carbide-grout-removal-blade_p0677759
Two manual or hand tool options for grout removal:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/qep-professional-grout-saw_p0393523
https://www.bunnings.com.au/qep-double-sided-grout-removal-tool_p0393504
sponge scourer
https://www.bunnings.com.au/sabco-medium-duty-tuff-scrub-scourer-with-handle_p0081402
grout brush
https://www.bunnings.com.au/sabco-soft-grip-grout-brush_p4480053
Angled scraper (to help lift the tiles)
https://www.bunnings.com.au/uni-pro-75mm-angled-heavy-duty-paint-scraper_p1670221
hand tile cutter
https://www.bunnings.com.au/dta-300mm-handyman-tile-cutter_p6651774
rubber trowel
https://www.bunnings.com.au/dta-rubber-pointed-trowel_p6655396
dense foam sponge
https://www.bunnings.com.au/dta-large-foam-sponge_p6826999
cleaning cloths
https://www.bunnings.com.au/all-set-microfibre-cleaning-cloths-20-pack_p0874306
Bucket 10L
https://www.bunnings.com.au/craftright-225g-8oz-rubber-mallet_p0489972
- Step 1:
Remove all kick boards, appliances and cupboards as required to locate as many full size original tiles as possible - look under the island bench, fridge area etc.
Chances are you’ll find full tiles, where more than half is covered by cupboards/appliances - this is a nice-to-have cosmetic touch when you’re working with the original tiles and no spares.
Map out where you can pull full tiles up and replace with your broken tiles. It’s like play floor tile Tetris haha.
- Step 2:
Remove the grout around the broken tiles you plan to replace and the full new tiles you plan to lift and shift. Use a grout remover tool to carefully remove old grout.
There are two options to consider:
1. A manual hand remover tool - it may be slow going but you’re much less likely to damage the top or sides of the tile.
2. The electric Ryobi multi tool - it has a few blade options to choose from. I preferred the semi circle shape of the Dewalt blade. This option requires a very steady hand and slow speed settings to avoid doing permanent damage to the tile.
Truth be told I used both when removing the grout. I even used a flat screw driver to flick out larger chunks of grout wedged between two tiles.
- Step 3:
Gently lift the tiles using an angled scraper or two. Lat and cleaning cloth under the angled scraper on top of the tile adjacent to the one you’re lifting to help avoid any damage to surrounding tiles.
Some gentle taps with a rubber hammer may help you wedge the scraper under the tile enough to help lift it up. We were very lucky in that most of our tiles had separated from the adhesive (you know this because the tile has an tin-like or drummy sound to it when tapped) so ours were very easy to lift.
If any lifted tiles need to be cut down and reused, I used the DTA hand tile cutter quite effectively.
I used the Premixed Resaflex adhesive to re-lay tiles. Using a rubber mallet to press securely in to place and to help ensure the tiles remained level against adjacent tiles.
NOTE: this is 100% a step you can employ professional help to execute if you’re concerned about damaging any more tiles.
- Step 4:
Once all tiles are laid in position, it’s important to do a deep clean on the whole area. Vacuum up the area, cleaning any debris from around the tiles where all grout was removed.
Use sugar soap, a heavy duty scourer and grout cleaner brush to clean the tiles and grout in the whole area.
Below is a close up of old grout around a tile that was not removed or replaced:
- Step 5:
Using the ready to go Dunlop grout, squeeze the new grout in to the old grout lines/areas. The rubber trowel can be used to press the grout in to the gap and remove excess grout on the shallower gaps.
A damp dense sponge or cloth can be used to wipe excess grout from the surface of the tile after 15mins of curing. And once fully cured the haze over the tiles should come off with some sugar soap solution.
Used the Dunlop grout sealant with brush applicator as per the usage instructions to protect the finish.
Below is an image of the same tile grout area after the refresh:
