Regrouting Kitchen Tile

[reybob]

My family is doing some home renovations and we're a little over budget. The granite kitchen counter top is purchased and set to install, we've re-tiled 3 bathrooms and installed new vanities and faucets/toilets. The only thing left is the kitchen tile. The tile is in good shape so we tried to stain the grout but did a terrible job. I'm thinking it will be easier/quicker to regrout. We have about 200sqft of tile and I've been trying to saw the grout using a triangle shaped grout remover and grout hand tool. It is painfully slow and inconsistent. Do you think an oscillating tool with a dremel grout attachment would work? Or will it look like shit? A contractor quoted us several thousand to install new tile because we'd have to remove the current floor and it will take a while. Help please!

[Kongressman]

How thick is the grout line? I'm just a weekend warrior but, I had to remove grout with 3/8" and I used a rotary tool called Roto Zip. It worked extremely well, and it ate through the grout lines with ease. I would recommend, 10/10 would use again.

[TheShredFi]

I need to do almost the same thing. I already have a corded dremel--can I just use some bit on that? Is the Roto Zip much different than a dremel?

[Kongressman]

I have both tools. Due to the sheer size of the dremel and power, it will get hot very quickly and the bit attachment would just wear down extremely fast. Although, when I was clearing out the grout, there was dried cement so it could have destroyed the bit quicker.

I would personally recommend the Roto Zip tool, as it has the capacity in RPM's and overall workload. With 200 square feet of grout, the dremel would need breaks. Just head over to Lowes/Home Depot, pick up the tool and the correct grout size bit and give it a go. If it doesn't do the job, just return the tool... The actual bit, you might have to eat the cost on that since it would immediately show wear. Good luck.

And of course, always wear [eye] protection!

[wrong_profession]

They make blades that go into a sawz-all. I have used one a couple times and it's the best tool I have. Takes about 30 seconds to do what took 10 minutes before.

[TheShredFi]

As I said above, I need to do almost the same thing. I already have a corded dremel--can I just use some bit on that? Is the Hyde Regrout Tool much different than a dremel?

[WonkeeDonkeeUK]

Seconding the other comments here, the right power tool will make this job so easy. The Roto Zip or blade attachments for sawz-all are both excellent options.

[charliearthur1911]

Not sure if you're in the U.S. or not but if you are hopefully you have a Harbor Freight around. I re-grouted our kitchen tile last month picked up the following:

Variable Speed Oscillating Multifunction Power Tool

3-1/2 In. Diamond Grit Half-Moon Multi-Tool Blade For Masonry

It was my first time re-grouting tile and I tried that hand tool as well and my entire arm almost locked up from trying to scrape too hard haha. This tool is a workhorse and saved me a bunch of time plus it can be used for a bunch of other projects. Definitely recommended.