Proper grouting ensures that your tile continues to look new and remain intact for years to come. But due to heavy footfall and at times neglect, grout tends to experience significant wear and tear. But how do you know that your grout needs to be repaired? Here are some signs indicating that you need to call a professional to repair your grout. 

Tiles Have Come Loose

Your tile should always stay intact and if there’s a wiggle, it’s a sign of improper installation. If you see the tiles moving, don’t ignore them as they can potentially be dangerous. The grout may have come off; call a skilled professional to get the grout repaired.

Holes in the Grout

Holes in the grout mean moisture can seep in and cause more damage. In some cases where there are fewer holes, repairing grout can be possible. However, when there are too many holes, the smarter option is to get them replaced.

Moldy or Stained Grout

Stains and mold are likely to appear in the grout at some point. But if you don’t take the necessary actions immediately, getting rid of them can become more difficult in the future. Grout needs to be cleaned and repaired occasionally to keep them looking clean. However, if stains are appearing on many surfaces, and especially if there is a sign of mold or mildew, the grout needs to be replaced.

Deterioration

Regardless of what caused cracks in the tiles' grout, they need to be addressed immediately. When cracks are not handled, it paves the way for moisture to seep in and could lead to mold development. To avoid this, call a professional as soon as you see any cracks and get the grout replaced.

What Ruins Grout For Good?

Grout is vulnerable to numerous types of destruction, but being informative can help increase its longevity. Here are some things that you should NOT do when you have tile grout:

Regular Bleaching: Cementitious grout cannot handle harsh chemicals present in the bleach. It weakens the cement composition and makes it brittle. With regular bleaching, you will soon see signs of degradation like discoloration, cracks, crumbling, etc.

Aggressive Scrubbing: Unfortunately, many people take harsh plastic brushes and scrub too aggressively in an attempt to clean them. Scrubbing grout vigorously not only removes dirt, but the grout itself may also come off. And when the grout comes off, you’ve made a hospitable environment for specks of dirt and molds to accumulate.

Skipping on Grout Sealer: The porosity of the grout mixture is vulnerable to staining and discoloration. Grout sealer ensures that does not happen and keeps the grout looking newer for longer.

Acidic Chemicals: Using acidic cleaners is a sure way to create irreversible damage to the grout, and sadly many cleaners in the market are highly acidic. In fact, commonly used DIY acidic cleaners such as vinegar and lemon juice are enough to damage grout. The acids strip the grout sealer and degrade the composition, resulting in more cracks and staining.

The Bottom Line

Grout makes your tile look clean and safe, so it’s important that they remain properly maintained at all times. If you see any of the above signs, call a professional to get your grout repaired.