How to Use a Grout Saw

Overtime the grout becomes moldy, discolored, cracked and unsightly to look at so inevitably it has to be removed using a grout saw. A grout saw also called as grout scraper, grout rake is a special tool that helps remove old and discolored grout manually. The importance of removing and replacing the grout is to prevent any greater damage to your tiles. There are different ways to remove grout, but the manual method is probably the easiest and cheapest method to do. This article will guide you how to effectively remove a grout using grout saw.

Step 1 – Prepare the Area

The main objective in preparing the area is to protect your floor surface, below the tiles, and the tiles itself to avoid further damage. To protect the floor, use drop cloth to cover it with. To protect the tiles, use masking tape to avoid accidental scratch. Do wear your eye protection and dust mask equipments before proceeding to the next step.

Step 2 – Remove the Grout

Use grout saw or grout scraper to remove the grout manually. This tool is available on any local hardware store at a reasonable price around $7. It is notable for its screwdriver look with a triangular head and a blade about 1 1/2 inches long.

To use the grout saw, place the saw on the tile joints where the grout is, apply pressure on the saw, and just like an ordinary saw let it cut through the grout. Cutting the grout with a sawing motion will help the tool bite through the grout and remove it effectively. If the grout is spongy it will be easy to remove, but if it is hard then you need to work on it more. Scrape the area to pull out the grout. You may also use hammer and chisel to remove the grout but be careful in using this as this may damage the tiles.

Grout is indeed tough to clean up because it is made of hard material and this can be a burden to the grout saw blades. That’s why you need a handy blade replacement for the grout saw so you can lessen the damage to the grout saw. You can change the blades every hour or whenever you find that its difficult to remove the grout.

Step 3 – Clean the Area

Remove the extra grout using a scraper or with a utility knife to get through the tiny gaps. A hammer and chisel can also help clear the extra grout, but do so with care to prevent damage on the tiles. Once you are done removing the grout, you need to remove the mess and leftover dusts. Use the vacuum to completely clean the area.