Caulk & Grout question (uh-huh-huh)

[BigKuba]

My kitchen came with the backsplash grouted to the countertops, which now has a 1-2mm crack along the entire length, with a few larger chips. I got some color matched caulk to fix that. Question -- do I rip out all the grout in the backsplash-counter junction or just caulk over the crack?

[riser4]

Because I don't know shit about this kind of repair, I would caulk right over the existing grout. Put some in the bigger gaps, let dry, and then lay a nice clean bead over it all. However, I really suck at home repairs. From experience, if you suck at chipping it away, you could end up with the whole backsplash in pieces on your counter in a big hurry. Caulk it and save up your money to have someone fix the real problem(s). Soon.

[jamesp]

if you do remove the old grout, don't chip it out use something like this http://www.homedepot.com/p/QEP-Handh...012Q/100001353. I don't know if its really necessary or not, I'd probably just put caulk over it to keep water out & make it look nice.

[riser4]

if you do remove the old grout, don't chip it out use something like this http://www.homedepot.com/p/QEP-Handh...012Q/100001353. I don't know if its really necessary or not, I'd probably just put caulk over it to keep water out & make it look nice.

This post is money. Exactly my point regarding my own skills.

[Obstruction]

Timely for me. This repair is near the top of my to do lis for the fourth time in 12 years. First time I regrouted without removing. Fail. Second regrouted again after removal. Fail. Third time color match caulk after removal OK for 2 years. Ultimately Fail.

This time I'll caulk again over existing just before I sell the house.

[RootSkier]

Neither. You want to fill in the crack, not cover the entire grout joint. Vacuum out all the loose stuff and put down a thin bead.

[BigKuba]

if you do remove the old grout, don't chip it out use something like this http://www.homedepot.com/p/QEP-Handh...012Q/100001353. I don't know if its really necessary or not, I'd probably just put caulk over it to keep water out & make it look nice.

Yup, got exactly this Home Depot item.

Timely for me. This repair is near the top of my to do lis for the fourth time in 12 years. First time I regrouted without removing. Fail. Second regrouted again after removal. Fail. Third time color match caulk after removal OK for 2 years. Ultimately Fail.

This time I'll caulk again over existing just before I sell the house.

Same here, it's been bothering me for months. Internet says you need caulk, not grout, at junction of two different materials because they have different expansion properties -- hence the cracks.

Neither. You want to fill in the crack, not cover the entire grout joint. Vacuum out all the loose stuff and put down a thin bead.

You sound authoritative and it's the fastest option. Will caulk over the crack in a test section and see if it looks pretty. Guy at the tile store was saying to rip it all out, but he's just trying to sell more caulk.

[Conundrum]

I certainly don't have the construction experience that Root does but here's what I did. I cut away the jagged edges and then vacuumed it out so I wouldn't see the interfaced between the old grout and caulk. I'm sure you probably won't notice but I was scared the colors would be off slightly. It ended up not being an issue.

[skiballs]

I'd take a utility knife and cut out the loose and uneven grout. Then clean the existing grout well. Re-grout, the existing grout should be wet, when you re-grout. Before the grout sets cut a small notch at the countertop. Wait 28 days then apply a small bead of matching caulk, urethane based, at the grout and countertop.

[Obstruction]

Despite the fact that TGR is the source of all true wisdom I broke down and searched the inter webs and it looks like the consensus is that D-I-Yers are best off removing old grout or caulk and applying new color match caulk.

[BigKuba]

^^^ Same here. Fucking internet, I knew this would be more trouble than it seemed

It would be better to remove as much grout as possible so the new caulk can bite and hold in the joint rather than just on top of the old grout. By being on top you will either have a thin veneer of caulk that could also crack with movement or you would have to put a heavy bead down that would not look as nice.

the right way is to remobe all the grout and caulk it with a matching caulk. the grout manufacturer should have it.
of course you can caulk over ot or regrout it, but you wil lbe revisiting this issue much more frequently if you do.

[blender]

Get a hook knife with a carbide tip and scrape out the grout. you don't need to get every bit of it, but clean out the bigger portions. ie: anything that is proud of the face of the tile. Get the proper colour-matched siliconized grout caulking. Use painters tape to establish the line of the caulked edge at the the tile and countertop (the caulking smears easily and spreads around if you arent very careful). Caulk it and when it is dry go over again with high quality clear silicone. Done

[XXX-er]

I would chip out the old grout where its was supposed to be interfacing the backsplash/counter the rest of the grout looks OK, if it cracked once it will crack again so I would probably match the backsplash grout color to a silicone bathroom caulk that won't mildew, put down painters tape on the counter to leave a sharp line.

If you could weight the counter down when you do that crack it would be good just like when caulking a tub its good to fill the tub with water

I have also grouted and then run clear silicone over the grout at a shower stall/tile interface which seemed to work but that was a vertical

[skiballs]

Hey, what happened to the halfassed post?

[BigKuba]

I decided to use my whole ass, and hence deleted it.

But I'm not grouting AND caulking, that's just crazy talk

[skiballs]

You see, what we have hear is a failure to comunicate.
So you get what we had here last time.

[iceman]

Just get some clear silicone caulk and call it good.

[Snow Dog]

If you're using a colour matched caulk (like Mapei sanded caulk) that's made just for this purpose then you want to clean out the grout between the tile and counter. Then fill in the gap so it's flush with the existing grout. It's not a sticky gooey mess like bathtub silicone caulk. It's more rubbery and (because of the sand that matches the grout) doesn't stick very well.

[XXX-er]

so it looks like grout but its siliconized caulk with some sand in it?

didn't know it existed ...cool

[BigKuba]

I got this stuff: http://www.tecspecialty.com/products...lic-Caulk.html
Supposed to look just like the grout when dry.

[tuco]

If you're using a colour matched caulk (like Mapei sanded caulk) that's made just for this purpose then you want to clean out the grout between the tile and counter. Then fill in the gap so it's flush with the existing grout. It's not a sticky gooey mess like bathtub silicone caulk. It's more rubbery and (because of the sand that matches the grout) doesn't stick very well.

This. Sanded caulk stick just fine, but needs good contact with both substrates. Moisten finger with wet rag and smooth out.

so it looks like grout but its siliconized caulk with some sand in it?

didn't know it existed ...cool

Yes, its been available for years. Each manufacturer has one to match each grout color.

[bagtagley]

Better check with the little lady. She may prefer black caulk.

[irul&ublo]

Better check with the little lady. She may prefer BIG black caulk.

FIFY.....


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[XXX-er]

.
Yes, its been available for years. Each manufacturer has one to match each grout color.

well fortunatley all the maintenance here at the retirement home somehow just gets done so this hasn't come up

[RootSkier]

After reading 18 posts worth of terrible advice, ignore my earlier tips and hit yourself in the face with a hammer.