Asked on Feb 22, 2015
Toilet leak under bathroom tile
by Beard Home
+5
We had a toilet leak and the water got under our tile. We noticed this when there began to be cracks in the grout. When we stepped on a tile a little water came up the grout crack. We have stopped the water leak problem, but is there a way to fix the cracked grout between the tiles without redoing the whole floor? without taking the tile up? The tiles seem to be still stuck to the floor and have been walked on without cracking.
6 answers
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You might want to try using a dremel tool with a small grinding head and grind out the old grout between the tiles. Make sure you have all the dust, dirt and old grout out that you can and then simply re-grout in the now empty spaces. Short of taking up all the tile I don't know what else you could do.
![Franne]()
Franne
on Feb 22, 2015
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Depending on how long it leaked, If, your sub floor is rotted, you need to pull up the tile and replace the sub floor , to the point of No more rot. rotted wood invites termites, then you will have more trouble down the road. It might just be a small area, which you can take a multi tool (cheap at harbor freight) cut the grout line one or two beyond the rot. then the same with sub floor, replace both, and grout. hopefully you have a few tile left .
![Dena]()
Dena
on Feb 22, 2015
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Remove the old grout and replace it with caulk Remove all the loose and cracked grout with a grout saw or Dremel tool and completely vacuum out the gaps. Then apply the caulk and smooth it with a wet finger or plastic spoon. Read more: http://www.familyhandyman.com/tiling/grouting/how-to-repair-grout-that-s-cracking/view-all#ixzz3SU9kunFA
![Suzan]()
Suzan
on Feb 22, 2015
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If the tile is still firmly in place, you can mix up a small amount of your grout in a plastic bag, cut a small hole in the corner of the bag like a pastry bag and spread the grout into the crack making sure your have worked into the cracks really well. Wipe away the excess with a damp sponge. Good luck
![Workerbee]()
Workerbee
on Feb 22, 2015
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I just worked on a friends grout. It isn't that hard to remove the grout. I thought I would need my Dremel and you might but I ended up just usung a small grout remover tool, a paint spatula tool and a utility knife. Where the grout was ok we left it just removing the loose or broken grout. As mentioned above, oi would be concerned in your case about damage behind the tiles. Depending on how long the leak had gone on. And when working if any tiles feel loose use liquid nail (in a caulk like tube) to reapply tile before grouting. Don't use caulk to replace grout. Hopefully you have extra grout or know the color. Good luck.
![Lee Schafer]()
Lee Schafer
on Feb 22, 2015
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Chip out a little pice of grout. A flathead screwdriver the size or smaller than the grout width should do the job. Take to big box hardware store and use the grout color chart to match the color. Many neutral colors actually are avail be in a tube like caulk, and yes, is used from a caulk gun. Follow the instructions on the tube. If you are not fortunate enough to find it in a tube buy the smallest bag you can buy. You can do this it is easy peasy.
![Barb Burnham]()
Barb Burnham
on Feb 22, 2015
Franne
on Feb 22, 2015
Dena
on Feb 22, 2015
Suzan
on Feb 22, 2015
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