Removing Grout From a Plaster Wall

If you have tiles on a plaster wall, and you want to re-grout between the tiles, it's important that the old grout be taken off carefully, otherwise you could damage the plaster behind the tiles. Removing the grout between the tiles is generally done with a grout saw, which is a straight carbide blade on a handle. This method of grout removal requires some physical strength and endurance, but it also gives you plenty of control over how deep you are digging out the grout, so as not to damage the plaster behind it.

Grout saw
Hand-held vacuum

Instructions

- 1
  Set the edge of your grout saw to the surface of the grout you want to extract. Hold the saw at about a 45-degree angle to the surface. Hold the saw handle with one hand, while pressing over the whole back of the saw with the other hand.
- 2
  Press the saw firmly to the grout and pull it backward, digging into the grout.
- 3
  Push the saw forward, forcefully, breaking into the grout in front of the blade. Pull it back again and then push further forward, breaking out more of the grout.
- 4
  Repeat, digging out the grout in a forward-and-back motion, advancing along the whole grout line. Move the blade along the edges of the tiles as needed to extract any grout that’s sticking to the sides of the tiles. Don’t dig any deeper than the tile thickness, which is generally ¼ inch. Dig out each of the grout lines you are trying to extract.
- 5
  Run your hand-held vacuum along the dug-out line to extract the debris and dust. The tiles are now ready for re-grouting.

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