Sanded Grout Removal for Porcelain Tile

Grout Removal Tool

• If you only need to remove a single piece of porcelain tile, you can use a handheld grout removal tool to remove the grout around the tile. The tool is shaped like a triangle on the head with a shaft connected to a handle, with the triangle tipped with carbide or diamond. The tip is inserted into the grout joint, and you apply pressure while you pull the tool along, scraping the grout out of the joint.

Utility Knife

• Smaller porcelain tiles cannot handle the size of a grout removal tool, so you will need to use something smaller and more refined. If you are dealing with mosaics, for example, you can use a utility knife in the same manner as the grout removal tool. The tip of the knife works to cut the grout out of the joint and remove everything so you can replace it with new grout or safely remove that individual piece.

Hammer and Chisel

• Large-bodied porcelain tiles sometimes utilize large grout joints. In these cases, you can use a hammer and chisel to remove the grout around the tile in question. You can generally use a hammer and chisel for any tiles greater than 12 inches in size, as the joint width is sufficient for the grout to be crushed and removed without the sides of the tiles being damaged.

Oscillating Tool

• The best method for removing large areas of grout is with a machine such as an oscillating tool. The machine operates through the use of a blade that slips into the grout joint. The machine then vibrates the blade sufficiently so that it disintegrates the grout within the joint, rendering it to dust without damaging the surrounding tile or creating dust.