I have ceramic tile in my house and it is probable about 10 years old. ?

You have a number of options, depending on how far you want to take this.

For starters, the cracks as you describe them are indicative of a much larger problem, usually movement below the surface. If the tile on your ground floor was adhered directly to a concrete slab, you could be experiencing the normal cracking of the concrete carrying through your floor at the weakest area-- the grout joint. If this is a large area, at least 20' in length, you should have a "soft joint"-- usually a silicone caulk line-- across your floor, somewhere near the middle. And you should have that same soft joint, either with silicone or left empty, around the perimeter. And the install probably should have included an anti-fracture membrane atop the slab, but likely doesn't.

If the 5' crack in your bathroom is by chance on an upper floor, you want to check closely to see if by chance there is also a crack running approximately 3' in the opposite direction near the 1st crack. This would be indicative of poor floor prep.

Bottom line: cracks in grout=movement beneath the surface or poor install methods. Repairing the grout joints is a temporary fix at best; there is a very good chance you will need the floors taken up and re-done for a permanent solution. But if that's your course of action, you can re-grout with a color that you hope will match up (I don't recommend using the product in the garage. Bagged grout has a shelf-life on one year). Almost all grouts have a latex additive included these days-- if you pay more than $13 per bag, you're pretty much guaranteed it does. Then, you can look into what's called grout colorant, where you can literally paint your entire floor's grout so that it'll be uniform in color. I'll throw my friends at Aqua Mix a bone here:

http://www.aquamix.com/products/pg_detail.asp?pdid...

Actually, the grout you have is probably your best bet. You need to scrape out the section of bad grout that is there now, and re-grout.

The reason I suggest using the grout you have is because it is your best bet to match the color. The problem is, the new grout is clean, and the old is dirty, so you won't have a perfect match.

To re-grout the bad areas, first make sure that what you have isn't solid. Put some in a bucket and mix it by gradually adding cool water while mixing it until it has the consistency of warm peanut butter.

To apply it, you will need a grout float, this is a smooth trowel with a rubber face. Spread it by pushing it into the space by moving the float diagonally across the space. Then, clean the area lightly with a wet sponge.

It should last a while. Unless you wanted to re-grout the whole floor, or the bag you have is solid, there is no reason to buy new grout.

" B " Has some of the best suggestions so take heed. After 20 years of tiling it s a good bet that when grout comes out in 1 inch hunks its from movement. This is from floor movement or loose tile. More often than not loose tile in your section where its coming out in hunks.Rap on the tile were the grout is out and then rap on it off to the side where the grout is solid compare the 2 sounds and if you get a hollow sound where the grout is coming out then tile is loose.The long grout crack sounds like floor or tile sub floor movement.5 ft?? My 1 st guess is an untaped cement board seam but thats an educated guess.. GL

Go buy a small bag of grout. Then simply remove the bad grout with a chisel, putty knife etc. Then just mix your grout, smear it over your bad spot and wipe clean with a damp sponge. This will match your grout and you wont be able to see it. Plus latex grout fillers get sticky over time and don't look very good. If you have large gaps re grouting is the way to go. All you need is a float, a bucket, grout, water and a sponge. A float is a trowel that has a foam bottom on it. If you go to your local home center they will be able to direct you. This is a easy weekend project that will match you current grout.

First of all, it depends on the true results your seeking. When you replace grout, you need to remove what ever may be loose, then with the proper trowel you would spread the grout all over the walls in a figure 8 configuration, I grew up doing this with my grandfather professionally. Amongst other trades. You would need to use what pro's are using in the grout which is called Latex, it's a milky substance you add to the grout mix.

I'd definitely say that you want to remove the old tile. The unsmooth surface will make it really hard putting up new tile. If you have part tile and part wood and want it all the same, I recommend removing everything. If you were going to go with all hardwood, then you could refinish the old wood but you'd have to find some other old hardwood flooring that you could refinish to match it and that might be hard to do. Also, the more layers you put on there. The more of a problem and hassle you are going to create for anyone else who ever tries reflooring the house later on. I've seen some of those messes. It's not pretty. My opinion. Do it right the first time, not half-way.

Hi there, in my opinion there are the finest ceramic tile in the world but in my point of view I prefer the marbles because marble can live long in any season but ceramic tile has also these types of qualities but it will break after four or 5 years but the marbles live about 20 to 25 years long so its better to for the grave of your father. If you want to know more about granite and marbles I search a web on net in which you can see all types of marbles so if you were interested visit the website which is given below it will help you a lot.

Check the Lowe's site