I love to read blogs. I wish I had more time to read my favorites more often. I learn a lot from them. Here’s a good example. By luck, I happened to read a post on Young House Love about how they restored the grout on their slate floor. Hey! I have a slate floor! It also has the most disgusting, dirty grout that I couldn’t get clean. Take a look at that before:
I learned that for about $11 I could make my slate floor look like new! I am absolutely thrilled with the results.
Seriously, look at the above before shot.
Isn’t that amazing! I now love my slate floor. And I NEVER thought I would say that. There was a time when I was googling how to get rid of it! I had visions of guys with jack hammers, breaking up the floor. I have no idea how to get rid of slate flooring, but now I don’t care! I love my slate floor!
The bottle of Polyblend Grout Renew only costs about $11, but it DOES take some time to apply it. I did it over a couple of weekends and it probably took about 20 hours. It’s a long hallway that goes from the front door back to the living room.
Wasn’t it nice of Dan to take this most unflattering photo of me painstakingly painting all of the grout lines. I think the bruise on my forearm is finally gone.
It was worth every uncomfortable minute (and scar tissue on my elbow)!
Every year at about this time, I start planning a home improvement project. It all started three years ago when Dan was given an account at work that takes him out of town for a couple of weeks every March. Since Dan does not enjoy DIY projects, this is a good time for me to start a project because he’s not here to talk me out of it. That first year, I painted the main bathroom, including the vanity. It was before I started blogging, so there are no photos of that.
The second year, (which was last year) is when I started updating the kitchen. I painted the cabinets, the walls, ceiling and pantry door. I also made roman shades, replaced the sink, installed a new faucet and upgraded the countertop. We also got a new stove. There are a few more things to do before it’s completely finished.
This year I’ve decided to take on the hallway. Since I painted the grout with Grout Renew, I have a head start. I’m working on staining the railing a darker color and painting the spindles white. I have a few more ideas up my sleeve, but since I never tell Dan what I plan on doing before he leaves, that’s all I can say for now. That poor man never knows what he’s going to come home to!
Oh my gosh! A huge difference!!! I wonder if this would work on our awful tile!! I would love if you would link up to Give Me The Goods! http://www.averielane.com/2014/02/give-me-goods-48.html
Amber @ Averie Lane
It is a huge difference and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the results!
I have been wanting to try that! I had originally seen it on Domestic Imperfection and then seeing it on Young House Love really made me want it! Your grout looks totally renewed!
Thanks Dianna, I wish I had known about it sooner. I am thrilled with the results!
I remember that post over at YHL. When we’re ready to do our master bathroom floor (in depserate need as well) I will be picking up some Grout Renew. It’s always nice to hear a second opinion that a product is fabulous!
Okay, this is OUR floor so you have placed this task on her HoneyDo list for me.
Not that it’s going to change anything, but can you give us an 18 month (give or take) on how it’s looking & holding up? Have you had to do any freshening up on it.
BTW, one of the things I tried to clean with is a Hoover Hard Floor machine. Didn’t really do the grout but is great on the floors. Like a cold water carpet machine but as easy to use as a vacuum. And in the kitchen, you just use the sink spray on the dog & the floor, then sunction up until the water is running clear. And it was under $100.
But please let us know how it’s holding up.
I am happy to say: It still looks great! I clean that floor with a steam mop and have not paid any special attention to the grout lines. Needless to say, I’ve been very pleased with the Grout Renew!
that is MY floor too — and i would love the floor if it weren’t for the grout. i’ve tried everything — even hired a tile restoration company this summer. cleaned up the slate nicely, but not the grout. i am so excited grout renew could be the answer — could you tell me what colour you used? your floor looks great.
Thank you! Thats just the product I’m looking for. We bought a house in September and the previous owner had PAINTED OVER the GORGEOUS SLATE! (We won’t get into the choice names I called them while stripping the 5 layers off, praying that it would be in good condition!) After we stripped the tile, it looked great, minus some patchy, bad grout. I’m heading out to get this now!
And our husbands should talk, mine doesn’t know what hes going to come home to either. Poor guys.
I chose the ‘platinum’ color by Polyblend and hand-painted with a small brush (just like she is showing in the photos above). The platinum almost looks white but has a subtle tint of gray (very, very light) to it. This way it helps to bring out the colors of each piece of slate. Wasn’t bothered that it was time consuming – it’s a precise job, none of the paint overlaps onto the slate and looks AMAZING! I plan to put a low luster sealer all over to give the entire floor the wet look.
Wow. I used that product on my bathroom tiles. What a waste of hours! The first time I washed the floor after using it it looked terrible. It became discolored and loosened out of the cracks. Worthless. Only for show one time then you’re done–and now you have to re-do the newly created mess. Ugh.