You could add masking tape to the tiles on either side of the grout and use sandpaper to smooth it, reducing the rough appearance. Alternatively, you could apply grout over what's there and smooth it off with your finger. That would give better results than what's there currently.
As mentioned before, there are really only two ways to hide grout lines to give you the best looking results. They are: Make Your Grout Lines The Same Color As Your Tile. Make Your Grout Lines Appear Thinner.
Depending on the size of the area, you may want to use a grinder or an oscillating tool to quickly remove long lines of old or damaged grout. Use a shop vac to clean the gaps between the tiles and the surrounding area, then use a cloth, rag, or sponge to wipe down the tiles before proceeding.
A better replacement for sanded or unsanded grout is a premium sanded grout such as Ultracolor Plus FA from Mapei. It has extremely fine sand particles (FA) that are rounded, making it suitable for thin and thick grout lines (1/16″ to 3/4″).
You can apply new grout right over the top of the old grout. To do this, all you need is a grout removal tool. Use the tool to strike out the old grout, making sure the depth is at least 2mm, which is about the thickness of two dimes stacked one on top of the other.
Let's Talk About Grout Size Options
Finished grout lines will vary from 1/16" to 3/16". However, the actual finished grout spacing will vary from 1/8" to 1/4" if 3/16" spacers are used. If smaller spacers, like 1/8", are used it will accentuate the size difference of handmade tile.
Use trim to mask uneven edges. Trims cover gaps and create clean lines. Choose from metal, PVC, or wood trims, depending on your tile color and style. If one edge is higher, smooth it gently with a tile file.
The one method I've had the best luck with is using a single edged utility blade and skimming over the tile/excess grout toward the grout lines. This will clean/scrape out the excess grout but not score/scratch the tile.
Grout paint or grout colourant is the type of paint used to hide grout lines on tiles. It is a specialized paint designed specifically for application on grout lines to change their colour or cover them up. Grout paint comes in various colours, allowing you to match the existing grout or achieve a different look.
Do not attempt to apply new grout over the damaged existing grout. Just applying new grout over the existing grout is called skim coating grout and the new grout will not properly adhere to the old grout. Over time the new grout will start flaking and chipping away. There are two ways to effectively remove old grout…
The gap you opt for will depend on a few factors: The size of tile you're using: smaller tiles often look great with thinner grout lines, around 2-3mm. For larger tiles or tiles with uneven edges, however, wider grout lines (3-5mm) can help with alignment and hide any imperfections.
A pre-blended mixture of Portland cement, silica sand and pigments which eliminates the measuring and guesswork of site mixing or combining additional sand to conventional Portland cement grouts to compensate for wide grout joints used when setting terra-cotta, Saltillo or quarry tile.
To make your grout lines look thinner, opt for a hue similar to your tile shade. It makes the grout lines less conspicuous. Also, you may invest in rectified tiles with precisely cut edges. These tiles allow for mitigating the visible grout space and making the lines appear thinner.
While grout can help to minimise the appearance of unevenly installed tiles, it cannot completely hide them. If the tiles are significantly uneven or have large gaps between them, using the same colour grout may make the problem less noticeable, but it will not completely conceal it.
There are two ways to achieve seamless tiling. The first involves a mosaic of smaller tiles that disguise the true lines between laid sections of tile. The second is continuous tiles cut to shape and fit together so seams only occur in natural or structural lines.
When the space between tiles is so little like 1/32″ which is often referred to as “credit card lines” or “penny lines”, it's not possible to fill that space all the way through the bottom of the tile. In such a case, grout pops up leaving little holes in your floor.
It's usually easy to identify large-format tile when you see it due to its large size and thin profile. Common sizes include 16x16, 12x24, 24x24, 24x48, and 48x48. Most large-format tile options come in a square or rectangular shape, although you may sometimes find large-format tile in shapes like hexagons.
How big should grout lines be for subway tiles? 3 x 6 inch typically have grout joints of 1/16 inch, but 1/8 inch grout joints are also common.
generally, larger tiles pair well with wider grout lines, while smaller tiles look best with narrower lines. here's a quick guide to help you choose. for mosaic or small format tiles, 1/16-inch grout lines are often ideal. this narrow width doesn't overwhelm the tile design.
A dedicated grout rake or a Stanley blade is best for removing existing grout. Grout rakes can be both mechanical and electric. Any electric grout rake is usually 240V and has variable speeds. The Rubi Grout Remover helps to remove grout surrounding ceramic and porcelain tiles.
Grout pens are designed to cover old grout and fill in gaps between tiles, meaning they are an easy and effective way of refreshing bathroom or kitchen tiles.