Popular Mechanics - Popular Mechanics How to Fix Anything: Essential Home Repairs Anyone Can Do

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Grout thats crumbling and mildewed is both unattractive and mechanically unsound. A common cause of grout failure is that the installer used too much water in mixing a cement-based material. Also keep in mind that some grouts need to be moist-cured. Its not difficultall you have to do is mist the tile and grout with water from a spray bottle. A sheet of plastic taped in place and draped over the wall holds in the moisture during the curing process. Other grouts need to be coated with a sealer. And while its tempting to use an inexpensive, commodity grout when a heavy-duty version is called for, its false economy. While a 25-pound bag of cement-based grout might cost half as much as a polymer-modified version, complete with antifungus additive, the polymer-modified grout will look better and last longer. The polymer improves the grouts water resistance and makes it more flexible so the grout can withstand temperature fluctuations and wall movement.

Follow these steps to ensure a long-lasting and good-looking grout job

Buy enough. Use one of the many grout calculators or charts online to estimate how much grout you need. Better to have a little too much than not enough.

Clean. Thoroughly remove any mildew and soap scum before cutting grout out of the joints.

Remove. Cut out grout to at least half the depth of the tile.

Angle. Apply the new grout at a 45-degree angle to the tile. Work it thoroughly into the spaces between tiles so there are no air bubbles or gaps.

Wipe. Remove as much excess grout as possible while its wet. Its easier to do at this stage than when its dry.

Caulk. Apply a high-quality tub-and-tile sealant where the wall meets the tub and in vertical corners where one wall meets another.

LEAKY TUB STOPPER

Most bathtubs are equipped with lever-action stoppers instead of old-fashioned plugs. The problem is, many stoppers dont form a watertight seal. Fortunately, the fix is easy. First, unscrew the round overflow plate from the end of the tub. Gently pull the attached linkage assembly out from behind the tub. The linkage is composed of several metal pieces, including a threaded rod. Turn the rod two or three times to lengthen the entire assembly. Replace the linkage and screw the overflow plate to the tub wall. Raise the control lever on the overflow plate and turn on the water. If the water still drains out, remove the overflow plate and lengthen the linkage a bit more.

If the toilet runs continuously in a faint trickle, look to the fill valvein this case, its a ball cock, a common valve that uses a float mounted on an arm to shut the valve when the tank water has reached the correct level. Remove the diaphragm screws and look for sand or mineral grit around the diaphragm seat. Remove this sediment with tweezers (). If the rubber diaphragm seal is worn, replace it (