If the tiles are firmly stuck, flat and undamaged, regrouting is usually enough: the old grout is raked out, the joints are cleaned and fresh grout is pressed in. If tiles sound hollow, move when pressed, are cracked, or water has got behind them, the bathroom needs retiling, because new grout cannot hold loose tiles or fix the wall underneath. A quick tap test and a careful look around the shower tell you which side of that line you are on.
How to tell if grout has failed
Grout fails gradually. The signs are easy to spot once you know them.
- Grout that is crumbling, cracked or missing in places
- Dark lines that do not clean out with scrubbing
- Joints that stay damp long after a shower
- Gaps opening where the wall meets the bath or tray
The tap test for loose tiles
Tap each tile around the shower gently with the handle of a screwdriver. A solid tile gives a firm click. A hollow tile sounds dull and drummy, which means the adhesive behind it has let go. One or two hollow tiles away from the water can sometimes be lifted and refixed. A cluster of hollow tiles in the shower area usually means water has been getting in for some time.
Bathroom regrouting: how it is done
The old grout is raked out to a consistent depth without chipping tile edges. Joints are cleaned and dried, then new grout is worked in diagonally, struck off and cleaned from the tile faces. Silicone at corners and along the bath or tray is cut out and renewed at the same time, since grout should never be used in those movement joints.
Regrouting costs far less than retiling, and on sound tiles the result can look close to new.
Retiling a shower: when it is the right call
Retiling makes sense when tiles are loose, when water has damaged the plasterboard or plaster behind, or when the tiles are dated and you are refitting anyway. The old tiles come off, damaged board is replaced, and the shower area is properly protected with backer board and tanking before new tiles go on. On this site's tiling prices, wall tiling labour is 40 to 70 pounds per square metre on prepared walls.
Grout, sealant and refit decisions together
Many tired bathrooms need a combination: regrouting the sound walls, resealing the bath, and retiling only the shower area. The mouldy shower sealant guide covers the sealant side, and the bathroom tiling page explains how full retiling is carried out.
Typical costs
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wall tiling labour | 40 to 70 pounds per square metre | Standard format tiles, prepared walls |
| Backer board and tanking | Priced per shower area | Essential behind showers |
| Regrouting sound tiles | Quoted per job | Depends on area and joint width |
From the site's tiling pricing. Regrouting on sound tiles is priced per job after seeing the room.