Tiles last for decades, but grout does not. Grout is porous, so it absorbs water, soap and grime, cracks with movement, and grows mould in damp bathrooms. Cracked or missing grout lets water get behind tiles, where it can loosen them and damage the wall or floor. Individual tiles crack when something heavy is dropped, when the floor or wall moves, or when they were laid without enough adhesive. A few cracked tiles and stained grout can make an otherwise good bathroom or kitchen look old and neglected.

We regrout tiles, replace cracked and loose tiles, and install small tiled areas such as splashbacks in homes and rentals across Traralgon, Morwell, Moe, Newborough, Churchill and nearby towns.

Regrouting

When grout needs replacing

• Grout is cracked, crumbling or missing in places
• Black mould that will not clean out
• Grout is permanently stained or discoloured
• Water is getting behind tiles (swelling, loose tiles, damp smells)

How we regrout

1. Remove the old grout. We rake out the old grout to a good depth with a grout saw or oscillating tool, without chipping the tile edges.

2. Clean the joints. Dust and loose material are vacuumed and the joints cleaned.

3. Treat mould. Mould is treated so it doesn’t grow through the new grout.

4. Apply new grout. We use a suitable grout for the area: cement-based grout with additives for most walls and floors, or epoxy grout where extra stain and water resistance is needed.

5. Clean and finish. Excess grout is cleaned off the tile faces and joints tooled to a consistent finish.

6. Seal. Cement grout can be sealed once cured to improve stain and water resistance.

7. Re-silicone. Internal corners and changes of plane are sealed with silicone, not grout, because they move. See silicone and caulking.

Grout colours

Changing the grout colour can transform a room. Mid-grey grout hides dirt better than white, and contrasting grout gives a different look. When you regrout, you can choose a new colour. Matching old grout exactly for a partial regrout is harder, because grout changes colour with age. Regrouting the whole area gives the most even result.

Replacing cracked and broken tiles

We remove cracked tiles carefully, without damaging the tiles around them, clean out the old adhesive, and set a new tile level with its neighbours, then grout and seal. The biggest challenge is finding a matching tile. Here’s how to improve the odds:

• Check the garage and shed for spare tiles left by the builder or previous owner.
• Check behind or under appliances where a tile could be borrowed and replaced with a non-matching tile that won’t be seen.
• Visit tile shops with a photo and a piece of the broken tile. Common white and neutral tiles are often still available.
• Feature replacement. If no match exists, a deliberately contrasting feature tile or a row can look intentional.

Drummy and loose tiles

A tile that sounds hollow when tapped is called drummy. It means the tile has lost its bond with the adhesive or the wall. Drummy tiles crack easily and can let water in. A small number of loose tiles can be lifted, cleaned and re-fixed. Large areas of drummy tiles, especially in showers or on floors, can indicate a failing substrate or waterproofing and may need a tiler or bathroom renovator. We will tell you honestly what we see.

Small tiling jobs

• Splashbacks in kitchens, laundries and behind vanities
• Small floor areas, such as a laundry or toilet floor (where the substrate is sound and no waterproofing is needed)
• Tile edge trims replaced or added
• Outdoor tile repairs on patios, steps and verandahs

Full bathroom tiling, shower tiling and any work requiring waterproofing must be done by a qualified tiler with a registered waterproofer. In Victoria, waterproofing in wet areas is regulated building work.

Shower and bathroom grout

Showers take the most punishment. Daily hot water, soap, shampoo and poor ventilation make shower grout the first to fail. In many Valley bathrooms built before the 2000s, the shower is tiled on the floor with a tiled hob or step, and grout and silicone failure is a common source of leaks. If the floor or walls around the shower are damp, swelling or have loose tiles, the waterproofing behind the tiles may have failed, and regrouting alone will not fix it. Signs of water damage outside the shower should be checked by a plumber or waterproofer.

Asbestos caution

Some older homes in Morwell, Moe, Newborough, Churchill and Yallourn North have tiles fixed to fibre cement sheeting that may contain asbestos, especially if the bathroom has not been renovated since the 1980s. Removing tiles can damage the sheeting behind. We take care not to break suspect sheeting, and where removal is needed, we recommend testing first.

Kitchen and laundry

Kitchen splashback grout stains with oil and food, and laundry grout grows mould. We regrout and seal splashbacks, replace damaged tiles and reseal the benchtop joint with silicone.

Outdoor tiles

Outdoor tiles face temperature swings, rain and frost. In the Latrobe Valley’s colder areas, water in cracked grout can freeze and lift tiles. We regrout outdoor tiles with a suitable exterior grout, re-fix loose tiles and recommend sealing.

Rentals

Mouldy grout and cracked tiles appear on many routine inspection reports. Regrouting a shower between tenancies is a good preventive maintenance step that protects the property from water damage. We work with landlords and property managers and provide photos.

Areas we cover

Regrouting and tile repairs across Traralgon, Morwell, Moe, Newborough, Churchill, Yallourn North, Glengarry, Tyers, Traralgon South and Hazelwood North.

Looking after grout

• Ventilate the bathroom during and after showers.
• Wipe shower walls down after use.
• Clean grout with a pH-neutral cleaner; strong acids and bleach can damage grout over time.
• Reseal cement grout every year or two in showers.
• Fix cracked grout early before water gets behind.

Types of grout

• Cement-based sanded grout is used for wider joints, usually 3 mm and up, mostly on floors. The sand adds strength.
• Cement-based unsanded grout suits narrow wall joints and soft tiles that sand could scratch.
• Grout with polymer additives is more flexible and water-resistant than plain cement grout, and is the standard for most bathrooms today.
• Epoxy grout is a two-part resin grout. It’s almost stain-proof and waterproof, and does not need sealing, but it is harder to apply and costs more. It suits showers, kitchen splashbacks and commercial areas.
• Pre-mixed grout comes ready to use in a tub and is convenient for small repairs.

We choose the grout to suit the tile, joint width and location, and explain the options when quoting.

Regrouting vs grout pens and coatings

Grout colour pens and coatings can freshen stained grout that is otherwise in good condition, and they are a reasonable quick fix for a rental or sale. But they do not fix cracked, crumbling or mouldy grout, because the problem is in the grout itself. Regrouting is the proper fix for failing grout.

Floor tiles and movement

Floor tiles on suspended timber floors, common in older Valley homes on stumps, flex with the floor. Over time that cracks grout lines and tiles, especially in hallways and kitchens. Large tiled areas on slabs also need movement joints, which are often missing in older work, causing tiles to crack or tent (lift up in a ridge) in hot weather. We can replace cracked tiles and grout, but if the floor is flexing too much or there are no movement joints, the cracks will come back. We will explain the cause and recommend a tiler or builder where needed.

Tile edge trims and transitions

Chipped tile edges at doorways, steps and benchtop ends are trip hazards and look untidy. We fit aluminium, stainless or PVC edge trims, and replace damaged transition strips between tiles and other floor types.

How long does regrouting take?

A typical shower recess can be regrouted in a day, including removing old grout and resealing. It then needs time to cure before use, usually 24 to 72 hours depending on the grout and sealer. A kitchen splashback is usually a half-day job. We plan the work so your shower is out of action for as little time as possible, and if you have only one bathroom, we’ll talk through the timing with you first.

Getting a quote

Email photos of the tiled area, close-ups of the grout and any cracked tiles, the rough size of the area, and whether you have spare tiles. We will reply with a clear scope and quote.

Tiles in older Valley bathrooms

Bathrooms in post-war and SEC-era homes in Moe, Newborough, Morwell and Yallourn North often have small square wall tiles in pastel colours, sometimes with a contrasting band, and tiled floors with small mosaic tiles. These tiles are usually long discontinued. Many owners like the retro look and want to keep it. Careful regrouting and resealing can keep an original bathroom going for years, and replacement tiles for a small area can sometimes be found from salvage yards or reclaimed tile suppliers. Where matching is impossible, we’ll suggest options that look deliberate rather than patched.

Bathrooms from the 1980s and 1990s in Traralgon and Churchill often have larger white or beige wall tiles with feature borders. These are easier to work with, and similar plain tiles are often available.

Sealing grout and tiles

Cement grout is porous, so sealing it after curing makes it resist stains, water and mould. A penetrating sealer soaks into the grout without changing its look much. Natural stone tiles, such as slate, travertine and marble, also need sealing because they absorb stains. Glazed ceramic and porcelain tiles don’t need sealing, but their grout does. We apply sealer after regrouting and advise how often to reseal.

Frequently asked questions