Services
Regrouting & tile repairs in Exeter
Tired grout, cracked tiles and failed seals put right. If the tiles themselves are sound, a proper regrout and reseal is often all an old bathroom needs.
5.0 on Google6+ years · 350+ jobs£2m public liabilityExeter & all of Devon
What's included
Regrouting & repairs.
- Regrouting bathrooms, showers and kitchens
- Replacing cracked or loose tiles
- Resealing baths, showers and worktops
- Mould-stained grout and silicone replaced
- Small tiling jobs and repairs
- Advice on whether to repair or retile
How Mark does it
The bit you don't see.
Find out what's really wrong
The tiles are checked for any that are loose, hollow or cracked, and for signs of water behind them. If the problem is more than grout, you'll be told before anything is spent on the surface.
Rake out to depth
Old grout is raked out to a proper depth, not skimmed over, so the new grout has something to grip.
Regrout
The joints are cleaned out, and new grout is packed in firmly and finished neatly.
Strip and reseal
Old silicone is fully removed and the surface cleaned before new sealant goes on, so the repair lasts rather than lifting in a few months.
Replace cracked tiles
A cracked tile is cut out carefully so the tiles around it aren't disturbed, and a spare or a close match goes in its place.
Based in Exeter, Mark covers all of Devon. See more recent projects, or read what customers say.
What people worry about
The usual worries,
answered by customers.
Will a regrout just look patched?
★★★★★“Mark sorted out the grouting in our bathroom. He made a nice job of it, was able to start quickly and seemed a nice chap. We would be happy to recommend him!”
What if someone else's work needs putting right?
★★★★★“Came to fix another firm's work and ended up redoing the whole floor ahead of schedule. Straight-talking, fair price, flawless finish.”
Will the price be fair?
★★★★★“Mark has done lots of work for me over the past couple of years, never had a problem. Competitive pricing, highly recommended.”
Real reviews from Mark's customers, labelled with where each one came from.
What affects the price
Priced on what the job needs.
Every job is priced on what it actually needs. These are the things that move the number.
How much needs regrouting
One shower enclosure is a short job; a fully tiled bathroom or a kitchen floor is a longer one.
How the old grout comes out
Ordinary cement grout rakes out steadily. Very narrow joints, very hard grout or old epoxy (resin) grout take much longer to remove without chipping the tile edges.
Silicone
Every bath, tray, basin and worktop edge has old silicone to strip completely and clean back before resealing. Mould-stained silicone can't be cleaned, only replaced.
Water behind the tiles
If tiles have gone hollow or water has got in behind, some may need lifting and the wall drying or repairing before anything is regrouted.
Matching tiles
Replacing a cracked tile is quickest when you have a spare. If not, finding a close match takes longer, and some old tiles can't be matched at all.
Changing the grout colour
Going from dark grout to light means every joint has to be fully cleaned out, or the old colour shows through.
Prices aren't published here, because no two rooms need the same work. Mark quotes each job on what it involves.
Regrout or retile
How to tell what your tiles need
Press on the tiles and tap them gently with something hard, like the handle of a screwdriver. Firm tiles that sound solid are worth keeping, and regrouting and resealing is usually all they need.
Tiles that move, sound hollow over a wide area, or crack in a line across several tiles point to a problem behind them. So do damp patches on the other side of the wall, stains on the ceiling below, or a musty smell that won't clear.
When that's the case, new grout only hides it for a while. You'll get a straight answer either way, before any money is spent on the surface.
There's more detail in the guide Regrouting or retiling? How to tell.
Mould and silicone
Grout and silicone do different jobs
Grout fills the joints between tiles. Silicone (a flexible sealant) goes where tiles meet the bath, the shower tray or the worktop, and in internal corners, because those joints move slightly and grout there would crack.
Neither one keeps water out of the wall. In a well-built shower that's the job of the tanking (a waterproof membrane) behind the tiles. Cracked grout and failed silicone still matter: they let water sit in the joints and, in an older shower with no tanking, reach the wall itself.
Mould grows into silicone and can't be cleaned out, so stained silicone is stripped and replaced. If it comes back quickly, the room isn't drying out, and an extractor fan that runs long enough makes more difference than any sealant.
Landlords and agents
For landlords and letting agents
Failed grout and mouldy silicone get worse the longer they're left, and they're straightforward to put right between tenancies.
Mark can fit regrouting and repairs into a void period, and invoices each job to you or your agent.
Ask, and Mark will send photos of the finished work, so you don't need to visit the property to check it.
Regrouting & tile repairs questions
Regrouting and tile repair questions, answered
Can't see your question? Call or WhatsApp Mark and ask. He'll give you a straight answer.
Call 07856 584175Is it worth regrouting instead of retiling?
Often, yes. If the tiles are firmly stuck, uncracked and dry behind, fresh grout and new sealant make a tired bathroom look far newer for much less than retiling. If tiles are loose or water has got behind them, regrouting only hides the problem.
Can you regrout over the old grout?
Not properly. A thin layer of new grout over old doesn't bond well and soon cracks out. The old grout has to be raked out to a proper depth first.
Why does my shower grout keep going black?
The black spots are usually mould, and they come back when the room doesn't dry out between showers. Mould on the surface of grout often cleans off; mould in silicone grows into it and can't, so the silicone has to be replaced. Better ventilation, such as an extractor fan that runs long enough or a window open after showers, stops it coming back.
Can you replace a single cracked tile?
Usually, if you have a spare tile or a close match can be found. The damaged tile is cut out carefully so the tiles around it aren't disturbed. If cracks run across several tiles in a line, the wall or floor behind is probably moving, and that needs sorting first.
Can you change the colour of my grout?
Yes, by raking out the old grout and regrouting in the new colour. Grout paints and pens exist, but they tend to wear off on floors and in showers.
How much does regrouting cost?
It depends on the area, how hard the old grout is to get out, how much silicone needs replacing, and whether any tiles need lifting. Prices aren't published, but a close-up of the worst area and a wider photo of the room are usually enough for Mark to price it.
Do you take on small jobs?
Yes. Regrouting, repairs and small rooms are welcome.
Other services
More tiling services.
Wet rooms
More about wet room tiling
Floor tiling
More about floor tiling
Kitchen tiling
More about kitchen tiling
Large-format slabs
More about large-format tiling
Natural stone & marble
More about natural stone tilingCommercial tiling
More about commercial tilingPlanning some tiling?
Send a few photos and rough sizes. Mark will come back to you with a written, itemised quote. Based in Exeter, working all over Devon.