Shower Regrouting and Tile Repair in Fort Collins
Grout that has gone soft or black is not a cleaning problem, it is a water problem waiting to become a drywall problem. Regrouting and recaulking a shower properly is one of the highest-value small jobs in a house.
Caulk and grout are the two cheapest things in a bathroom and the two that decide whether the room stays dry. This page covers both, because they fail together and it makes no sense to do one without the other.
How to tell which one you need
Caulk only. The grout is solid but the corner joints and the joint where tile meets tub have gone black, split or peeled. That is a single visit and it usually lands on the minimum call-out. Corners move, so they get flexible sealant, not grout. Grout in a corner cracks because grout is rigid.
Full regrout. The grout is soft, crumbling, missing in places, or has gone dark across whole areas rather than just at the joints. At that point it is holding water and cleaning it is throwing money away.
What I actually do
Old grout comes out rather than getting a skim of new grout on top. Skimming is the shortcut that looks fine for a month and then fails in sheets, and it is why some showers have been “regrouted” three times.
Every bead of old caulk is stripped, the joint is dried, and it is resealed with the right sealant for a wet area. Then the grout gets sealed so it stays cleanable rather than porous.
The thing to check first
If your grout failed unusually fast, something else is wrong. A leaking valve behind the wall, a pan that moves, or a shower that was never waterproofed properly will destroy new grout as quickly as it destroyed the old. Valves and anything behind the tile are a plumber’s work, not mine. I would rather point you at that first than regrout a shower twice.
What is included
- Removing failed grout rather than skimming new grout over old.
- Replacing cracked or drummy tiles where replacements are available.
- Regrouting and colour matching as closely as the available range allows.
- Stripping every bead of old caulk and replacing it with the right sealant for a wet area.
- Sealing the grout so it stays cleanable.
- Cleaning down and removing the debris.
What it costs
| Job | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Recaulk a shower or tub surround | $125 | Minimum call-out. Often same visit as other jobs |
| Regrout a standard shower | $340 to $520 | Usually a half to a full day |
| Replace cracked tiles, per tile | $45 | If a matching tile is available |
| Regrout a tiled floor | quoted | Depends on area and grout width |
Full rates, block pricing and the minimum call-out are on the pricing page.
Fixture replacement is available for owner-occupied homes only. For rental properties I refer this work to a licensed plumber.
What I do not do here
- Shower or tub valves, mixers and anything behind the wall. That is a plumber.
- Full tile replacement or a new shower build.
- Waterproofing a shower back to the substrate, which is a remodel not a repair.
- Any of the above in a rental property where plumbing is involved.
Who to call instead: a licensed plumber for valves and anything behind the tile, and a tile contractor for a full shower rebuild.
The full list is on what I do not do.
How it works
- Send a photo. Text or email a picture. Most jobs get priced without a site visit.
- Get a flat price. Written and fixed before I start.
- I show up and finish. On the day I said, parts in the truck, swept up after.
Why a solo operator
The same person quotes the job, does the job and cleans up after it. There is no call centre, no dispatcher and no rotating crew who have not seen your house. The price you were given is the price, because the person who quoted it is the person holding the tools.
Related work
Tile, grout & caulk questions
Why is my grout turning black?
Usually mildew in grout that has lost its seal and is now holding water. Cleaning helps for a fortnight and then it comes back, because the problem is porosity rather than dirt. Once grout is that far gone, taking it out and replacing it is the only fix that lasts.
Can you just clean it instead?
Sometimes, and I will tell you if that is the honest answer. If the grout is intact and just stained, cleaning and sealing is far cheaper than regrouting and I would rather sell you that. If it is soft, crumbling or missing, cleaning is money wasted.
Will the new grout match?
Close, not always perfect. Grout ranges are finite and existing grout has aged. On a full regrout it does not matter because everything is new. On a partial repair I will show you the nearest match before committing.
How long before I can use the shower?
Typically 24 hours for grout to cure and for silicone to skin properly. I will give you an exact time on the day. Using it early is how a fresh bead fails.
Do you do the plumbing too?
No. Valves, mixers and anything behind the wall go to a licensed plumber. I do the tile, the grout and the caulk. If a leaking valve is what wrecked your grout, that gets fixed first or the new grout fails too.