The Shower Leak Shop — Shower Regrouting
Shower Regrouting in Nowra
Grout that's cracked, crumbling or stained black is letting water past the tile surface. Our shower regrouting strips out the failed grout and replaces it with a clean, sealed finish.
When Grout Stops Doing Its Job
Grout looks solid, but it's the first part of a shower to give way. It wears thin at the floor, cracks along the internal corners and darkens where mould has taken hold below the surface. At The Shower Leak Shop, we handle shower regrouting throughout South Coast NSW, cutting out what's failed and replacing it properly rather than smearing new grout over the old. Once the joints are open we can also see whether the problem stops at the grout or runs deeper, which is where a leak investigation becomes worthwhile. A regrout lifts the look of the whole shower as well, without touching the tiles. Call 0400 133 028 for a look at yours.
Grout Problems Worth Acting On
Grout rarely fails all at once, so the early signs are easy to live with until water starts finding its way through.
- Cracked or crumbling grout lines. Hairline cracks open up with building movement and everyday use, and once they run the depth of the joint, water passes straight behind the tile.
- Black or discoloured grout. Mould growing inside the joint won't come out with cleaning, because the staining sits below the surface rather than on it.
- Missing grout at the floor junction. The line where wall tiles meet the shower base takes the most water and movement, so it's usually the first section to disappear.
- Powdery grout that rubs away. Grout that dusts off under a fingernail has lost its binder and is no longer sealing anything, even where it still looks intact.
Our Regrouting Process
Regrouting properly means removing the old material, not covering it. We cut the existing grout out of the joints back to a clean depth, then clear the dust and debris so the new grout has something to key into. The shower is treated for mould where it's present, since sealing it in only brings the staining back through. New grout goes in across the full joint, gets tooled off and is left to cure before the shower is used again. Where the wall and floor junctions need silicone rather than grout, we finish those separately, because a rigid joint in a spot that moves will only crack again.
Grout Questions We Get Asked
It depends on how heavily the shower is used and how well it drains, though grout in a family bathroom generally shows wear well before the tiles do. Regular sealing helps, but grout is porous and will eventually need replacing.
It is when water is getting through the joints and the waterproofing beneath is still sound. If the membrane has failed, new grout will slow the problem down without solving it, which is why the shower is worth inspecting first.
Surface mould cleans off, but staining that has grown into the joint sits inside the grout rather than on top of it. Once that's happened, cutting the grout out and replacing it is the only way to remove it properly.