Regrout or Retile? How to Tell What Your Shower Actually Needs
By Charles Paul, tile and stone installer · 35+ years on the Central Coast · CA License #671618
Quick answer: Regrout if your tiles are solid (no hollow sounds when tapped), the walls and floor feel firm, and there are no signs of water damage. Retile if tiles sound hollow in several spots, cracks run across multiple tiles, or the walls or floor feel soft. Those are signs water has gotten behind the tile.
If your shower grout is cracked, stained, or crumbling, you might not need a whole new shower. In many cases, regrouting can make tile look new for a fraction of the cost of retiling. But if water has gotten behind the tile, regrouting just hides the problem. Here’s how to tell the difference.
Signs Regrouting Is Probably Enough
Regrouting means removing the old grout from between the tiles and replacing it with fresh grout. It’s a good fit when:
The tiles themselves are solid. Tap them with the handle of a screwdriver. A solid “click” is good. A hollow “thunk” is a warning sign (more on that below).
The grout is stained or discolored, but not falling out in chunks.
There are small cracks in the grout but no cracked tiles.
There’s no soft spot, give, or bounce in the shower floor or walls.
There are no water stains on the ceiling below or the wall on the other side of the shower.
If all of that checks out, regrouting (and sealing the new grout, if it’s a cement-based grout) can buy you many more years.
Signs the Shower Needs to Be Retiled
Retiling is the bigger job: removing the tile, inspecting and repairing what’s behind it, and installing new waterproofing and tile. It’s usually the right call when you see:
Hollow-sounding tiles in several spots. This often means the tile has lost its bond to the wall or floor, sometimes because moisture has gotten in behind it.
Cracked tiles in a line. A crack that runs across several tiles usually means something underneath is moving.
Loose or shifting tiles, especially on the shower floor.
Soft or spongy walls or floor. This can mean the backer board or subfloor is damaged by water.
Grout that keeps cracking shortly after it’s been repaired.
Musty smells that cleaning doesn’t fix, or mold that returns quickly. Water may be trapped behind the tile.
Water damage on the other side of the wall or on the ceiling below.
Why “Just Regrouting” Can Backfire
Grout isn’t waterproof. In a properly built shower, the waterproofing is behind the tile: a membrane, a liquid-applied coating, or a traditional mortar bed with a liner. If that layer has failed, fresh grout will look great for a few months while water keeps soaking into the wall.
That’s why a good tile installer will check for hollow spots, soft areas, and signs of leaks before recommending a regrout. If someone offers to regrout without looking closely, ask what they checked.
What About Caulk?
The corners of a shower (where walls meet each other and where walls meet the floor or tub) should usually be caulked, not grouted, because those joints move slightly. Cracked grout in the corners is very common and often just needs to be cut out and replaced with a matching flexible sealant. It’s a small fix that prevents bigger problems
A Quick Self-Check
Before you call anyone, you can do this in five minutes:
Tap every few tiles on the walls and floor and listen for hollow sounds.
Press firmly on the walls near the faucet and the floor near the drain. Does anything give?
Look at the corners and the joint where the tile meets the tub or shower pan.
Check the wall on the other side of the shower and the ceiling below (if there’s a room underneath) for stains.
Take photos of anything that looks off. Rock Solid Granite can take your text and give you a same day quote at (805) 235-2675.
Those photos are exactly what a tile installer will want to see.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does regrouting a shower last?
Done well and sealed (for cement-based grout), new grout can last many years. It lasts longest when the tiles underneath are solid and the shower is well ventilated.
Can I regrout over old grout?
No. The old grout needs to be removed to a good depth first. New grout spread over old grout tends to crack and flake off.
Is a hollow-sounding tile always a problem?
One or two hollow tiles with no cracks around them may be fine for now. Hollow spots that are spreading, or that come with cracked grout, should be checked.
Get an Honest Answer
Rock Solid Granite does both shower repair and full shower tile installation, so we don’t have a reason to push you toward the bigger job. We serve homeowners throughout San Luis Obispo County, including San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, Atascadero, and Paso Robles. Text or call Charles at (805) 235-1675 with a few photos of your shower, or request an estimate. We’ll tell you whether it’s a regrout or a retile.
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