Grout Repair, Regrouting & Sealing
Grout repair for showers, tub surrounds, tile walls and floors: cracked and missing grout replaced, stains lifted, every line sealed. We do it as part of tile refinishing — also called reglazing or resurfacing — because a coating over tile and grout together is the only grout seal we have seen last in a California shower. No re-tiling, one visit.
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From 500+ reviews
Sealed for good
grout locked under the coating
Finished in One Day
showers back in 24–48 hours
2-Year Warranty
on tile walls & showers
Free Estimates
photo quotes, same day
One Day
no demolition
What grout repair and sealing involves
Grout repair and sealing puts the joints between your tiles back in working order. Cracked or missing grout is raked out and re-grouted, crumbling corners are re-caulked, stains are cleaned out — and then, instead of a penetrating sealer you reapply every year, tile and grout together are coated with the same commercial-grade finish we spray on bathtubs. The grout lines become part of one smooth, non-porous surface that wipes clean.
That last step is the difference. Regrouting alone leaves fresh cement grout that will stain and crack again for the same reasons the old grout did; regrouting under a refinished surface locks it in. It is the grout stage of our tile shower refinishing and tile and wall reglazing, and can be quoted on its own when the tile is sound.
Re-tiling
- Demolition to the backer board
- A week or more without the shower
- Showers remodel for $6,000–$12,000+
Repair + refinish Best value
- Existing tile and layout kept
- One visit, one day
- Full showers refinish for $400–$900
Where we repair and seal grout:
Ideal for homeowners, landlords and property managers tired of scrubbing grout that never comes clean.
Why grout cracks, stains and falls out
Cement grout is the weakest part of a tiled wall. Knowing why it fails is how we stop it failing again.
Movement
A tub flexes when it fills, a floor settles, a corner moves every time the house does. Cement grout is rigid, so it cracks at the corners and along the tub line first. Those joints should be caulk, not grout, and we treat them that way.
Water
Cement grout is porous. Water soaks in, minerals and soap build up, mildew grows in the pores. Once the sealer wears off — usually within a year — the grout is a sponge again, and the wet-dry cycle slowly crumbles it.
The wrong cleaners
Acid tile cleaners, bleach and scouring pads eat the cement and the sealer with it. Grout scrubbed bright weekly for a decade is thinner, softer and lower than the tile around it.
Grout repair, regrouting or sealing?
Three words used interchangeably. Here is what each means when we quote it.
Grout repair
Isolated cracks, a few missing sections, crumbling along the tub line. We rake out the failed grout, re-grout, re-caulk the corners and coat over it. Included when we refinish the surround.
Regrouting
When most joints have failed. Joints are raked to depth and fully re-grouted before refinishing. Quoted on inspection, because raking time depends on tile size and how hard the old grout is.
Grout sealing
Not a sealer in a bottle. Sealing happens when the refinishing coat bonds over tile and grout together and turns the joint into a smooth, non-porous line that never needs reapplying.
When grout is not the real problem
We are a refinishing company, not a tile contractor. Some grout problems should not be fixed with a coating, and we will say so.
Structural re-tiling
Loose, hollow or missing tile beyond a few pieces means the substrate has failed. That is a tile setter’s job; coating over it would only hide it for a season.
Waterproofing membranes and pan liners
If water is getting behind the wall or under the pan, the fix is behind the tile, not on it. Refinishing over an active leak hides it for a while, and water intrusion from failed grout or caulk is excluded from our warranty for exactly that reason.
Plumbing, exterior and pool tile
A dripping valve inside the wall is often what wrecked the grout; we can point you to the right trade, but we do not open walls. Our coatings are for interior bathroom and kitchen surfaces, not outdoor or pool tile.
Not sure which you have? Send photos; the quote is free and we will say plainly when refinishing is the wrong tool. Cracked tub too? See bathtub repair and cracked bathtub repair.
Grout color options and aftercare
One color, tile and grout
In a refinished surround the grout lines take the same color as the tile — bright white, almond or a custom shade — so the wall reads as one surface. It is also how a pink or blue surround becomes white; see color change refinishing.
Contrasting grout lines
Refinishing coats tile and grout in one color, so a visible contrasting grout line is not what it produces. If a dark grid against light tile is the look you want, say so at the quote stage and we will tell you honestly whether refinishing fits.
Caring for sealed grout
No water for 24 hours (48 for showers), then a non-abrasive liquid cleaner and a soft sponge. No scouring powders, bleach or acid cleaners — what killed the grout will scratch the finish too. Keep the corners caulked. See our aftercare instructions.
How much does grout repair cost?
Grout repair is included when we refinish the tile: most full showers refinish for $400–$900, grout repair, re-caulking and sealing included. Stand-alone grout work — regrouting without refinishing — is quoted on inspection from your photos.
See our California refinishing cost guide →
There is no flat rate for regrouting because raking time varies by tile size and grout condition. A surround with a few cracked joints sits at the low end; a stall with most joints failed lands higher. Text us a photo for an exact price, usually the same day.
Full tile shower refinish, grout work included · your exact price depends on:
Refinish & regrout vs. re-tiling
Southern & Northern California grout repair
Proudly serving homeowners statewide — from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties to the Bay Area. Searching for “grout repair near me”? If you’re in one of those counties — or in San Francisco, Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo or Santa Clara — we’re already nearby, usually with next-day appointments.
County guides: Los Angeles · Orange · Alameda · Contra Costa · San Mateo · Santa Clara · San Francisco · Riverside · San Bernardino · Marin
Los Angeles County
Los Angeles · Pasadena · Glendale · Burbank · Santa Monica · Torrance
Orange County
Anaheim · Irvine · Santa Ana · Huntington Beach · Newport Beach
Riverside County
Riverside · Corona · Eastvale · Moreno Valley · Temecula
San Bernardino County
Ontario · Rancho Cucamonga · Chino Hills · Fontana · Redlands
Santa Clara County
San Jose · Santa Clara · Sunnyvale · Mountain View · Palo Alto
Alameda County
Oakland · Fremont · Hayward · Berkeley · Pleasanton
San Francisco County
San Francisco & all neighborhoods
Contra Costa County
Concord · Walnut Creek · Richmond · San Ramon · Antioch
San Mateo County
San Mateo · Redwood City · Daly City · South San Francisco · Menlo Park
Marin County
San Rafael · Novato · Mill Valley · Sausalito · Tiburon
Don’t see your city? Contact us — we likely serve your area.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Cracked or missing grout is raked out and re-grouted, corners re-caulked and the surface refinished over the top. The tile stays; nothing is demolished.
If the grout is the only problem and the tile is sound, regrouting fixes it for a while. Refinishing regrouts where needed, then seals tile and grout under one coating, which lasts longer; it is what we recommend for showers.
Not with a bottled sealer. The refinishing coat bonds over tile and grout together, turning each joint into a smooth, non-porous line that never needs resealing.
No. Mildew and stains live in the pores of cement grout. Under the coating there are no pores, so it wipes clean with a non-abrasive cleaner.
In a refinished surround the grout takes the same color as the tile, usually bright white, so the wall reads as one surface. A visible contrasting grout line is not what refinishing produces, and we will say so.
No. If water is getting behind the wall or under the pan, the problem is the waterproofing or plumbing, not the grout. That needs a tile or plumbing contractor; refinishing over it would only hide it.
It is included when we refinish the tile; most full showers refinish for $400–$900. Stand-alone regrouting without refinishing is quoted on inspection from your photos.
As long as the finish: 5–10 years with proper care, backed by our written 2-year warranty on tile walls and showers. Water intrusion from behind the tile is excluded, so keep the corners caulked.
We refinish the tile, not just the grout
Ready to stop scrubbing grout?
Send a few photos and we will quote the repair or refinish, or tell you it needs a tile contractor — free, usually the same day.
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