Cracked or dirty grout? Why we don't regrout, and what to do instead

Published Oct 21, 2026 · 4 min read · By Lucas Barbosa

The short answer

We get a lot of calls for regrouting, and almost every one turns out to be something else. Grout doesn't fail that often. On a tile job that was installed correctly, it's very hard for grout to fail at all. So when grout is cracking or coming out, there's usually a reason underneath it.

That's why we don't offer regrouting. When someone calls about it, we ask for more detail first, because it may really be a replacement situation. And if the grout is just dirty or dark, a good cleaning company is usually the better and cheaper call.

Grout almost never fails by itself

If grout is failing, it's usually due to one of two things:

• A weak subfloor. The floor under the tile is creating a lot of movement.
• An improper installation. The mortar isn't bonding well to the tile, or to the surface under it.

So it's almost never just a grouting issue, and new grout on its own doesn't touch what's underneath. If you also have tiles that are loose or sound hollow when you tap them, that's a tile repair, and it's worth having someone look at what's behind them.

In a shower, grout that's coming out can mean water is getting through. That can go a lot further than the tile. Here is what we usually find under a leaking shower.

Patching a few spots: better than nothing, but it shows

Even when it's only a few small sections missing grout, new grout next to grout that's been there for years is very noticeable. You will see it.

Depending on where it is, it's still better than leaving it. In an area where water is present at some point, filling the gap beats leaving the water going through. Just know that either way, you're going to end up with a mismatched section of grout.

If it's dirty or dark: call a cleaning company first

If the reason you want to regrout is the color, discoloring, dirt or grout that has darkened over time, regrouting usually comes out too expensive to be worth it.

A good cleaning company can often lighten it up considerably and bring it back to life. It won't be 100%. Think of it as a stopgap that buys a little more time on that floor. And sometimes that's good enough.

Why we don't regrout

There are other ways to get what you want that can be cheaper, with less chance of damaging anything else.

It costs more than it's worth. For grout that only looks bad, cleaning gets you most of the way for a lot less.

It can damage good tile. To regrout, the old grout has to be ground and scraped out. That's rough work with metal bits, and tile with a glossier finish is very likely to scratch. If a tile chips or cracks and there's no leftover tile, there's nothing to replace it with.

Replacement tile rarely matches. Even a commonly carried tile won't match after years in place, because traffic and cleaning products have worn and stained it. And tile is made in lots, each with its own shading, streaking and veining, so tile ordered today and tile ordered two weeks from now can differ in color and shade.

What we'll ask when you call

• Is it cracking or coming out, or does it just look bad? Cracking and missing grout usually point to something underneath. Looks alone usually point to a cleaning company.
• Where is it? A floor, a shower wall, a shower floor. Anywhere water sits matters more.
• Are any tiles loose or hollow-sounding? That's a repair, and it changes what we look at.
• Do you have leftover tile from the original job? If you do, keep it. A repair goes best with it.

Thinking about it?

If tiles are cracked or loose, see our tile repair page. If the floor is past saving, that's a tile floor installation, and if it's a shower, it's a shower remodel. Either way, we'll come look at it for free and tell you what we think is going on.