Cracked or crumbling grout is one of the most common bathroom complaints I hear. The good news: it usually doesn't mean you need a full retile. Here's how I think about it.
When Regrouting Is Enough
- →Grout lines are cracked or crumbling but the tiles themselves are solid — no hollow sound when tapped
- →There's no sign of water damage behind the wall (no soft drywall, no mold smell)
- →The tile layout and style is still what you want — you just want it to look clean again
When You Need to Retile
- →Tiles are cracked, chipped, or coming loose from the substrate
- →Water has gotten behind the tile and caused substrate damage
- →The grout is failing because the tile installation itself was flawed — improper mortar, wrong tile spacing, no proper waterproofing in a wet area
The Real Test
Tap each tile with your knuckle. A hollow sound means it's debonded from the substrate — and regrouting alone won't fix it. If the tiles sound solid, regrouting is almost certainly the right call, and it's a fraction of the cost of a retile.
Not sure what your bathroom needs? I'll assess it and give you a straight answer.