What's included
Caulk and grout only work if the old material comes out first. We cut and scrape out the old caulk or grout, clean and dry the joint, treat mildew, then apply new material and tool it smooth.
- Full recaulk of tubs and showers with mildew-resistant silicone
- Sinks, vanity tops and backsplash seams recaulked
- Shower regrouting, with old grout removed and new grout packed in
- Single cracked or loose tiles cut out and replaced with matching tile
- Hollow-sounding tiles checked and reset if the backing is sound
- Advice on keeping new caulk and grout clean
Common South Florida problems
Humidity keeps bathrooms damp, and mildew grows in caulk and grout lines. Once mildew gets under caulk, cleaning the surface will not remove it. The caulk has to come out and the joint has to be treated before new caulk goes in.
Shower caulk fails at the corners and along the tub edge first. When it peels or cracks, water gets behind it and into the wall. A fresh caulk line is a cheap way to protect what is behind the tile.
Hollow tiles are common in older homes. Tap a tile and it sounds empty, which usually means it lost its bond to the floor or wall underneath. One or two can be reset or replaced. If a whole area sounds hollow or tiles are tenting up, that is a bigger flooring job than we take on.
Finding matching tile is often the hardest part. If you have spare tiles from when the house was built, keep them. They make a repair close to invisible.
How a visit works
Send us photos of the tile or caulk line and a wider shot of the room. For tile replacement, tell us if you have matching spares. We will confirm the scope and a starting price.
Our tech removes the old material, cleans and dries the area, and does the repair. A cracked tile is cut out carefully so the tiles around it stay intact, then set, grouted and cleaned.
Silicone caulk and grout need time to cure before getting wet. We will tell you how long to wait before using the shower, usually about a day. Plan for that if it is your only shower.
We clean up the dust and debris before we leave.
What affects the price
The size of the area, how stubborn the old material is and whether matching tile is on hand drive the price.
- Recaulk a tub or shower, with old caulk removed and mildew treated: starting at $159
- Regrout a shower: $12 per square foot, $499 minimum
- Replace a cracked tile with matching tile you supply: starting at $199 for the first tile and $49 for each additional tile in the same area
- Small caulk jobs fit inside the $149 minimum visit, and extra time is $85 per hour
- Materials are billed at cost plus 20%
- Thick old caulk, heavy mildew or epoxy grout take longer to remove
What we don't do
We do not tile full floors, rebuild showers or replace shower pans. If water has damaged the wall behind the tile or the subfloor, the fix is larger than a repair, and we will tell you what we see. Any plumbing behind the wall goes to a plumber.
Tips before we arrive
Skip the shower for a few hours before the visit so the joints have a chance to dry out. Clear shampoo bottles, mats and caddies out of the tub or shower so our tech can reach every corner.
If you have leftover tile or grout from the original job, set it out where we can see it. Boxes in the garage or a closet often have the brand and color printed on them, which makes matching much easier.
Questions we get about tile, caulking and grout
How often should I recaulk my shower?
When it starts peeling, cracking or showing black mildew that does not wipe off. In humid South Florida bathrooms, that can be every year or two. Running the exhaust fan and wiping the corners dry helps it last longer.
Can you caulk over old caulk?
We do not. New caulk does not bond well to old caulk, and mildew underneath keeps growing. We remove it fully, clean, treat and dry the joint, then lay a new line.
How much does it cost to replace one cracked tile?
Replacing a single tile starts at $199 with matching tile supplied, and each additional tile in the same area is $49. If you do not have spare tile, we can help look for a match, but older tile can be hard to find.
Why do my floor tiles sound hollow?
Usually the tile lost its bond with the thinset or the floor underneath. A few hollow tiles can be reset or replaced. If a large area sounds hollow or tiles are lifting, that points to a bigger flooring job.
How long before I can use the shower after you recaulk?
Usually about 24 hours. We will tell you the exact cure time for the product we used before we leave.
Where we do this most
We do tile, caulking and grout across Palm Beach and Broward. These are some of the cities where we get asked for it most.