Does my shower grout need replacing?

PL59

Hi All,

Pictures of my shower here https://imgur.com/a/PDtKPXu

The previous owner of the house I am living in now most likely did some DIY grouting. It grey and looks quite shoddy. I am thinking of getting a shower/tile regrout tradie to come and regrout. 

Any thoughts and advice? Still a newbie to home ownership!

Thank you

JacobZ

Hi @PL59,

Just to clarify a little bit, grout is used between the tiles on flat surfaces, and silicone is used between tiles in the corners. This is because silicone is flexible and will allow for slight movement, whereas grout is rigid and will crack if there is movement. 

Having a look at the photos, the grout doesn't look too bad. If anything, the grout could do with a clean, which you can do yourself using some Long Life Grout Cleaner and a Grout Brush.

The silicone, on the other hand, should be replaced. You can see in a few areas that the silicone has gaps that will allow water to get in behind, which can give mould a warm, moist place to grow.

If you wanted to get a tradie in to replace it, then this should be their focus.

Learning to apply silicone and gap fillers is fairly easy and it is a brilliant skill to have as a new homeowner. If you wanted to give it a try yourself, you can cut the silicone out using a utility knife, remembering to wear protective clothing and gloves. You can then follow How To Silicone a Gap for a step-by-step guide on how to replace it.  

Let me know what you think and if you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob