How to replace tile and regrout in shower?

VeeJay

So I figured I could manage a regrout job on a shower that someone’s done a shoddy refurb on - all bottom tiles protrude. Tile fell off on the right side and I can’t spot waterproofing like I’ve see on other peoples DIY jobs. Looks like normal panel to me with mould. I suspect water damage and mould where the pipes are as there is water damage to the skirting by the bathroom door. My question is because this is my first attempt ever to regrout - Should I let a professional take over? Thanks in advance for any gold nuggets of wisdom.

JacobZ

Hi @VeeJay,

To be honest, from what you’ve described and what I can see, this sounds like it’s gone beyond a simple regrout job.

Loose and protruding tiles, visible mould behind them, and signs of water damage outside the shower are all red flags that there may be a failure in the waterproofing and the fact there is no visible membrane makes this even more likely. Regrouting only deals with the surface, it won’t fix any issues behind the tiles, and in this case, it could just mask a bigger problem for a short time.

If there’s no proper waterproofing, which looks likely, the only real fix is to strip the affected area back, address any damaged substrate or framing, and redo the waterproofing and tiling correctly. That’s not a small job, and it’s one where getting it wrong can lead to ongoing damage.

Given it’s your first time and there are already signs of deeper issues, it would be a good idea to have a professional, such as a leak detection specialist, come and assess it before going further. At the very least, you’ll know exactly what you’re dealing with and whether it’s something you want to tackle or hand over.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob