Published 26 September 2026 · 9 minute read · London Handyman Pro
Grout replacement in London typically costs between £150 and £600, depending on the size of the area and whether you're regrouting a small splashback or a full bathroom. A single day's work covers most domestic jobs. The bigger decision isn't price, it's whether regrouting will actually fix the problem you're seeing, or whether you're papering over a leak, a movement crack, or tiles that were never sealed properly in the first place.
Table of Contents
- How much does grout replacement cost in London
- How long does grout replacement take
- Do you actually need new grout, or something else
- Which grout type to use where
- What the job actually involves
- What goes wrong
- What to ask before you book someone
- FAQ
How much does grout replacement cost in London
Most London tradespeople price grout replacement either by the day (roughly £150 to £250 for a handyman, more for a specialist tiler) or by the room. A small splashback or single wall behind a sink can be a two to three hour job priced at £100 to £180. A full bathroom, floor and walls, usually runs £350 to £600 once you include removing old grout, cleaning out, regrouting and resealing the edges. Kitchens tend to sit at the lower end unless the tiled area is large.
| Job type | Typical cost (London, 2026) | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Splashback or small wall area | £100 to £180 | Half day |
| Shower enclosure regrout | £150 to £280 | Half day to full day |
| Full bathroom (floor and walls) | £350 to £600 | 1 to 2 days |
| Kitchen splashback and worktop area | £120 to £220 | Half day |
| Regrout plus silicone reseal around bath/shower | Add £40 to £80 | Add 1 to 2 hours |
These are guide figures and they vary with access, the state of the existing grout, and whether tiles need to come off and go back on to fix an underlying problem. Always get a firm quote after someone has actually seen the tiles, not just a photo. A grout line that looks fine in a photo can be crumbling behind the surface.
How long does grout replacement take
Grinding out old grout and applying new cement based grout is usually a same day job for a normal domestic bathroom or kitchen. The grout itself sets enough to walk on within a few hours, but if you're using epoxy grout, which is more common in wet rooms and shower floors because it resists mould better, allow 24 to 48 hours before the area gets wet again. That curing time catches people out when they book a job the day before guests arrive.
Do you actually need new grout, or something else
Not every dark or crumbling grout line means a full regrout. Here's how to tell the difference before you book anything.
- Surface staining only: if the grout is discoloured but firm when you press a fingernail into it, a deep clean or a grout pen might solve it for a fraction of the cost. See our note on pressure washing in London for exterior tiled areas like patios, where jet washing often does more than regrouting ever would.
- Crumbling or missing grout: this is a genuine regrout job. Once grout starts falling out in pieces, water is getting behind the tiles.
- Cracking along the bath or shower tray edge: that gap should have silicone in it, not grout, because it's a movement joint. If someone grouted it originally, it will crack again and again no matter how many times you redo it.
- Grout coming away with visible black mould underneath the tile edge: stop and check for a leak before regrouting. Fresh grout over an active leak just hides the problem for another six months.
- Whole tiles loose or hollow sounding when tapped: that's not a grout job, that's a retiling job, and possibly a plastering issue behind the tiles. Our plastering services page covers what's involved when the substrate itself needs attention.
Which grout type to use where
Cement based grout is cheaper and fine for most kitchen splashbacks and dry areas. Epoxy grout costs more, roughly two to three times the material price, but it's non porous, doesn't stain, and resists mould, which is why it's worth the extra on shower floors and wet room walls. Natural stone tiles, limestone and travertine especially, need a grout sealed to match the stone, otherwise the stone itself will stain from the grouting process. If your tiler doesn't ask what the tiles are made of before recommending a grout, that's a sign to ask more questions.
What the job actually involves
- Removal: old grout is ground out using a multi tool or grout rake, taking care not to chip tile edges. This is the step most likely to be rushed by an inexperienced fitter.
- Cleaning: the grout lines are vacuumed and wiped down so new grout bonds properly. Any mould is treated at this stage, not covered over.
- Regrouting: new grout is applied, worked into the joints, and the excess wiped off before it fully sets, usually within 15 to 20 minutes of application.
- Silicone edges: movement joints around baths, showers and worktops get silicone, not grout. Old silicone should be cut out and replaced, not grouted over.
- Curing: cement grout needs a few hours before light use, epoxy needs longer. The area shouldn't get properly wet for at least 24 hours.
The most expensive mistake: regrouting over an active leak or long term damp problem without finding the source first. New grout looks great for a few weeks, then the same mould and staining come back, except now you've paid twice, once for the regrout, and again when the plywood subfloor or plasterboard behind the tiles has to be dug out because it's rotted or has been sitting wet for months. If tiles feel soft underfoot, or there's a musty smell in the room, get that checked before anyone touches the grout.
What to ask before you book someone
A few direct questions before booking save a lot of frustration:
- Will you remove all the old grout, or grout over what's there? (It should always be fully removed.)
- What type of grout do you recommend for this specific area, and why?
- Are you replacing the silicone at movement joints separately from the grout?
- How long before I can use the shower or bath after you finish?
- Is this priced as a fixed job or day rate, and what happens if you find damage once the old grout is out?
For smaller regrouting jobs alongside other bits and pieces around the house, it's often more cost effective to bundle it into a single visit. Our small jobs and odd job handyman service covers exactly this kind of work, and if the grout issue turns out to be one symptom of a wider maintenance backlog, our property maintenance service in London is set up to deal with several small jobs on one visit rather than booking separate tradespeople for each one.
FAQ
How much does it cost to regrout a bathroom in London?
A full bathroom regrout, covering both floor and wall tiles, typically costs £350 to £600 in London as of 2026, including removal of old grout, cleaning, regrouting and resealing the movement joints with silicone. Smaller jobs like a single shower enclosure cost £150 to £280. Prices vary with tile count, access and whether epoxy grout is used instead of standard cement grout.
How long does grout take to dry before you can shower?
Standard cement based grout sets enough for light use within a few hours, but you should avoid heavy water exposure like a shower for at least 24 hours. Epoxy grout, which is more common in wet rooms, needs 24 to 48 hours to cure fully before the area gets properly wet. Rushing this step is one of the most common reasons regrouted joints fail early.
Can you regrout over old grout?
No, not properly. Old grout needs to be ground out fully before new grout goes in, otherwise the new layer won't bond and will crack or fall out within weeks. Grouting straight over existing grout is a shortcut some inexperienced fitters take, and it's one of the clearest signs of a rushed job.
Is regrouting cheaper than retiling?
Yes, significantly. Regrouting a room typically costs £150 to £600 depending on size, while retiling the same area, including tile removal, substrate repair and new tiles, can run into several thousand pounds. Regrouting only works, though, if the tiles themselves are sound. If tiles are loose, cracked or hollow sounding, regrouting won't fix the underlying problem.
How do I know if I need new grout or just a clean?
Press a fingernail into the grout line. If it's firm but discoloured, a deep clean or a grout pen will usually restore its appearance for a fraction of the cost of regrouting. If the grout is soft, crumbling, or missing in patches, that's a genuine regrout job, because water is likely getting behind the tiles.
What type of grout should I use for a shower floor?
Epoxy grout is generally recommended for shower floors and wet room walls because it's non porous and resists mould far better than standard cement grout. It costs more upfront, typically two to three times the material cost of cement grout, but it lasts longer in constantly wet areas and doesn't need periodic sealing.
Does regrouting fix a leaking shower?
Not usually. If a shower is leaking through the wall or floor into another room, the cause is more often a failed waterproof membrane, a cracked shower tray, or a gap in the silicone at a movement joint, not the grout itself. Regrouting a leaking shower without identifying the actual source often just delays the discovery of a bigger problem behind the tiles.
Do I need a specialist tiler or can a handyman regrout tiles?
For standard regrouting jobs, most experienced handymen can do the work to a good standard, and it's often more cost effective than booking a specialist tiler for a small area. If the job involves replacing whole tiles, repairing the substrate, or waterproofing a shower area, that's closer to specialist tiling or plastering work and worth pricing separately.