It’s only natural that our shower or bathtub walls and floors become grimy and worn over time, as we bathe every day. Although you can clean dirty grout using effective homemade mixtures, regrouting is often the fastest solution to make it pristine again.
And in this guide, we’ll explore how much shower regrouting costs by type and area size. We’re also going to give a full breakdown of its costs so you can estimate the final price.
How much does it cost to regrout a shower?
As a relatively small project for home improvement, regrouting a regular-sized shower is not very expensive, costing between $565 and $1,750 in total.
Taking a large slice of the price is the type of tiling used and the size of the shower in square footage.
Plus, all the worn and stained grout will need to be removed, which contributes a small percentage to the overall service price.
A Complete Breakdown of Shower Regrouting Costs
Below is a full breakdown of the cost to regrout your shower, including each variable’s brief explanation and rate.
1. Type of Grout
Your chosen grout type adds largely to the shower regrout service bill. There are several kinds of grout that have special and useful properties.
Among them are epoxy, fine-sanded, unsanded, antifungal, and antibacterial grout. These are normally higher in cost than ordinary grout.
Additionally, you can find dry or pre-mixed grout in the market.
Dry grout is just a base ingredient that you can mix with other ingredients like latex or custom color. This costs approximately $10 to $65 per 25-pound bag.
In contrast, pre-mixed grout is already formulated with specific ingredients. These products are priced higher at $12 to $160 per 25-pound bag.
2. Shower Size
The size of your shower indirectly hints at how many square feet of tiles it has.
Bear in mind that the relationship of tile to grout works inversely. The smaller the tiles you have, the more grout lines, therefore the higher the price.
Regrouting shower tiles cost about $10 to $25 per square foot. But if you want a more exact figure, here are the respective sizes and costs of regrouting a 7-feet shower having three sides of tiled walls:
3. Labor
Enlisting the help of a tile and grout pro usually costs around $10 to $25 per hour. But if your shower grout is overly dirty, which will involve more work and time, then you can expect to pay more for the labor.
4. Additional Services
Some grout can be in a worse state. It may be spotted with mold and mildew or has corroded in time.
On the subject of corrosion, grout is a porous material. So if water is left sitting on the grout for too long, it can seep in and damage the material.
This means you may also benefit from the help of a water damage expert before any regrouting work is to begin.
How much does shower regrouting cost by tile type?
Here’s how much you will spend for regrouting different tile types:
- Ceramic tile – $0.50 to $7 per square foot
- Porcelain tile – $3 to $10 per square foot
- Glass tile – $2 to $5 per square foot
- Stone tile – $8 to $47 per square foot
- Marble tile – $5 to $10 per square foot
- Mosaic tile – $5.22 to $6.87 per square foot
- Ceramic Tile – A versatile and popular choice, ceramic tiles are reliably durable and well-suited for many places like bathrooms, kitchens, entrances, and swimming pools.
Apart from that, they come in a wonderful plethora of styles and colors that can complement your bathroom decor and are affordable at $0.50 to $7 per square foot.
What’s more, unsanded grout is the most suitable material to use for these types of tiles.
- Porcelain Tile – Mostly composed of silica and quartz, porcelain tiles boast better durability than clay ceramic tiles. It also comes in a carnival of tones and patterns.
With this, it’s easy to see why they sell at a higher price of $3 to $10 per square foot. That’s if you’re installing them indoors.
Porcelain tiles for outdoor use can cost $35 per square tile at most.
Epoxy grout matches perfectly with porcelain tiles, which will make them look beautiful and extend their life.
- Glass Tile – These amazing glass tiles lend a luxurious look to one’s bathroom or splashbacks. They’re stain and liquid-resistant even when splashed by vinegar or red wine, not to mention that they’re very easy to clean.
Glass tiles are compatible with either sanded or unsanded epoxy grout and basic ones cost approximately $2 to $5 per square foot, but more stylish ones can cost as high as $20 per square foot.
- Stone Tile – These types of tiles are very natural and elegant, mined from the earth.
They fit shower walls and bathroom floors, among other places, although, they’re less common due to their premium rates.
Epoxy or polymer cement grout suits them the most. As for the rates of stone tiles, they cost between $8 and $47 per square foot.
- Marble Tile – The bold, elaborate, and unique marble tiles are commonly used in stately mansions, estates, and hotels. They’re one of the most premium tile materials, costing about $5 to $10 per square foot.
The reason is marble is hard to obtain and produce into luxurious pieces of slab for decorative uses.
It starts out as limestone, which is then subjected to extremely high heat and pressure to make the minerals bigger and merge with one another.
This results in their signature one-of-a-kind beautiful dark-colored foliated bands across each stone.
Furthermore, marble tiles also have great durability like most common natural stones. However, they can be prone to scratches and stains in the long run.
Also, the best grouting for marble tiles is sanded epoxy, which protects the joints from darkening and prevents stains and cracks.
- Mosaic Tile – This is a composite of many tile materials like glass, stone, travertine, and porcelain, among others. This gives your shower and bathroom an eclectic and striking style.
There’s also a multitude of design and color options with this particular tiling.
And like marble tiles, mosaic tiles can be paired with sanded epoxy to look wonderful and last for many years. Mosaic tiles also have a premium rate of $5.22 to $6.87 per square foot.
How much does shower regrouting cost by grout type?
Here’s how much you will spend on various grout types:
- Unsanded Grout – $5 to $6 per square foot
- Sanded Grout – $6 to $8 per square foot
- Cement Grout – $5 to $7 per square foot
- Polymer Cement Grout – $6.50 and $10 per square foot
- Epoxy Grout – $8 to $12 per square foot
1. Unsanded Grout
As the name suggests, unsanded grout doesn’t use sand. It’s widely used because it’s affordable at just $5 to $6 per square foot and doesn’t scratch or damage the tiles.
It fits joints that measure up to 1/8 of an inch. That said, applying it to a larger joint of tiles will cause it to move off, crack, or even shrink.
It’s a good grout material to use in showers, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry, and other areas of the house.
For an 80-square-foot shower, you can expect to pay between $400 and $480 to regrout its tiles using unsanded grout.
2. Sanded Grout
Sanded grout contains fine sand among its ingredients which work to strengthen the grout joints on tile surfaces.
As such, it has many applications including in showers, bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, and entryways.
But to be able to use this great grout type, the middle part of your floor or wall tiles must measure 1/8 to 1/16 of an inch.
This grout variety costs a bit higher at $6 to $8 per square foot. Regrouting an 80-square-foot shower will cost around $480 to $640.
3. Cement Grout
Cement grout is a traditional form of grout made up of sand, water, and cement. Among its advantages are being easily available, affordable, and very simple to apply on floors and walls.
Furthermore, you can find cement grout in an extensive variety of tones like cream white, rose beige, ocean blue, winter gray, and a whole lot more.
Speaking of the price, regrouting tiles with this material often costs $5 to $7 per square foot. The estimated total price for replacing the grout of an 80-square-foot shower is $400 to $600.
4. Polymer Cement Grout
This grout type is the same as cement grout but has the addition of latex polymer. This particular substance increases its strength and water resistance when applied.
This makes it suitable for high-traffic areas at homes and workplaces. It can also be applied on splashback and kitchen counter tiling too.
While it’s incredibly hardy and prevents moisture from seeping into it, it can be harder to spread compared to the other types we’ve listed.
Another downside is that the product may have harmful volatile organic compounds that give the grouting a strong odor. But luckily, there’s VOC-free polymer cement grout out there.
It’s relatively higher-priced, costing between $6.50 and $10 per square foot. This translates to $560 to $880 when it comes to regrouting an 80-square-foot shower.
5. Epoxy Grout
Epoxy grout is an all-around great material given its solid durability. Not only is it highly resistant to cracking, shrinking, and discoloration, but it can fight off the effects of harsh chemicals on it like bleach or other cleaning products.
It’s the perfect grouting for wet places like showers as well as high-traffic zones like pantries and hallways. Having said that, it comes at an expensive price of $8 to $12 per square foot.
What’s more, for an 80-square-foot shower, the cost will likely be somewhere around $720 to $960.
How much does shower regrouting cost by area size?
Shower regrouting service costs between $10 and $25 per square foot.
Take note, however, that this cost includes the removal of dirty or stained grout. Otherwise, you can be quoted as low as $1.70 to $5 per square foot for partial shower tile regrouting.
And assuming that your shower is about 6 to 7 feet high, you can expect to spend from $565 to $1,750 to regrout it.
Can I regrout the shower tiles myself?
You can regrout the shower tiles yourself so they’ll look new and well-cared for. For this job, you only need the right grouting, tools, and willingness to work hard to get it done.
In fact, you can save up big on expenses by doing DIY regrouting.
Here are three simple steps to regrout your shower tiles:
- Scrape out the old grout between the tiles using a grout removal tool.
- Prepare your grout float (a flat-headed steam iron-like tool) and sponge for grout installation.
- Mix and apply the new grout on the joints. The ratio of grout to water should be 1:3 to prevent the grout from drying out too quickly.
- Clean up the mess and polish the tiles.
How long does it take to regrout a shower?
Most standard showers take roughly a day or two to regrout completely. But if your grout is excessively dirty, more time will likely be needed in order to scrape and replace it.
That said, calling a grouting expert to assist you, of course, will result in faster, more thorough, and more efficient work.
How often should I regrout my shower?
Shower grout has to be replaced or resealed at least once every year. This will get rid of dirt, stains, and moisture and keep the grout fresh and appealing.
But here’s a nifty trick you can do to help maintain the grout: Clean it once or twice a week using a thick paste solution made from water and baking soda. Rub it onto the grout with an old toothbrush and rinse it thoroughly with water.
How to Save Money When Regrouting Shower Tiles
Here are some ways you can save money when regrouting your shower tiles:
- Use a compatible but affordable grouting – Get dry grout instead of a pre-mixed one, and simply mix it with the right amount of water to help it seal and adhere well to the tile joint.
Also, you don’t have to get premium grouting. As long as it is suitable for your type of tile and makes the tile durable and water and stain-resistant, an ordinary one will do.
- Apply new grout over the old one – You can carry out this task with just a grout removal tool. Pierce and dig up the old grout at a depth of 2 mm for the new grout to be added.
- Call a handyman instead of a grouting pro – Since regrouting is fairly easy and safe work, unlike electricals or plumbing, you can just get a handyman to regrout the tiles for you.
They should charge you a lower rate when the work is complete.
- Do it yourself – You can just do the work yourself too. This will save you as much as $500 or higher.
