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—Renovation and tiling

Regrouting a pool

If the tiles are sound and only the grout has failed, regrouting can extend a pool’s life. If the tiles are loose, it cannot.

Grout fills the joints between tiles and helps protect the adhesive and waterproofing behind them. Over time, pool water, chemicals and cleaning can wash grout out. Where tiles remain firmly bonded and the waterproofing is intact, raking out the old grout and replacing it is a lasting repair.

Renovation guides cover work on a pool that already exists: its surface, its waterproofing and sometimes its structure.

If tiles sound hollow when tapped, are loose, or water has been reaching the substrate for a long time, regrouting alone will not hold. A survey that taps tiles across the pool decides whether regrouting is enough or whether retiling is needed.

01Summary

What matters most here

  • Sound tiles needed

    Regrouting suits tiles that are firmly bonded.

  • Epoxy grout lasts

    Resists water and chemicals.

  • Check before deciding

    Hollow tiles mean deeper problems.

02Detail

How regrouting is done

  • Draining

    Usually needed for a full regrout.

  • Raking out

    Old grout removed to a consistent depth.

  • Cleaning

    Joints cleaned so the new grout bonds.

  • Regrouting

    New pool-grade grout applied and cleaned off.

  • Curing

    Time allowed before filling.

03Before you start

Before regrouting

  • Tap-test the tiles

    Listen for hollow sounds.

  • Check for water loss

    Which may suggest waterproofing failure.

  • Choose grout colour

    Matching or contrasting.

—In practice

How to use this

Before agreeing to a regrout, have the tiles tapped across the pool to check they are firmly bonded. If they are, the old grout is raked out to a consistent depth, the joints cleaned and refilled with a grout suited to immersion, and the grout allowed to cure before refilling. If many tiles sound hollow, a regrout is the wrong repair.

Mistakes worth avoiding

Regrouting loose tiles
New grout around tiles that have lost their bond does not hold them on. The failed bond is the real problem to solve.
Refilling too soon
Grout that has not fully cured can wash out of the joints early. Follow the manufacturer’s curing time before refilling.

04FAQ

Common questions about this

Can grout be repaired without draining?
Small areas near the waterline sometimes can; full regrouting usually needs draining.
Is epoxy grout better?
It is more resistant to water and chemicals than standard cement grout.
Why does grout wash out?
Water chemistry, age and cleaning wear it away over time.
Will regrouting stop a leak?
Only if the leak is through grout; most leaks are elsewhere.

05Read next

More pool guides on this

Filed under pool renovation & tile replacement. Every pool guide is listed on the pool guides page.

—NEXT

Grout washing out?

Send close-up photos. We will tell you whether regrouting looks enough.

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