Tile cracking over a concrete slab
A crack in a concrete floor below will keep breaking tile above it. The repair includes a membrane strip over the crack before the new tiles go down.
Serving Arlington Heights & nearby Mount Prospect, Palatine
Kitchen Tile & Grout Repair in Arlington Heights, IL
Cracked, loose or hollow tiles replaced and failing grout redone in Arlington Heights kitchens, without tearing out the whole floor or backsplash.
- Technicians covering Arlington Heights ZIP 60004, 60005
- Diagnosis first, then a written price for the repair
- Honest advice when replacing makes more sense
Tile and grout problems we repair in Arlington Heights
Most tile damage is local, and so is the repair. Our crew in Arlington Heights removes the cracked or loose tiles without disturbing their neighbors, sources a close match, resets them on fresh thin-set and finishes with new grout and caulk.
A single cracked or chipped floor tile
When only one or two tiles are damaged, we replace just those. The joints around them are cut by hand so the neighboring tiles stay intact.
Cracks running across several tiles
A crack that travels in a line through tile after tile usually follows movement below — a joint in the subfloor, a slab crack or a flexing floor. We find that cause before setting new tile.
Cracked caulk where tile meets the counter
The joint between the counter and the backsplash moves, so it should be flexible caulk, not grout. We cut out the cracked material and run a new bead.
Grout stained beyond cleaning
Regrouting is the answer when stains have soaked all the way in. New grout can be a different color if you want a change.
Chipped tile edges along the dishwasher and cabinets
Exposed tile edges at the dishwasher opening chip when the appliance is pulled out. We replace the chipped pieces and add an edge profile where it helps.
Water getting behind the backsplash
Loose tiles by the sink often mean water has softened the wall behind them. We remove them, repair the substrate if needed and reset the tile.
Hollow-sounding or loose tiles
Tiles that rock underfoot or sound empty were often set on spots of thin-set instead of a full bed. We take them up and set them again properly.
What the repair visit covers
- Inspection and tap testWe tap the floor or backsplash to find every hollow tile, note crack patterns and check the area for flex.
- Finding the causeBefore replacing anything, we work out what made the tile crack or loosen.
- Tile matchingWe source replacements by size, thickness, color and finish and show you the options.
- Careful removalBroken tiles come out in pieces, working from the center so the edges of the good tiles are protected.
- Setting replacement tilesNew tiles are set in fresh thin-set with full coverage and leveled with the surrounding field.
- Caulking change-of-plane jointsWe recaulk every inside corner and the line where tile meets the counter or tub.
- Sealing and cleanupCement grout is sealed once cured if you want added stain resistance, and the area is cleaned.
Common fixes and parts
Cement-based groutThe standard grout for most kitchens, available in many colors and easy to match.
Crack-isolation and uncoupling membranesA thin layer under the new tile that keeps small slab or subfloor movement from cracking it.
Epoxy and urethane groutHighly stain-resistant and needs no sealer, though it takes more skill to install and to remove later.
Color-matched caulkFlexible sealant made to match grout colors, used at corners and edges.
Ceramic and porcelain tileWe repair both glazed ceramic and through-body or glazed porcelain.
Kitchen Tile & Grout Repair before and after — Arlington Heights homes
Problem
Fixed
DetailArlington Heights kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: kitchen tile & grout repair
A 1990s two-story colonial in Arlington Heights, a typical kitchen for Arlington Heights. The main complaint was cracked tiles by the sink and grout falling out of the joints. The result: matched replacement tiles set flush, fresh even grout and new caulk along the counter. The job covered tile matching, setting replacement tiles, plus sealing and cleanup.
Before
AfterKitchen Tile & Grout Repair in a 1980s two-story, Buffalo Grove
The site: a 1980s two-story near Didier Farms. The main complaint was chipped tile and crumbling grout. The result: matched replacement tiles set flush, fresh even grout and new caulk along the counter. On site this meant inspection and tap test, setting replacement tiles, plus sealing and cleanup.
Kitchen Tile & Grout Repair in Buffalo Grove →
Before
AfterArlington Heights kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: tile & grout cleaning
The same tile deep-cleaned, with even, light grout lines color-sealed.
Tile & Grout Cleaning in Arlington Heights →
Before
AfterArlington Heights kitchen, 1950s ranch: kitchen remodeling
What changed: cabinets in dark teal with brushed nickel bar pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a white 2x8 tile in a vertical stack backsplash, hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Arlington Heights →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Painting in a postwar Cape Cod, Arlington Heights
What changed: the same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Arlington Heights →The repair visit
- Send photos or book a visitA few phone photos of the cracked tile and the surrounding area help us plan.
- Diagnose and matchOn site we tap-test the tile, look for the cause and check replacement options.
- RepairWe replace the tiles, then come back to grout and caulk once the thin-set has cured.
- Seal and checkFinal caulk, sealer and a look at the finished repair together.
Kitchen Tile & Grout Repair questions from Arlington Heights homeowners
Do you repair bathroom tile too?
We do. Many homeowners add a bathroom floor or tub-surround regrout to a kitchen repair.
What is the one-third rule for tile?
It is a layout guideline for plank and large rectangular tiles: offset rows by no more than roughly a third to limit lippage.
What affects the cost of tile repair?
Tile sourcing and any subfloor or backer repair drive most of the price. You get a line-item estimate once we have looked at the floor.
How long does tile repair take?
It depends on how many tiles and whether the base needs work. We give you the schedule with the estimate.
Why does my kitchen floor tile keep cracking?
Repeated cracks point to the base: a floor that flexes, a slab crack, too little mortar or no movement joints. Replacing the tile without fixing that won't last.
Can you do tile and grout repair in an Arlington Heights condo?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Do I need a permit for tile and grout repair in Arlington Heights?
It depends on the scope. Arlington Heights's rule in short: Remodel permit applications (shown here via a basement remodel checklist dated 2020) require a building permit application, plans and a contractor proposal; plumbing and electrical permit applications are added if applicable. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building & Life Safety Department.
Do you work in my part of Arlington Heights?
Yes. Our crews work across Arlington Heights — ZIP 60004, 60005 — and nearby Mount Prospect, Palatine, Buffalo Grove.
Working in Arlington Heights
- A lot of Arlington Heights kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- We know how Building & Life Safety Department handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60004ZIP 60005
Kitchen Tile & Grout Repair nearby
Other kitchen services in Arlington Heights
Tile & Grout CleaningDeep-cleaned tile, restored grout color and a sealer that keeps it.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.
Cabinet RefacingNew doors and fronts on your existing cabinet boxes.
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.