Hollow-sounding or loose tiles
Tap a tile with a coin handle; a dull, hollow sound means it has lost its bond. We lift those tiles, scrape off the old mortar and reset them with full coverage.
Serving St. Charles & nearby Geneva, West Chicago
Kitchen Tile & Grout Repair in St. Charles, IL
Cracked, loose or hollow tiles replaced and failing grout redone in St. Charles kitchens, without tearing out the whole floor or backsplash.
- Technicians covering St. Charles ZIP 60174, 60175
- Diagnosis first, then a written price for the repair
- Honest advice when replacing makes more sense
Tile and grout problems we repair in St. Charles
We repair kitchen floor and backsplash tile across St. Charles: single cracked tiles, hollow-sounding sections, loose pieces and grout that is missing or stained. Before anything is replaced, we look for the reason it failed, so the fix holds.
Tile tented or popped up in the middle of the floor
Tile that lifts into a ridge usually has no room to expand at the edges or along the field. We remove the tented row, add movement joints and reset it.
Chipped tile edges along the dishwasher and cabinets
Edges that were never finished tend to break off. A metal or matching trim strip protects them after the repair.
Grout cracking, crumbling or missing
Sanded grout that is powdery or gone from the joints lets water and crumbs into the floor. We rake it out to a consistent depth and pack in new grout.
A single cracked or chipped floor tile
Chips and cracks from impact are the easiest repair: the old tile comes out in pieces and a matching one goes into the same spot.
Hairline cracks in the grout along a seam
Some grout lines are meant to flex. Turning a repeatedly cracked line into a soft joint is often the lasting fix.
No spare tiles to match
When the original tile is discontinued, we search salvage and stock sources by size, color and finish, and bring samples to compare in your light.
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.
Where we look first
- 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.
- Substrate repairWe clean the bed down to a flat, sound surface and fix anything soft underneath.
- Setting replacement tilesNew tiles are set in fresh thin-set with full coverage and leveled with the surrounding field.
- RegroutingFresh grout packed into the joints, tooled and cleaned off the tile faces.
- Caulking change-of-plane jointsCorners, counter edges and perimeters get flexible sealant instead of rigid grout.
- Sealing and cleanupCement grout is sealed once cured if you want added stain resistance, and the area is cleaned.
Common fixes and parts
Natural stone tileMarble, travertine and slate need stone-safe setting materials and grout that won't stain the edges.
Color-matched caulkFlexible sealant made to match grout colors, used at corners and edges.
Cement-based groutSanded grout for wider joints, unsanded for tight ones; it usually benefits from a penetrating sealer.
Ceramic and porcelain tileWe repair both glazed ceramic and through-body or glazed porcelain.
Crack-isolation and uncoupling membranesA thin layer under the new tile that keeps small slab or subfloor movement from cracking it.
Kitchen Tile & Grout Repair before and after — St. Charles homes
Problem
Fixed
DetailKitchen Tile & Grout Repair in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, St. Charles
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s in St. Charles. What bothered the owners most: chipped tile and crumbling grout. After: matched replacement tiles set flush, fresh even grout and new caulk along the counter. On site this meant regrouting, caulking change-of-plane joints, plus sealing and cleanup.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Geneva
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s near Mill Creek. The reason for the call: chipped tile and crumbling grout. After: matched replacement tiles set flush, fresh even grout and new caulk along the counter. On site this meant careful removal, setting replacement tiles, plus caulking change-of-plane joints.
Kitchen Tile & Grout Repair in Geneva →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Batavia
A 1980s two-story in Batavia, a typical kitchen for Batavia. The main complaint was a few broken tiles they kept stepping around. After: matched replacement tiles set flush, fresh even grout and new caulk along the counter. Work included tile matching, careful removal, plus setting replacement tiles.
Kitchen Tile & Grout Repair in Batavia →
Before
AfterA St. Charles 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
The same tile deep-cleaned, with even, light grout lines color-sealed.
Tile & Grout Cleaning in St. Charles →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in St. Charles
Cabinets in deep olive with unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a white 3x12 tile in a stacked pattern backsplash, gray wood-look porcelain plank flooring and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in St. Charles →How the repair goes
- Send photos or book a visitA few phone photos of the cracked tile and the surrounding area help us plan.
- Diagnose and matchWe find the reason for the failure and line up matching tiles.
- RepairDamaged tiles out, substrate fixed, new tiles set; small repairs are often done in a day, with a return visit to grout.
- Seal and checkGrout is sealed where needed and we walk the area with you.
Kitchen Tile & Grout Repair questions from St. Charles homeowners
What affects the cost of tile repair?
The number of tiles, whether matches are available, substrate repair and how much regrouting is involved. We give a written, itemized estimate after the visit.
Can you match old kitchen tile?
Spare tiles in the basement are the best match. Without them, we bring the closest samples and you decide.
Is it worth regrouting, or should I retile?
Solid tile with bad grout: regrout. Hollow, cracked tile across the room: talk about replacement.
Can you replace just one cracked tile?
We can. If the crack came from movement below, we also tell you whether the cause needs attention first.
How do you regrout kitchen tile?
We remove the old grout to a consistent depth, vacuum the joints, pack in new grout, tool it and clean the haze off the tile.
Do I need a permit for tile and grout repair in St. Charles?
It depends on the scope. St. Charles's rule in short: Permits required for construction, alteration, repair or demolition of any structure; major residential projects including remodels require 5 sets of drawings. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building Division, Community Development, 2 E. Main St..
Do you work in my part of St. Charles?
Yes. Our crews work across St. Charles — ZIP 60174, 60175 — and nearby Geneva, West Chicago, Batavia.
Working in St. Charles
- A lot of St. Charles kitchens date from the 2000s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most St. Charles homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
ZIP 60174ZIP 60175
Kitchen Tile & Grout Repair nearby
Other kitchen services in St. Charles
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.