Porosity and Absorbed Soil
Standard cement grout is porous. Dirt, grease and mop water soak in, and over time light grout turns grey or brown.
Mopping with dirty water or harsh cleaners speeds this up. Sealing slows it down.
Tile & stone
Tile and Grout Restoration in Kitchener, Ontario
Dirty, stained or crumbling grout makes a sound tile floor look ready for the dumpster. Kitchener Prestige Flooring restores tile and grout for homeowners, landlords, restaurants and commercial buildings across Kitchener and Waterloo Region, often for a fraction of replacement cost.
We have more than 16 years in flooring and 1,700+ completed jobs. We will tell you honestly whether your floor is a restoration candidate or whether the problem goes deeper than the grout.
Our crew is licensed, insured and WSIB covered. Restoration work carries a written 1-year labour warranty, and quotes are free and in writing.
- Licensed & insured
- WSIB covered
- 1-year labour warranty
- Free in-home estimates
When Restoration Beats Replacement
If the tiles are sound, well bonded and a style you still like, restoration almost always makes more sense than replacement.
| Option | Typical cost per sq ft | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Deep clean and seal | $1.50 to $3.00 | Half a day to a day |
| Grout colour sealing | $3.00 to $6.00 | One to two days |
| Remove and regrout | $6.00 to $12.00 | One to three days |
| New tile floor, installed | $15.00 to $30.00 | One to two weeks |
We sell the cheaper option when it will do the job. That is how you get a customer for life.
Why Grout Discolours and Fails
Grout is the weakest part of a tile floor. It fails in three common ways.
Efflorescence and Mineral Deposits
White, chalky deposits on grout are usually efflorescence, salts carried to the surface by moisture moving through the floor. Waterloo Region's hard water adds mineral scale on top.
Efflorescence can be cleaned, but if moisture keeps rising, the source needs attention too.
Cracked and Missing Grout
Grout cracks when the floor moves or when it was mixed or packed poorly. Missing grout lets water under the tiles and loosens them.
Cracks along a straight line often mean movement below. See our concrete and tile crack repair page for that diagnosis.
Restoration Services We Offer
These services can be combined into one visit.
Deep Cleaning and Extraction
We scrub tile and grout with professional alkaline cleaners and rotary brushes, then rinse and extract the dirty water with a wet vacuum. It lifts years of soil that mops leave behind.
Grout Removal and Regrouting
Crumbling or badly stained grout is removed with oscillating and carbide tools, leaving the tiles in place. New grout, often a high-performance or epoxy grout, is packed in its place.
Grout Colour Sealing and Recolouring
Colour sealing is the service almost nobody locally offers, and it transforms a floor. After deep cleaning, we apply a colour sealant to every grout line by hand.
It gives the grout a new, even colour and seals it in the same step. Stained, patchy grout becomes uniform again.
Silicone Replacement at Changes of Plane
Where tile meets a tub, a wall or a cabinet, the joint should be flexible silicone, not grout. Grout in those spots cracks as the surfaces move.
We cut out failed grout or mouldy silicone and replace it with 100% silicone in a matching colour.
Sealing Options and How Long Each Lasts
- Penetrating sealer on cement grout: invisible protection, renewed every one to three years.
- Grout colour sealant: new colour and a durable seal, often five years or more in homes.
- Epoxy grout: stain proof and never needs sealing, the permanent option when regrouting.
For stone tiles, the tile itself needs sealing too. Our floor sealing and waterproofing service covers that.
Restoring Tile in Commercial Washrooms and Kitchens
Commercial washrooms and restaurant kitchens are hard on grout. Urine salts, grease, harsh cleaners and constant wet mopping break it down fast.
We work after hours, restore in sections and often regrout high-risk areas with epoxy grout. The result is easier to clean and passes inspection.
What Cannot Be Restored
Restoration has limits, and we say so before you spend money.
- Tiles that are cracked across large areas, or sound hollow when tapped because they have lost their bond.
- Glazes that are worn through to the clay body.
- Showers with water behind the tile or a failed waterproofing layer.
- Tile with a style or colour you no longer like. Grout work will not change that.
For those cases, see tile flooring installation or ceramic and porcelain tile.
Tile and Grout Restoration Pricing
Typical 2026 ranges in Kitchener and Waterloo:
| Service | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Deep clean and penetrating seal | $1.50 to $3.00 per sq ft |
| Grout colour sealing | $3.00 to $6.00 per sq ft |
| Remove and regrout, cement | $6.00 to $10.00 per sq ft |
| Remove and regrout, epoxy | $8.00 to $12.00 per sq ft |
| Silicone replacement | $5.00 to $10.00 per linear foot |
Small rooms carry a minimum charge. All restoration work includes our 1-year labour warranty.
Keep exploring
Related Flooring Services
- Ceramic & Porcelain Tile Installation Ceramic, porcelain and wood-look plank tile chosen for the room and set flat with the right mortar and grout. Learn more
- Tile Flooring Installation Bathroom, kitchen and commercial tile installed over the right membranes with flat, lippage-free results. Learn more
- Concrete & Tile Crack/Chip Repair Slab cracks, salt spalling, chipped tile and failed grout diagnosed for movement, then repaired to last. Learn more
- Floor Sealing & Waterproofing Penetrating and topical sealers for stone, grout and concrete, plus membranes for showers and wet areas. Learn more
Where this service is in highest demand:
FAQ
Tile and Grout Questions
Straight answers to the questions we hear most. Still unsure? Call and ask.
Ask for a Free Quote Can grout colour be changed without replacing it?
Yes. After deep cleaning, a grout colour sealant coats and seals the existing grout in a new, uniform colour. It works best when changing to a similar or darker shade.
Is grout sealing actually worth it?
For cement grout in kitchens, entries and bathrooms, yes. A penetrating sealer slows down staining and makes cleaning easier.
It needs renewing every one to three years. Epoxy grout and colour-sealed grout do not need it.
How long does grout colour sealing last?
A professionally applied colour sealant typically lasts many years in a home, often five or more, with normal cleaning. High-traffic commercial floors wear it sooner.
Can mouldy grout be saved?
Surface mould on grout can usually be cleaned and the grout sealed. If mould keeps returning in a shower, water may be getting behind the tile, and the fix goes beyond grout. We check for that.
Free estimate
Book a Free Tile & Grout Restoration Estimate
Tell us about the floor. We will call to book a time, measure on site, check the subfloor and moisture, and leave you a written quote.
Prefer to talk it through first? Call and speak to a flooring specialist directly.
- Measured on site, with moisture and flatness readings
- Written, itemized quote with no obligation
- Licensed, insured, WSIB covered, 1-year labour warranty
Kitchener Prestige Flooring
137 Glasgow St, Kitchener, ON N2M 5E3
Monday to Saturday: 7:00am to 9:30pm
Sunday: 9:00am to 9:00pm