When shower tiles come loose, it is rarely the tile at fault. Water has usually reached the board behind them and softened it. The bottom rows above a tub and the wall around the valve go first, because they see the most water.
A proper repair deals with the wall, not just the tile.
What a Sectional Repair Includes
We contain the repair to the damaged zone wherever the surrounding wall is sound.
- Careful removal of the loose tiles and any more that have lost their bond
- Cutting out wet or crumbling backer board back to solid material
- Checking and drying the framing, and replacing damp insulation
- New backer board and a waterproofing membrane tied into the existing wall
- Resetting salvaged tile or installing the closest match
- New grout and silicone, color-matched
Reusing Your Tile
If the tiles come off intact, we clean the backs and reuse them, which avoids any mismatch. Ceramic tile set on softened drywall often releases cleanly. Tile set in a thick mortar bed usually does not survive removal, and we will discuss a matching or contrasting replacement before starting.
When a Repair Is Not the Answer
If damage runs around the whole enclosure, or the shower was built with no waterproofing at all, patching one wall leaves the others to fail next. We will show you what we find and price both a repair and a shower remodel so you can decide. For leaks without visible tile damage, start with leaking shower repair.
Need something else? See all of our tile repair & regrouting services, or learn more about your local tile contractor in Arlington, VA.
