Tiling & Grout Repairs in Crete

Tiler in Crete: tile replacement, re-grouting and sealing for bathrooms, kitchens and terraces

Tiles are everywhere in Cretan homes: on the floors, in bathrooms and kitchens, on terraces, balconies and around the pool. They are perfect for the hot climate, but they are not maintenance free. Over the years tiles crack or come loose, grout crumbles or turns black, and silicone joints in showers and around baths fail. Then water finds its way behind the tiles, into the wall or the floor below, and that is where the real damage starts: damp patches, loose plaster and sometimes a leak into the neighbour's ceiling.

I replace cracked and hollow tiles, re-grout showers, floors and walls, renew silicone joints and seal natural stone and terracotta. I also lay new tiles in smaller projects, such as a shower, a kitchen splashback, a small bathroom or a balcony. On every job I pay attention to what is underneath: a waterproofing layer in wet areas, the right adhesive for the surface, and enough slope on terraces so rainwater runs off.

I am Gino, a Belgian-certified plumber, electrician and HVAC technician living in Hersonissos. Being a plumber matters a lot for tiling: when tiles sound hollow or grout stays wet, I check whether a pipe is leaking before I tile over it. I work in Heraklion, Malia, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda and the villages in between.

Tiling work I do

Replacing cracked or loose tiles

Damaged or hollow tiles carefully removed and replaced, matched as closely as possible to the existing ones.

Re-grouting

Old, crumbling or black grout raked out and replaced in showers, on floors and on walls.

Silicone joints

Mouldy or leaking silicone around showers, baths, basins and kitchen worktops removed and renewed.

Small tiling projects

Showers, splashbacks and small bathrooms tiled neatly, together with my bathroom installation work.

Terrace and balcony tiles

Outdoor tiles with flexible adhesive, proper slope and joints that cope with sun and rain.

Sealing stone and terracotta

Marble, natural stone and terracotta cleaned and sealed against stains, salt and water.

Don't see your job in this list? Contact me with your question: if it is in or around the house, I can most likely help.

Tile problems, what they mean and what I do

Some tile problems are only cosmetic, others are a warning sign. This is how I approach the most common ones.

What you see	Possible cause	What I do
Black or crumbling grout in the shower	Mould in porous grout, poor ventilation	Rake out, re-grout, seal and advise on ventilation
Hollow sounding tiles	Poor adhesive coverage, or water underneath	Check for a leak, then lift and re-lay the tiles
Cracked tiles across a floor	Movement in the floor or a heavy impact	Replace the tiles and look at the cause of the movement
Damp wall behind a shower	Failed silicone, cracked grout or a leaking pipe	Find the source, repair it and seal the shower properly
Water standing on a terrace	Too little slope or blocked drainage	Clear drainage or re-lay with the right slope
White deposits on terrace tiles	Salts coming out of the screed with the water	Clean, find where the water gets in, then seal

Why water is the real enemy of tiling

Tiles themselves are waterproof, but the grout and the joints between them are not. In a shower that is used every day, or on a terrace that gets winter storms, water slowly works its way through any weak point. These are the problems it causes:

Damp and mould on the wall behind or next to the shower
Tiles that come loose because the adhesive underneath gets wet
Leaks into the ceiling of the room or apartment below
Salt deposits and frost damage on terraces and balconies
Rusting reinforcement in terrace slabs when water gets into the concrete

Repair or retile?

A few cracked tiles or black grout do not mean you need a new bathroom. In many cases a targeted repair is enough.

Repair is enough

A few cracked or loose tiles
Grout is dirty or mouldy but the tiles are firm
Silicone joints have failed
Spare tiles are available

Retiling is better

Many tiles sound hollow or are loose
There is no waterproofing behind the shower
Water damage has reached the wall or floor
You want a new layout anyway

Keep a few spare tiles after any tiling job: it makes later repairs invisible.

Tiling for holiday rentals and owners abroad

In a rental, black grout and peeling silicone in the shower are among the first things guests notice and photograph. Re-grouting and new silicone make a bathroom look clean again, and they stop water getting where it should not. I do this work in rentals in Hersonissos, Malia, Stalis and Elounda before the season or between bookings, so the shower is ready to use again quickly.

If you live abroad, send me photos of the problem on WhatsApp. I give you a free quote and a fixed price before I start, and I send photos when it is done. When I suspect a hidden leak, I check it first with my leak detection service, so you do not pay to retile over a problem.

Often combined with tiling

Bathroom installation

Replacing the tiles is the ideal moment to renew the shower, toilet or basin. As a certified plumber I do the plumbing and the tiling together.

Walk-in showers and trays
Toilets, basins and taps
Waterproofing behind the tiles
One tradesman for the whole job

More about Bathroom Installation & Renovation

Terrace and roof waterproofing

If water comes through the ceiling below a terrace, new tiles alone will not help. I waterproof the terrace or roof first.

Flat roofs and terraces
Membranes and coatings
Cracks and joints sealed
Drains and slopes checked

More about Roof Repairs & Waterproofing

Tiling & Grout Repairs Near You

Available across Heraklion and Lasithi, from Agios Nikolaos to near Rethymno.

Hersonissos Analipsi & Anissaras Malia Stalis Gouves & Gournes Mochos & Avdou Kastelli (Pediada) Heraklion Knossos & Archanes Arkalochori Gazi & Ammoudara Agia Pelagia & Lygaria Fodele Moires Tympaki & Kokkinos Pyrgos Sissi & Milatos Neapoli Agios Nikolaos Lasithi Plateau Elounda & Plaka Kritsa Istron & Kalo Chorio Pachia Ammos & Kavousi Ierapetra Anogia Bali Perama & Mylopotamos Panormo Margarites

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my shower grout turning black?

Mould growing in porous grout, helped by steam and poor ventilation. Cleaning helps for a while, but the lasting fix is to rake out the old grout, re-grout, seal it and improve the ventilation of the bathroom.

My tiles sound hollow. Is that a problem?

Hollow tiles were often laid with too little adhesive and can crack or come loose. Sometimes they point to water underneath. I check for a leak first, then lift and re-lay the tiles.

How much does it cost to re-grout a shower in Crete?

It depends on the size of the shower and the condition of the grout and tiles. Send me photos and I give you a free quote with a fixed price before I start.

How long does re-grouting a shower take?

A normal shower is usually re-grouted and sealed in a day. The grout and silicone then need some time to cure before you use the shower again; I tell you exactly how long.

Can you match my existing tiles?

I try to find the same or a very similar tile. With older tiles that is not always possible, so it is smart to keep a few spare tiles after any tiling job.

Do you also tile terraces and balconies?

Yes, with outdoor tiles, flexible adhesive and enough slope for rainwater. On old terraces I check the waterproofing first, because new tiles will not stop a leak into the room below.

Can I replace a broken tile myself?

You can, if you have a spare tile and the right tools to remove the grout without damaging the tiles next to it. In a shower, take care to seal the joints properly afterwards, otherwise water gets behind the new tile.

Do you do tiling in Hersonissos, Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos?

Yes. I live in Hersonissos and do tiling and grout repairs in Heraklion, Malia, Elounda, Agios Nikolaos and the surrounding villages.

Related Services

Bathroom Installation & RenovationWalk-in showers, toilets, vanities and waterproofing. Leak Detection & RepairFind and fix hidden leaks behind walls and floors. Roof Repairs & WaterproofingFlat roof membranes, tiles and sealing against winter rain. Renovations & Small ProjectsFrom one room to a complete house, coordinated by one person.

Tiling & Grout Repairs