Missing pool grout, and finding out why.

Missing grout is a symptom

Grout wears with age, water chemistry, cleaning and heavy use. It also fails when the tiles around it move, when the bed underneath is hollow, or when a joint that should be flexible has been packed with rigid grout.

If it is simply worn grout on well-bonded tiles, a regrout can be a good fix. If tiles are loose or something is moving, new grout on its own will crack out again, so we check first.

We also ask about the cleaning routine. Harsh products or the wrong machine pads can wear grout faster than it should.

• Tap test the area around failed joints
• Check edges, steps and movement joints
• Go through cleaning and water history with the operator
• Agree whether to regrout, repair or both

Epoxy or cement grout

Epoxy grout is often chosen for pools because it is low in porosity and resists chemicals and staining. It is not automatically the better choice. It has a short working time, has to be washed off thoroughly before it sets, and needs experience to install well. It also does nothing for tiles that have lost their bond, a moving background or failed waterproofing.

We go through the trade-offs for your pool. No grout comes with a guaranteed life, so the effort goes into raking out to a proper depth, using compatible products and allowing a full cure.

Not every joint should be grouted

Pools need movement and perimeter joints, typically where walls meet floors, around fixed features and at intervals across larger areas, as set out in the design. These joints have to stay flexible.

On older pools it is common to find them filled with rigid grout during a past regrout, which can lead to cracking and tiles coming loose nearby. When we regrout, we find these joints and seal them with a suitable flexible sealant. Getting this right matters as much as the choice of grout.

Pools around Northwich

We take on public leisure and school pools in Northwich, private pools in the villages around it, such as Hartford, Davenham, Cuddington and Barnton, and health club and hotel pools in the surrounding countryside.

Northwich is a short drive from our Warrington base, with Winsford and Knutsford close by. We also travel well beyond Cheshire for pool work, wherever the pool is.