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CostTile Repair

How much does tile repair cost in Virginia?

No state or federal source publishes a Virginia price for tile repair, so the figure that counts is a written quote. It depends on how many tiles, whether a matching spare exists, the tile type, what is behind it and whether the job is tile, grout or caulk. Work valued at $1,000 or more needs a licensed contractor.

Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.

By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished

Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.

Step by step

Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.

  1. Step 1: Mark what needs work

    Tap the tiles in the area and note which are loose, which are cracked and which grout or caulk lines are failing, so every quote covers the same list.

  2. Step 2: Photograph the damage

    Take close-up and wide photos with a tape measure in frame, so a pro can give a rough range before visiting.

  3. Step 3: Look for spare tile

    Check the garage, basement and attic for leftover tile and grout from the original job; spare tile from the same dye lot is what gives a close match.[1]

  4. Step 4: Ask how the pro charges

    Ask whether the price is per hour, per tile, per room or a flat job rate, and whether there is a minimum charge or trip fee.

  5. Step 5: Get three written bids

    Ask for at least three written bids on the same scope, and be wary of one far below the others.[5]

  6. Step 6: Check the licence at $1,000

    If the work is valued at $1,000 or more, the contractor needs a valid Virginia contractor licence; look it up with DPOR before signing.[5]

  7. Step 7: Read the contract

    For residential work, a licensed contractor must give you a written contract that states the licence number and class and requires changes in writing.[10]

  8. Step 8: Keep the deposit small

    Limit any deposit to 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less, unless the job needs custom-made items.[5]

Two workers kneeling on a grey tiled floor in an empty hall, repairing a section where tiles have been lifted, with buckets and a wheelbarrow nearby
Photo: Smuconlaw, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What moves the price

  • Whether a matching tile exists. Daltile recommends buying approximately 10% more tile than a job needs and storing it as "attic stock", because later tile from a different dye lot and printing process can differ slightly.[1] With no spare, the pro has to source a match, which takes time. For natural stone, Daltile warns that the material from a quarry today may be different from what was available six months ago.[1]
  • What kind of tile and where. Stone, porcelain, large-format and shower tile take more care than a ceramic backsplash tile. Larger tiles also need more preparation: LATICRETE says tiles larger than 8 inches by 8 inches require back-buttering for proper installation.[2]
  • What is behind the tile. A tile that is simply broken is a small job. A tile that is loose because the base moved, was not cleaned or was never fully covered with adhesive is a bigger one, because the cause has to be fixed too.[2]
  • How many visits it takes. With ordinary thin-set, Daltile says you should generally wait about 24 hours before grouting.[3] A fast-setting repair mortar lets you grout in just two hours, with traffic in four,[4] which can turn two visits into one, if the pro uses it.
  • Grout, caulk or tile. A regrouting or recaulking job is a different scope from resetting tiles, and the quote should say which of the three it covers. See what recaulking a tub costs.
  • Access and size. A wall tile behind a toilet, a tub surround and a hallway floor are not the same effort. Say so in your photos.

Where Virginia's $1,000 line falls

Virginia licensing is tied to the size of the contract. DPOR says that if the work you are considering is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia contractor's license is required for the license category in which the contractor is to work.[5] The Code of Virginia defines a Class C contractor as one whose single contract or project is over $1,000 but less than $30,000.[6] Several specialties cover tile. The Board for Contractors defines tile, marble, ceramic and terrazzo contracting as the preparation, fabrication, construction and installation of "artificial marble, burned clay tile, ceramic, terrazzo, encaustic, faience, quarry, semi-vitreous, cementitious board, and other tile", and says the home improvement specialty also provides for this function.[7] Its flooring specialty covers "ceramic, marble, stone, and all other types of tile".[7]

A small repair often falls under that line; a bathroom full of tile does not. Group nearby tile work into one visit and one bid, and you may find the total crosses the threshold, which is a reason to hire a licensed business rather than a reason to avoid one.

Permits

Virginia's building code lists the "installation or replacement of floor finishes in all occupancies" among the ordinary repairs that need no permit application.[8] Tile repair on a wall or in a shower may involve repairs behind the tile; ask your local building department if you are unsure.

What the written quote should say

  • the tiles, grout and caulk included, and which are being reused
  • how the matching tile will be sourced, and who pays if it does not match
  • what happens if the wall or floor behind needs more work
  • the total, the deposit and when the balance is due
  • a written commitment that the work will be free from leaks and other issues; Daltile says to expect that to cover about two years[9]

The Board's rules require licensed contractors to use a legible written contract for residential contracting, with the contractor's name, address, license number and class of license, and a statement that "any modification to the contract that changes the cost, materials, work to be performed, or estimated completion date must be in writing and signed by all parties".[10] DPOR's advice is to get at least three written bids, and to beware of any bid substantially lower than the others.[5] On deposits, it suggests "Limit your deposit to 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less."[5]

Doing it yourself instead

For one or two loose or cracked tiles on a firm, dry surface, the cost is a tube or tub of adhesive and a little time. See how to fix loose wall tiles and how to replace a cracked tile, and use when it is worth hiring a pro to repair tile to decide which job you have.

Stop and call a pro if

  • The wall behind a loose tile is soft, dark or wet. That is a leak, and it needs a licensed pro before any tile is reset.
  • Many tiles sound hollow or crack in a line. The quote should include finding the cause.
  • You do not know what the old adhesive or backing is made of in an older home.

Browse handyman answers or local pros, and when you are ready, describe the tile repair and compare written quotes.

Common questions

Is there a standard price per tile in Virginia?
No source we could find, state or federal, publishes one. Pros charge by the hour, by the tile, by the room or a flat job rate, and many have a minimum. Ask how they charge and get the scope and total in writing.
Why can one broken tile cost nearly as much as several?
Because the fixed part of the job is the same: the visit, the prep, the mixing, and waiting for adhesive and grout to cure. Matching the tile can also take time. Grouping nearby repairs into one visit usually spreads that fixed cost.
Do I need a licensed contractor for a small tile repair?
DPOR says work valued at $1,000 or more needs a valid Virginia contractor's license. Smaller jobs are below that line, but you can still check a business's licence and insurance and ask for references.
Does tile repair need a permit?
Virginia's building code lists the installation or replacement of floor finishes among ordinary repairs that need no permit application. For wall or shower work, or anything involving the structure or plumbing behind the tile, ask your local building department.
How can I lower the cost?
Find spare tile before the visit, photograph the damage, group small jobs into one visit, and get three written bids for the same scope. Doing a simple one-tile or grout job yourself is another option.

Sources

  1. [1] Frequently Asked Questions, Daltile. Checked October 27, 2026.
  2. [2] Tile installation complaints: causes and prevention (TDS 208), LATICRETE. Checked October 27, 2026.
  3. [3] How to Install Floor Tile, Daltile. Checked October 27, 2026.
  4. [4] Tile Repair Professional Thin-Set Mortar, Technical Data Sheet TDS-133, Custom Building Products. Checked October 27, 2026.
  5. [5] What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor, Virginia Board for Contractors, DPOR. Checked October 27, 2026.
  6. [6] Va. Code § 54.1-1100, Definitions (contractors), Code of Virginia, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 27, 2026.
  7. [7] 18VAC50-22-30, Definitions of specialty services (Board for Contractors Regulations), Virginia Administrative Code, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 27, 2026.
  8. [8] 13VAC5-63-80, Section 108 Application for permit (Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code), Virginia Administrative Code, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 27, 2026.
  9. [9] 5 More Things to Do When Hiring a Tile Installer, Daltile. Checked October 27, 2026.
  10. [10] 18VAC50-22-260, Filing of charges; prohibited acts, Virginia Administrative Code, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 27, 2026.

Want a pro to handle it?

Describe the job once. Licensed local businesses send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.