You Won't Believe the Dramatic Transformation of This Shower in Matthews, NC, after Our Professional Tile Cleaning Service

January 13, 2018

Humidity is the number one ally of mold and mildew growth. If you live in a place with high levels of humidity, you probably know that cleaning your home is often not enough to stop these silent and unwanted guests. Mold, as this homeowner knew all too well, is one of the main signs of deterioration in a home, especially in extremely damp places like showers. Of course, the mold problem that he was experiencing had a solution. All he needed to do was search for the best tile cleaning in Matthews, NC.


Lovely House, Unsightly Shower
This homeowner had been looking for a nice, convenient, and comfortable home within his budget. His real estate agent had shown him some properties, but he had not decided on one until he saw this house. He immediately fell in love with its interior layout, space, lighting, and the tile surfaces in the kitchen and showers. However, one of the showers was severely damaged. It had an unsightly appearance! The tiles were mostly covered in mold. So were the grout lines, or what was left of them. In fact, the grout lines had suffered the worst: they were deeply stained, and the grout was crumbling.

A Wise Recommendation
The man was turn off by the damage. His first reaction was to not bid on the house. He did not want to buy a house that was within his budget only to spend the money he had saved on repairs and remodels. He thought that the only possible solution was to remove the entire surface, eliminate the mold and mildew, and install brand new tiles. The real estate agent, who had guessed what the man was thinking, advised him to hire a professional tile cleaning service. He assured him that he had seen worse situations before. He said that it was not worth missing out on such a great offer without trying to solve the problem. The agent recommended Sir Grout Charlotte, as he had hired us to rejuvenate hard surfaces in several homes that he had sold. The man was a little skeptical, but he decided to visit our website.

Testing the Waters
The man was impressed by the positive reviews left by our customers and decided to give us a chance. He scheduled a free, in-home consultation. During the consultation, our technicians evaluated the level of deterioration, determined the causes of damage, and devised a plan to restore the surface.

A few days later, our team of specialists arrived at our owner's house and assessed the bathroom. The most evident sign of deterioration was the mold covering the grout lines and the floor and wall tiles. However, our crew's experience allowed them to see other signs of damage that were not so apparent. They noticed the soap scum that had formed a brownish layer of dirt. They also identified the crumbling grout on the grout lines and the caulk surrounding the shower.


A Restoration Plan
Even though it was quite a mess, our team assured the man that it was possible to restore the surface. Our technicians told him that they would need to deeply clean the surface, remove the crumbling grout and caulk, fill the grout lines with new grout, and place new caulk in the shower enclosure. The homeowner trusted our professionalism and experience, so he decided to bid on the house. He was happy that there was a solution that did not involve any remodels.

Tile Surfaces
Tiles are one of the most popular materials for hard surfaces because they are durable and don't require a lot of maintenance. However, tile surfaces also have a major weakness that homeowners need to pay attention to from day one. While every tile surface needs grout to fill in the spaces between the tiles, grout is a highly porous material that allows liquids to permeate its surface. These liquids can carry dirt and other contaminants into your grout lines, alter their appearance, and cause grime buildup, staining, discoloration, and even crumbling grout. Besides that, water that has leaked into your grout lines can also cause water damage, mold, and mildew.

Moldy Showers
Mold is a fungus that grows in places that are frequently exposed to moisture. Showers with unsealed sanded grout lines are perfect places for mold to grow. Most people put a lot of effort into cleaning mold and mildew from their showers' tile surfaces. However, you also need to eliminate them and prevent them from growing back. The best way to prevent mold is to seal the pores on the grout lines as soon as the grout is installed.

Tile Cleaning Procedure
Right after the man bought the house, he contacted Sir Grout Charlotte to get the shower restored as soon as possible. On the day of the appointment, our team of techs returned to the house and immediately got to work on the shower.

First, we removed the superficial layers of dirt and mold with a high-speed scrubber and a combination of cleaning products. Next, we used a vapor steam cleaner to cleanse the most stubborn areas and stop the formation of mold.

Preventing Water Damage
Even though step number one had removed dirt, soap scum, mold, and mildew, the grout lines still looked aged and discolored. The worst part was that the grout lines and the caulk in the shower enclosure were severely damaged—even to the point of disintegration.

Our specialists chose to remove all the existing grout and caulk and put in new ones. Since showers are exposed to a lot of moisture, it was necessary to apply an extra-tough, one-part epoxy grout. This type of grout does not need to be sealed afterwards, as it is not porous and seals the space between the tiles right from the get-go.

They also used Epoxy Caulk to seal the shower joints. Sealing the expansion joints of any hard surface is crucial for guaranteeing the lifespan of the materials and the surface itself, especially in places that are constantly exposed to water. Sealing these spots on time can stave off serious water damage and costly repairs.

The Results: A Happy Client
Once our experts finished, they showed the homeowner the results. The dramatic change in his shower astonished him. He thanked our team for their outstanding work and said that the shower looked as good as new. The homeowner told us that we had exceeded his expectations and that he was glad that he had hired us.

Maintenance Tips
Before leaving, our specialists gave the homeowner some maintenance tips to make the results last longer. They told him that he should regularly clean the surface with a pH-neutral, soapless cleaner. They also advised him to stay away from scrubbers and harsh cleaners.

If you think your shower or any other room in your house needs a tile cleaning, give us a call at (704) 270-2348 or fill out the "Request a Quote" form on this page to schedule a free, in-home consultation today. We can restore any hard surface in your residential or commercial property at a fair price.

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