grout sealing Archives - West Cheshire Tile Doctor

Ceramic Shower Cubicle Tile Grout Renovation Lower Whitley

Deep Cleaning Shower Ceramic Cubicle Tile and Grout in Lower Whitley

We were recently contacted about cleaning a Ceramic Tiled shower cubicle by a landlord in Lower Whitley which is set in the rural countryside of Cheshire. The area was once part of Lord Daresbury Estate, the Greenall Whitley brewery and only a short drive from my base in Warrington.

The client had been renting out their cottage and following the end of a long lease they discovered the shower cubicle had never been cleaned properly and was now full of mould. The grout lines in particular had attracted a lot of staining and in some places were orange with the dye that occurs in soap and shampoo. It would be difficult to attract a new tenant with the bathroom in this condition, and so I was asked to clean the shower tiles and the grout and make it presentable again.

Ceramic Shower Cubicle Tile Grout Before Cleaning Lower Whitley

Deep Cleaning a Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle

I started by spraying the grout lines with Tile Doctor Duo Clean which is a double action grout and mould remover and was designed for situations like this. After leaving it to dwell for ten to twenty minutes the grout lines were scrubbed with hot water and a stiff brush then rinsed off with more water.

There was still some staining left so I coated the wall tiles and grout with Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel and again left it to soak in, being a gel, it stays put for longer so it can get to work breaking down the dirt.

As this was soaking in, I removed all the old silicone around the cubicle, between the tiles and shower glass and shower tray. Once this was done, I gave the stubborn areas a further scrub and rinsed the soiling off with more water. When working on these type of jobs, rinsing is much easier in the shower. In other situations, where immediate drainage is not an option, we use a wet vacuum to extract the soil away.

I forced dried the tiles and grout and then set about replacing the silicone sealant I had stripped out earlier.

Sealing a Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle

The last step was to seal the grout by spraying on Tile Doctor Aerosol Tile and Grout Sealer which is very quick to do and ensures water simply runs straight off the tile and grout and doesn’t collect on the surface. The tiles themselves are ceramic so are sealed in production so there is no need to apply any products to them however the grout has a rough surface which can attract dirt and mould so it’s always best to protect it.

Ceramic Shower Cubicle Tile Grout After Cleaning Lower Whitley

The work took about 4 hours and once done the shower was transformed and looked amazing. I was confident they would not have a problem attracting a new tenant now.

My client was delighted with the work we had done and were rather relieved that more work and tile replacement was not needed.

I also suggested that they should invest in some Tile Doctor Aqua Pro Cleaner and recommend it to the incoming tenant, this is a pH neutral product which is designed with everyday use in mind. It will remove the scum build up and any hard water deposits, ensuring the shower does not get back into poor condition.

Professional Restoration of a Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle in Cheshire

Deep Cleaning Shower Ceramic Cubicle Tile and Grout in Lower Whitley Read More »

Ceramic Kitchen Tiles Refresh and Grout Recolouring in Warrington

It can be amazing and equally frustrating just how quickly grout can become dirty and discoloured. I was recently contacted by a couple in Warrington to see if I could help them with their Ceramic tiled kitchen floor that had only been laid six months earlier. To their dismay, in that short time the grout had become discoloured and difficult to clean. They had given up trying to resolve the situation by themselves and so turned to Tile Doctor for some professional assistance.

Naturally I was happy to assist and so arranged to visit the property to conduct a small cleaning test where I demonstrated how with a combination of the right tools and products I could indeed get the grout lines clean again. Seeing the results of the test, the couple were more than happy to book me to complete the job.

Kitchen tiles before cleaning and grout recolour in Warrington

Grout Cleaning for Dirty Ceramic Tiles

On my return to the property, I repeated the same successful test clean across the entirety of the floor. This involved the application firstly of Tile Doctor Remove and Go, which is a strong cleaner, stripper and degreaser. I scrubbed the product thoroughly into all the grout lines, making sure I did not miss any dirt and stains.

I then started to clean the Ceramic floor tiles using our high alkaline cleaner, Tile Doctor Pro Clean. This was scrubbed into the floor in a similar fashion to the Remove and Go and then rinsed off with plain water extracting the waste water with a Wet Vat. The floor was left to dry over lunchtime.

Recolouring Grout for Ceramic Tiles

In the afternoon, I explained that whilst I could get the grout clean it was only a matter of time before it became dirty again. So, to provide a permanent solution I recommended to the customer that we apply an epoxy Grout Colourant, which adds a protective barrier over the grout. An alternative would have been to apply a Grout Sealer however this is best applied to new grout and in this case would not have guaranteed the uniform appearance required.

Before applying the Grout Colourant, I made sure the grout lines were dry by giving them a quick blast with a heat gun. I then started to colour the grout lines with our White Grout Colourant, which is part of a range made by Tile Doctor and is available in ten popular colours, including Black, Charcoal Grey and even Cappuccino Brown.

The difference made to the floor was quite remarkable. Not only is the grout now a uniform brilliant white, but it should remain so for a long time to come. You can see this yourself in the photograph below!

Kitchen tiles after cleaning and grout recolour in Warrington

Restoring the Appearance of Grout on a Ceramic Tiled Kitchen Floor in Cheshire

Testimonials

We were really pleased with the brilliant job that Alastair and his son did for us in restoring our kitchen floor. Thank you very much!!
Julie K, Chester

It was harder than usual setting up for the job to be done because of delays because of Covid. However, Alastair always replied to my emails and came when he said he would and on time. he and his son did a brilliant job on our shabby porch tiles and left them pristine. We may need renovation of inside tiles and would certainly like them to do the job.
Judith B, Chester

Alistair and his son Andrew were very professional and carried out the required work, taking longer than expected, to a very high standard and we are very grateful to them! Our hallway floor looks lovely
Sarah W, Christleton

My quarry tiles had been ruined by a thoughtless plasterer who hadn’t covered them up. I’d spent many hours fruitlessly trying to clean them in three rooms. Alastair and his son did a fantastic job of restoring them to their former glory in just a couple of days. Highly recommended.
Teresa F, Northwich

I am delighted with the cleaning and with the finish of the hallway. It looks like new and no sign of any damage that was previously there. It really sets off the hallway and is now back ‘in keeping’ with the age of the house. A wonderful feature to have restored back to its former glory! I can’t wait to have the front path sealed when the dryer weather returns as this too looks great. Thanks for your expertise and hard work Alistair and team.
Elizabeth A, Wirral

Latest Review Latest Rating 1 2 3 4 5 Thorough, excellent result carried out in a clean and professional manner. Highly recommended.
Wilby , Parkgate Neston

Professional, friendly and efficient service provided by Alistar and his son. Communicated really well and the new bathroom I’ve had gutted finally looks clean and no longer has water marks or grout haze. Highly recommend
Samantha F, Prescot

From the get go dealing with Alistair has been very professional and he was even patient in waiting for some other works to be completed before he came to carry out his works. The quoting stage was great, the comms to arrange the works was spot on and the work itself was great my wife was so happy with the end result. I have a minor fix for you for future projects…. i arrived home to see a dust and debris on my pathway and front step with the old stone and rubbish to the side of the step. For me first impressions count for a lot so another ten minutes tidying would make for a more positive first impression. Thank you for a top job.
Mathrew S, Wallasey