See How a Grout Cleaning Saved This Ceramic Tile Shower in Houston, TX from Severe Water Damage

June 10, 2020

Cracked grout is a common issue found in showers. This problem can be caused by water seepage, incorrect cleaning and sealing procedures, and harmful cleaning products. If cracked grout is neglected, it can lead to costly repairs. Unfortunately, most homeowners fail to notice changes in the appearance of their shower's grout until it's too late.


Our Houston's grout cleaning experts recently helped a woman restore her beautiful ceramic tile shower. A month before our visit, the homeowner noticed the shower wasn't in good condition. The grout lines were filled with dirt and mold had begun growing across the shower floor. She overlooked the problem at first, thinking it would fade away over time. It never did. In fact, things got worse. This prompted the homeowner to try cleaning the shower the following weekend.

On the weekend, she went to the store and bought several products. When she got home, she immediately began cleaning the shower. After hours of scrubbing the shower's surfaces using the products she bought, she observed the overall appearance of the surfaces didn't change. Through her efforts, she had only managed to remove some of the grime that had lodged into the shower's grout. That's when she noticed many of the grout lines in the shower floor were cracked. Concerned, she went online and searched for advice.

Most of the users from the websites she found suggested having the grout lines repaired by professionals. They explained that damaged grout could result in severe water damage. That's when she decided to search online for a local hard surface restoration company. Shortly after, she found our website. After watching video testimonials from satisfied customers and browsing our before and after gallery, she was convinced we were the right company for the job. She filled out the form on our website to request a free evaluation and a quote.

On the day of the evaluation, our experts arrived at the client's home to assess the shower. The floor was full of dirt, the grout lines were cracking, and the caulk was falling apart. The fixtures were also infested with mold. When our techs asked the client about her cleaning routine, she explained she rarely cleaned the shower, and when she did, she used harsh cleaning products. The products she had been using damaged the tiles, grout lines, and caulk. Most store-bought products will damage grout when it hasn't been properly sealed.

To fix the problem, our techs offered to clean and seal the shower's surfaces. On top of that, they offered to repair the damaged fixtures using our proprietary products. The customer agreed to the proposal and set up an appointment for the job.

On the scheduled day, our specialists returned to the client's house to get the job done. They started the restoration process by soaking the shower's surfaces with a pH-neutral cleaning solution. On top of being safe for tile and grout, our cleaner contains ingredients that can help inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, mold and microorganisms. After letting the cleaner sit for a couple of minutes, our techs rinsed the shower's surfaces using a high-speed scrubber. They also used a steam cleaner for the shower's joints to eradicate the mold.

When they finished cleaning the shower, our experts noticed the fixtures on the floor were in worse condition than they had initially thought. Not only did they have several cracks, some of the grout lines had also crumbled and caused the tiles to come loose. To fix this, our techs carefully scraped out the floor's grout and the expansion joints. After making sure all the debris was completely removed, they re-grouted the entire shower floor with our epoxy grout. This product is an epoxy-based grout mix that's adhesive, unifying, and resistant to both mold and mildew. It also provided the shower floor with a hygienic, uniform appearance.

Once they finished, our techs let the homeowner see the results. She was amazed by the appearance of her brand-new looking shower. There was no trace of mold and the grout looked flawless. She thanked our experts for the service and said she would recommend Sir Grout Houston to anyone in need of hard surface restoration services.

Before leaving, our specialists gave the homeowner some tips for maintaining the shower. First, they suggested she start using liquid soap instead of bar soap. The latter leaves a sticky film behind that traps dirt and moisture. Second, they recommended steering away from store-bought products to maintain her shower. Unknown to most homeowners, most of these cleaners contain harmful components that can deteriorate tile and grout. A pH-neutral cleaner like Sir Grout's Natural Hard Surface Cleaner will successfully keep hard surfaces clean while prolonging the lifespan of the shower's fixtures. As their final tip, our specialists advised the client to keep the shower enclosure ventilated. This practice helps prevent mold growth and water seepage.

Are the grout lines in your shower cracking? Contact Sir Grout Houston, the leading expert in hard surface restoration. We have the necessary tools and expertise to provide you with the best services in the field. Call us at (713) 856-9586 or fill out the "Request a Quote" on this page to schedule a free in-home consultation. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with our latest news and promotions.

If you found this article helpful then let us know in the comments section below. Likewise, feel free to share it using the share options below. Want us to cover another topic of your interest pertaining to Hard Surface Restoration? If so, then like us and follow us on social media, and post to any of our social media profiles the topic you'd like us to discuss: Facebook Sir Grout Houston, Instagram @sirgrout, and Twitter @SirGrout.