Hest Bank

We were recently asked to refresh the Ceramic Wall Tile and Grout in the bathroom of a property in Hest Bank which is a small village on the coast North of Morecombe Bay and Lancaster. Ceramic tiles are glazed so very easy to keep clean however the main issue wasn’t the tiles themselves but the grout and silicone sealant which over time had turned black in some areas due to mould and staining.

This is not uncommon problem in small bathroom were a general lack of ventilation provides the moist conditions that mould thrives in. Additionally, the top layer of grout is slightly porous and having a rough surface it does attract dirt over time.

The only real solution to this problem is to improve the ventilation however you can minimise the problem by opening windows during showering and leaving the bathroom door open afterwards to improve cross ventilation. In the meantime, however you can keep on top of the problem with a little renovation work.

Deep Cleaning Grout in a Ceramic Tiled Bathroom

The renovation started by scrubbing the grout and sealant with Tile Doctor Duo-Clean which is a purpose made bathroom tile and grout cleaner designed to tackle mould and staining. It also kills mould spores that are still prevalent and can respawn resulting in more mould. Once done, I always like to leave any remaining product with the client for this reason so they can re-treat the problem in the future.

Scrubbing with Duo Clean worked well but some of the staining was simply so deep to remove so the only solution was to scrape it out of the grout joints with a flat blade and Stanley Knife and then re-grout. The silicone sealant around the bathtub was very badly affected by mould and had to be completely stripped out using the same method.

Grout Sealing a Ceramic Tiled Bathroom

Once the treatment was completed the tile and grout was dried off thoroughly and then a coat of Tile Doctor Wall Tile and Grout Sealer was sprayed onto the grout to help protect it from mould forming going forward. This product is very easy to use and adds a protective layer over the surface of the grout to prevent the mould spores or limescale attaching itself. It also makes the tile and grout easier to clean afterwards.

Once this was done a fresh mould resistant and waterproof brand of silicone was applied to the joints between the tiles, and the bath and sink. With the fresh silicone in place and the tile and grout renovated the bathroom looked almost new and much more inviting.

For aftercare I recommended using Tile Doctor Aqua-Pro which is designed for cleaning bathroom and shower tiles, you will find this product is a mild but effective cleaner that will promote the length of the sealer applied earlier. Many tile cleaning products are bleach based and these will strip the sealer off, so it is well worth bearing that in mind when purchasing household cleaners.

The client was very happy with the work we had carried out and were no longer embarrassed to allow people to use their bathroom.

 

Professional Restoration of Ceramic Tiled Bathroom in Lancashire