mould removal

Mouldy Ceramic Tiled Bathroom Refresh Hest Bank

Renovation of a Mouldy Ceramic Tiled Bathroom in Hest Bank Lancaster

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.

Ceramic Tiled Bathroom Before Cleaning Hest Bank

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.

Ceramic Tiled Bathroom Before Cleaning Hest Bank

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.

Ceramic Tiled Bathroom After Cleaning Hest Bank

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.

Ceramic Tiled Bathroom After Cleaning Hest Bank

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

Renovation of a Mouldy Ceramic Tiled Bathroom in Hest Bank Lancaster Read More »

Ceramic Bathroom Tile and Grout Cleaned with Mould Away in Galgate

Cleaning and Sealing a Mouldy Ceramic Tiled Shower in Galgate

If you have a tiled shower area in your home, it’s very likely you’ve experienced problems with the grout becoming excessively dirty and ridden with displeasing black spots of mould. The underlying issue is due to inadequate ventilation which can be a real problem in modern insulated houses and occasionally the grout can get so imbued with contamination that the problem needs to be resolved professionally.

Ceramic Bathroom Tile and Grout Cleaned with Mould in Galgate
In the case of this Ceramic tiled shower area, located at a property in Galgate, Lancashire, mould had turned the grout black and had got into the sealant strip around the base. The property owner had tried using the run-of-the-mill cleaning products you can buy in superstores, but they simply couldn’t get the job done. So, she contacted me to see what could be done.

Cleaning Mouldy Ceramic Shower Tiles

At Tile Doctor, we come across the problem of mouldy shower tiles very often. Excess soaps and shampoos – many of which contain chemicals that harmful to the grout – can quickly build-up if not removed, causing mould and soap scum to emerge quickly, and before you know it, you have a problem like this one.

Thankfully, with the right strength product and cleaning methods, mould can be removed quite easily. The cleaning product used here was Tile Doctor Mould Away, which does what it says on the bottle and can quickly remove mould and black spots from grout and silicone. I applied Mould Away to the grout and surrounding Ceramic tiles and left it to dwell for a short period, before starting to clean the affected areas carefully using soft nail brushes and a small amount of water.

Ceramic Bathroom Tile and Grout Cleaned with Mould in Galgate
Sometimes it is necessary to repeat this process several times to achieve the best possible results, but in this case two attempts was all it took to get the grout looking like new once again.

Ceramic Bathroom Tile and Grout Part Cleaned with Mould Away in Galgate

Sealing Grout

Following the cleaning, the area was rinsed thoroughly with water, before bring dried off quickly with a heat gun on a low setting. I then sealed the grout with a single coat of Tile Doctor Wall Grout Sealer, which is a water-based sealer designed to protect against water, oil and acid-based contaminants, and stop them from spoiling the appearance of the grout. It also provides a transparent finish that does not diminish the original colouring of the grout. To add the finishing touches, I polished off the Ceramic tiles as these were already fully glazed and did not require any extra sealer.

Ceramic Bathroom Tile and Grout Cleaned with Mould Away in Galgate
The before and after photos are a testament to how significantly the condition and appearance of the grout was quickly improved and needless to say, the customer was very satisfied with the result.

Ceramic Bathroom Tile and Grout Cleaned After Cleaning Mould Away in Galgate
 

Dealing with Mouldy Grout and Sealant in Lancashire

Cleaning and Sealing a Mouldy Ceramic Tiled Shower in Galgate Read More »

Silicone Seal Replacement Garstang After

Replacing the Silicone Sealant around a Sink in Garstang

We often get calls to refresh bathrooms, which by the way if your selling your house is highly recommended as its cheap to do and it can transform a dingy bathroom into one that looks like it has just been installed; so replacing the silicone sealant strip around sinks and baths is something we tend to do a lot of and if you have ever done this yourself you will probably realise how tricky it can be.

This customer in Garstang only needed the strip around the sink replacing which isn’t a large job so I agreed to pop-in on the way back from another job in the local area and sort it out. The process is relatively simple, you use a sharp knife to remove the old sealant, clean the area up and then apply new, the trick is to apply just the right amount of silicone and then shape it with an angled tool. My preference is to use a Mapei silicone which if you live in Garstang can be sourced from Rockform tiles.

Silicone Seal Replacement Garstang Before Silicone Seal Replacement Garstang After

On the subject of bathroom maintenance I can highly recommend a product we sell called Tile Doctor Mould Away which used regularly does a great job of keeping your Silicone mould free.

Bathroom Refresh in Garstang

Replacing the Silicone Sealant around a Sink in Garstang Read More »

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