Marble Shower Looks Vibrant Again After a Stone Cleaning and Sealing Service in Milton, MA

December 27, 2016

When these Milton residents first bought their home, they looked forward to getting a marble shower. They eventually decided to go with tumbled marble tiles to give their bathroom a beautiful, rustic look. However, the homeowners realized that after the installation, a white residue had been left behind on the shower walls. This white residue is known as grout haze and is usually a consequence of improper installation and grouting. After years of use, the shower also looked chalky and its colors were fading. This wasn't the homeowners' only concern. Their kitchen floor's white tiles were dark, and the grout lines had an uneven color that made the floor look messy.


They had been saving up to completely renovate the shower and kitchen since their appearance didn't improve with regular cleaning. One of their neighbors suggested that they contact Sir Grout of Greater Boston before going through a renovation process, as he once had a similar problem and got good results with our stone cleaning service in Milton. The homeowners thought a free inspection couldn't hurt, so they contacted us and scheduled an appointment.

Grout haze, also known as grout efflorescence, typically appears when soluble salts from the cement slab are carried to the top of the grout joint by moisture. Once this moisture evaporates, salt deposits are left behind, which give the surface a chalky appearance. This unpleasant issue can have several causes. One possible reason is that too much water was added to the grout mixture. Also, if the grout is laid too soon after the tile is installed, this can cause efflorescence as the setting material could still be moist. Concrete slabs that are not allowed to fully cure or that have a moisture issue can also lead to grout haze. Homeowners usually try to remove this residue with harsh cleaning products that only damage the grout and tile. It was a good call to leave this problem in the hands of professionals.

Sir Grout of Greater Boston owner, Chris Wyand, performed the inspection at the clients' home. He explained that the grout haze needed to be removed with a thorough cleaning service, and that the color of the tumbled marble tiles could be restored with a color enhancing sealer. As for their kitchen floor, the tiles and grout also needed a deep cleaning to make them look spotless. The homeowners thought that this was a preferable solution to an expensive and messy renovation.

Our team of technicians returned a few days later to begin the restoration process. They began by using a high-speed scrubber and a pH-neutral cleaner to remove the salt deposits from the shower walls. Steam cleaning was also used to remove any remaining residue, making the marble tiles look impeccable. One of our specialists also cleaned the bathtub and removed soap-scum buildup. After, the team used a color-enhancing sealer to darken the colors of the stone and enhance its natural beauty. This sealer also provided the stone with protection against water- and oil-based stains. Then, the team moved on to the kitchen floor and repeated the deep cleaning process to freshen up the grout and tiles.

The clients were thrilled with the results, and they were kind enough to leave us a review on Angie's List. "The results were excellent. Our kitchen floor finally looks new again and for about 20% of the cost of replacing it, and much less interruption to the family. Chris Wyand is the owner, and he came to give us the estimate and to explain the process. He was easy to work with and always responded immediately to our questions. Lead technician Chris Corliss led a team of 3 techs to do the work. They did an excellent job... Chris Corliss was great to work with and even scrubbed our old bathtub to make it look new again!" We were pleased to have helped them renew their surfaces!

If you own a marble shower, it's important to remember to stay away from any cleaners containing acids, including vinegar, as these react with the calcium carbonate in the stone, dissolving it. It's also important to seal your natural stone surfaces every 12-18 months to preserve their beauty.

If you have marble surfaces in your home that need care, don't hesitate to contact Sir Grout of Greater Boston by calling (781) 899-0388 or by filling out the form below. If you'd like more information about our services, join our newsletter!

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