Welcome to the Grout Repair Pro FAQ. If you are wondering if your vintage tile can be saved with a professional shower restoration, or you just want to know how to properly clean your newly restored grout, we have the answers to protect your investment.
Routine Cleaning & Maintenance
What products do you recommend for cleaning my tile and grout?
The biggest mistake homeowners make is using harsh chemicals like bleach, vinegar, or acidic toilet bowl cleaners. These will slowly eat away at cement grout and degrade your silicone seals. We highly recommend using a pH-neutral tile and grout cleaner. It is gentle on your grout lines but highly effective at breaking down body oils and soap scum when used regularly.
What is the proper step-by-step way to clean my shower?
We recommend the 5-Minute Maintenance Rule every two weeks:
- Spray: Generously mist your lower walls and shower floor with a pH-neutral cleaner. Let it dwell for 3 to 5 minutes to break down the surface oils.
- Agitate: Use a soft-to-medium bristle nylon brush to lightly scrub the grout lines. Never use metal brushes, steel wool, or abrasive scouring pads.
- Rinse: Thoroughly rinse the area with warm water to wash the suspended dirt down the drain.
- Dry: Squeegee the glass and leave the shower door slightly open with the exhaust fan running to dry out the enclosure.
How do I check my tile for “invisible” soap scum?
Soap scum can build up in a clear, waxy layer that you might not even see, but it acts like a magnet for dirt and mold. To test your shower, take a metal razor blade and gently scrape it against the bottom row of tiles. If a white, waxy paste builds up on the edge of the blade, you have a heavy soap scum layer that needs to be stripped before your regular cleaner will be effective.
Mold, Sealers & Caulking
Will grout sealer make my shower waterproof and mold-proof?
No. This is a massive industry misconception. Penetrating grout sealers are designed to be breathable to allow trapped moisture to escape. Because they breathe, they cannot make cement grout waterproof. Furthermore, if organic material (like dead skin cells and soap) sits on any damp surface, mold will grow. Sealers give you a slightly longer window to clean up stains, but they do not replace routine cleaning or proper ventilation.
Why is the caulk in my corners turning black, and how do I clean it?
If your silicone corners are turning black, the mold has likely grown behind and completely embedded itself inside the silicone. Once this happens, surface sprays and bleach will not work. The only way to fix it is to have the compromised caulk professionally cut out, the joint fully sanitized, and new 100% silicone applied.
Our Shower Restoration Services
How do I know if I need a restoration or a full remodel?
If your shower pan is actively leaking into the ceiling below, or if the wallboard behind the tile is soft and rotting, you need a full tear-out remodel. However, if your shower is structurally sound, holding water properly, and the issues are strictly aesthetic (stained grout, moldy silicone, hard water damage), you are a perfect candidate for our specialized shower restoration process—saving you thousands of dollars compared to a remodel.
How long does a restoration take?
Most standard shower restorations are completed in a single day, typically taking between 6 to 8 hours of focused technician labor. We leave your bathroom spotless when we are done.
How soon can I use my shower after the job is done?
We require a strict 24-hour cure time before anyone uses the shower. This allows the 100% epoxy grout and the 100% silicone perimeter seals to cure to maximum strength so they provide decades of protection.
Featured Client Review
★★★★★
“Can’t say enough good things about the job Jason did with my shower stall and glass door. After years and years of my trying to keep the tiles clean and rid the stall of stain and mould, Jason was able to make it look brand new as if it was just installed! This includes the glass door. It was badly etched from all the hard water. Jason spent extra time on this and it looks great! I would recommend him to anyone that needs tile and/or grout work due to his attention to detail and years of experience.”
— John Barrett