A Travertine Shower in Chicago Shows the Full Quality of Our Hard Surface Restoration Services

March 28, 2024

Every homeowner has gone through the stress of cleaning a moldy shower at least once. Mold and mildew are fairly common occurrences around bathroom surfaces, and sometimes the most dedicated care still falls short when it comes to stopping the effect of moisture on your shower seams.


A couple in Chicago felt stuck on the same cycle of stress and exhaustion while trying to make a breakthrough in their travertine shower. They'd dedicated countless hours to scrubbing each stain, but the amount of mold growing between the tiles became overwhelming. The homeowners knew that they couldn't go crazy trying different DIY methods on such a delicate surface, so after a few weeks of unsuccessful cleaning attempts, they contacted our hard surface restoration services in Chicago.

One of the homeowners found Sir Grout Chicago by chance while trying to find some cleaning recommendations online. Our website's content cemented her suspicions about avoiding common DIY solutions on natural stone surfaces. After the couple agreed to contact a professional, she went back to our website and completed the request for an in-home evaluation via our online scheduler.

At her convenience, our specialists arrived at her house a few days later, easy to identify thanks to their uniform and their vehicle. They put all their focus into the inspection as soon as they entered the master bathroom, taking note of every crack and stain. The unsealed grout was almost fully covered in mold, and efflorescence muted the color of the travertine tiles. Also, the caulk on the seams was loose after absorbing water and soap scum for weeks on end.

When the clients asked about it, our techs explained why their cleaning products had done such a poor job of removing the dirt. Traditional cleaners are just not effective when dealing with embedded dirt, and their ingredients can be particularly harsh on natural stone surfaces. To fully restore the shower area, our crew needed to deep clean all the surfaces and repair the seams with a water-resistant epoxy solution. Our techs also offered to seal the grout lines on the walls, so regular cleaning would be simpler and more rewarding as a result. The clients were okay with this plan, so they scheduled a new appointment for the restoration.

The next day, our experts returned to the couple's home with all the necessary equipment. They prepared the area by covering the surrounding surfaces with plastic and masking tape. Once everything was ready, our techs used a stone-safe cleaner to detach the dirt from the tiles and the grout. Then, they vapor cleaned the entire shower stall, ensuring that all the mold and soap scum had been eliminated before moving on to the next step.

It was time to repair the seams, so our crew installed epoxy grout on the floor and the seams after carefully removing the loose caulk. Thanks to our epoxy solution, the surface becomes less porous and much less likely to absorb dirt and other liquids. Our specialists also restored the grout lines on the walls with our acrylic-based ColorSeal, providing the perfect barrier to ward off external elements and prevent new stains.

By then, the shower looked amazing. The travertine tiles had regained their natural beauty, and all the grout lines looked clean and smooth against the stone. The homeowners were thrilled with the result, and they promised to introduce our surface restoration services to all their friends and family.

Near the end of the appointment, our techs took a moment to give the clients some useful cleaning tips. They started by recommending pH-neutral cleaners over bleach and soap-based products. Sir Grout's Natural Hard Surface Cleaner eliminates the risks of most off-the-counter cleaners while being ten times more effective. It removes common stains in minutes, including the mold that often grows around shower surfaces.

On that note, pH-neutral cleaners can do a lot to improve your cleaning routine, but there are ways to counter moisture buildup before the effects become visible in a shower. Constant circulation of fresh air is key because it keeps the stale water from settling between the tiles. Mold and mildew thrive in damp environments and a shower stall doesn't get as much air as it is. For this reason, our techs suggested opening the bathroom door and the windows nearby as a way to simplify shower maintenance.

With Sir Grout Chicago, you get top-tier hard surface restoration services to transform the most important parts of your home. Our methods are the answer you've been looking for, whether you're dealing with severe grout damage or pesky issues like efflorescence and embedded dirt. Just call (773) 923-2084 or schedule a free quote online to request an appointment with our specialists. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss our latest promotions and updates.