Our Stone Cleaning Service Restored This Travertine Shower in Southampton, PA

March 08, 2017

Stone showers require a lot of care despite their sturdy appearance. Otherwise, they lose their rustic charm, on top of showing clear signs of decay after constant exposure to hard water. Failing to provide the proper care regularly can lead to a dulled and unappealing look that defeats the purpose of having natural stone as bathroom décor. If your stone tiles have dimmed with the passing of time, there are things you can still do to salvage your bathroom, as this client can attest.


An amiable lady of Southampton, PA, had moved further south to Florida after retiring, leaving the house in the care of her youngest son, who was still in college in Bucks. On a visit, she noticed her travertine shower was looking dulled and moldy. Fearing the situation would not be solved once she left, she decided to prod her son into searching for a stone cleaning service in Southampton before flying south again.

Following her request, the young man went online to search for a reliable hard surface restoration provider who could make the shower go back to its brand-new look. He knew that his mother cherished the shower's design and felt guilty about being unable to solve the problem with his weekly cleaning sessions. At the start of his search, the client found Sir Grout Bucks PA, and after looking through some of the reviews on display in our website, he gave us a call to request a free in-home evaluation.

Our team went to the clients' Southampton residence a few days later, as scheduled, arriving in an identified vehicle and wearing Sir Grout's standard uniform. While inspecting the shower, we surmised that the dullness was probably caused by the sustained use of improper cleaning products. This could have also eroded the sealant in the grout lines, which allowed water seepage between the tiles. As we explained to the client, the combination of moisture and harsh cleaners is often enough to kickstart the growth of mold, which is why so much of the grout was covered in a sticky layer of soapy residue. To restore the shower, our team of experts proposed a stone cleaning service, and the client immediately took the offer.

On the appointed date, our technicians returned to the house, carrying the necessary equipment to bring the shower back to life. We started by thoroughly cleaning the shower with our own pH neutral cleaner, which is especially designed to be used on travertine and other porous surfaces. When it was time to remove the mold that was stuck between the tiles, we steam cleaned the entire stall, ensuring that nothing remained on the grout pores.

Once the cleaning process ended, the team applied our proprietary Colorseal to the grout. The grout's uniform color enhanced the travertine's beauty. More importantly, the process ensured that no dirt could seep into the grout, including efflorescence, mold, mildew, and other external agents. Then, our experts made the necessary repairs to the seams, installing epoxy grout to reinforce the structure against water damage.

As soon as the restoration was complete, we invited the client and his mother into the bathroom so they could admire the result. The lady was very satisfied with the outcome, thanking the team and jokingly promising to nag her son every once in a while, to keep the shower in prime condition. Meanwhile, the young man praised our work on the grout and promised to recommend our work to more people in the area.

Natural stone needs special care, and regular cleaners are far from the right choice for the job. For this reason, our techs shared a few additional tips to help the client with the maintenance of the master shower. The most important thing is to never use acidic detergents because their ingredients etch the stone on contact. It's best to buy products formulated specifically to enhance the beauty of natural stone surfaces since they don't have the acidic imbalances that trigger damage and discoloration. We always recommend Sir Grout's Natural Hard Surface Cleaner to help clients discover all the benefits of pH-neutral formulas, especially when it comes to the care of bathroom surfaces.

Beyond that, we reminded the owners to always dry the shower after usage and to wipe any pools of water with a towel or a terry cloth. Last but not least, make sure to open the windows and doors from time to time, and the rush of fresh air will do wonders for the environment inside your bathroom spaces.

If your stone surfaces are looking dull and lifeless, a stone cleaning service can be what you need. At Sir Grout Bucks PA, we are prepared to take care of your marble, travertine, and granite surfaces with a specialized stone restoration process. Contact us by calling (215) 709-8125, or schedule a free quote for an in-home evaluation. We'll be happy to assist you! Also, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss out on our latest promotions and updates.