A Remarkable Stone Cleaning Job Restored This Brown Marble Shower in McLean, VA

December 16, 2016

This homeowner from McLean, Virginia, never thought that her lovely marble shower could deteriorate so much. She loved this natural stone; therefore, five years ago, she convinced her husband to choose brown, veined marble tiles to remodel the shower of their master bathroom. The idea was great – the room looked more elegant thanks to the beautiful tiles, new glass doors, and small, brown marble tiles that matched the overall design.



However, years of improper cleaning methods and the use of wrong cleaning products, like acid-based cleaners, started to damage the marble. Instead of looking elegant and attractive, the shower became faded and dull. The couple decided to do something about it as part of the yearly home improvements they performed. So, they went online and searched for a McLean stone cleaning service with a good reputation and excellent customer reviews; they found Sir Grout Washington DC Metro's website and immediately called us to set up a free, in-home consultation. We scheduled the appointment for that same week.

On the day of the inspection, our hard surface restorers finally had the chance to meet the clients. The homeowners were kind enough to welcome them and show them the shower, recalling how shiny the brown marble used to be when they remodeled the bathroom several years ago. Indeed, as our experts witnessed, the once gorgeous marble tiles now looked discolored and unattractive. During the consultation, our experts learned that the marble had never been sealed before, which was probably one of the main causes of the stone tiles' deterioration.

Our team's diagnosis demanded not only stone cleaning and sealing, but also regrouting and recaulking, since the shower pan's grout lines and caulk were covered in mold and mildew. The McLean residents decided to leave everything in our team's hands; they agreed to the services, so the restoration process began right the following day.

Our restorers began the cleaning job by applying a proprietary, non-toxic tile and grout cleaner with a high-speed, soft scrubber. For particularly stubborn areas, they turned to vapor steam cleaning. Once the walls and floor were cleaned, it was time to restore the grout: all the shower pan's grout lines were replaced with Stainmaster Epoxy Grout, a two-part epoxy product known for its durability. This same product was applied afterwards to recaulk the shower joints. Our hard surface restorers decided to go with Stainmaster because it's a durable, stainproof product that won't easily crack or peel. Finally, to restore the brown marble, our McLean stone cleaning specialists used Sir Grout Washington DC Metro's enhancer and sealer; this product brought out the natural color of the marble while providing a wet look.



The brown, veined marble was transformed by the job. The couple, especially the homeowner's wife, was impressed by how fast and efficiently our team had worked – in just one day, the tiles were no longer dull. Instead, they looked vibrant and shiny, exactly how they were several years ago.

As a cleaning recommendation, our experts advised the couple to avoid applying acidic cleaners to the brown marble, since this stone can be easily etched by them. Instead, they could use a pH-neutral, soapless product. Furthermore, given that marble is considered a porous stone and is prone to etching and staining, our team advised them to always be cautious about their shower's condition – periodical sealing is essential to prevent stains caused by hard water, personal care products, and other agents.

Does your marble shower or any other kind of hard surface need restoration? At Sir Grout Washington DC Metro, we offer all kind of services to transform your stone surfaces! Call us at (703) 997-8552 or fill out the "Request a Quote" form on this website for more information about our services and products! If you do not want to miss future testimonials and hard surface maintenance tips, subscribe to our newsletter!

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