See How Our Stone Cleaning Services Transformed These Run-Down Natural Stone Surfaces in Chicago

April 17, 2020

When these Chicago residents first bought their home, they were amazed by the number of natural stone surfaces in the property. They gave the home a beautiful, sophisticated appearance. A few months after moving in, the couple realized some of the surfaces showed signs of deterioration. Both dirt and white residue had been building upon their master shower, and the marble counter in the kitchen looked dull and stained.


The owners tried several cleaning methods to get the surfaces back in shape, but nothing seemed to work. No matter how hard they tried to clean them, they only seemed to get worse. Frustrated, the couple went online and searched for advice. Most websites explained these problems are the result of improper maintenance. After a brief discussion, the couple concluded it was best to seek professional help. With this in mind, they searched for stone cleaning experts in Chicago, IL. They found our website in the top search results. After watching some of the video testimonials left by satisfied customers, they decided to schedule a free in-home evaluation.

A few days later, we arrived at the customer's home to assess the problem. We first examined the kitchen counter. For the most part, the marble counter seemed to be in good shape. A bit of dirt had settled onto the stone's pores, making the surface appear dull. We also spotted a few stains but none of them were severe.

Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said about the client's master shower. Taking simple preventive measures ensures shower surfaces remain at peak condition, but it seemed like this shower hadn't received proper maintenance in months. Both the tiles and grout lines were coated by a combination of soap scum and dirt.

According to the couple, the shower's surfaces had been last sealed three months prior to our visit. Given the current state of the shower, it was clear that whomever had done the sealing procedure had used the wrong kind of sealant. Up until now, the tiles and grout lines had been exposed to harmful external agents. Had the shower been left unattended, it would've resulted in costly repairs.

Fortunately, it wasn't anything we couldn't solve. We assured the homeowners we could fully restore the shower and the counter with a stone cleaning and sealing procedure. We would seal the surfaces with our proprietary sealant Stone Armor. The couple agreed to the service and scheduled an appointment for later in the week.

We went back to the client's home a few days later to perform the service. We began by cleaning both the shower and the kitchen counter. To do this, we soaked both surfaces with a pH-neutral stone-safe cleaner. This would help loosen up the dirt that had accumulated on top of the stone. After letting it soak for a few minutes, we prepared ourselves to rinse the cleaner off from both surfaces using a high-speed scrubber.

We first removed all the soap scum and grime from the shower's tiles and grout lines. Next, we used a steam cleaner on the shower's expansion joints to ensure the inhibition of bacteria, fungi, mold and microorganism growth. When we finished cleaning the shower, we extracted all the dirt from the kitchen counter. Once the surface was free from dirt, we used a low-grit diamond pad to erase the etch marks. Next we buffed the entire surface until it had a nice, glossy finish.

To finish, we coated the shower's surfaces and the kitchen counter with our flagship sealant Stone Armor. This is an impregnating sealant that's specially made to keep stone surfaces protected against water, stains, spills, soap, mold, and mildew. It also enhances the overall appearance of any type of natural stone.

When we finished, we shower the clients the results. They were happy to see their beloved natural stone surfaces restored. On top of that, their shower was now truly protected against harmful external agents. After thanking us for a job well done, the homeowners assured us they would recommend our services to their friends and family.

The best way to ensure stone surfaces remain in top condition is to give them proper maintenance. For that reason, we gave the couple some tips to preserve their stone surfaces. We first recommended cleaning the surfaces once a week using a pH-neutral stone-safe cleaner like Sir Grout's Natural Hard Surface Cleaner
. This cleaner won't etch natural stone nor eat away at the grout lines like most store-bought products. We also recommended using liquid soap as opposed to bar soap in the shower to prevent soap scum buildup. To finish, we advised them to seal their stone surfaces periodically to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Does your natural stone have a run-down appearance? Make sure to contact the most qualified experts in the field of hard surface restoration. Sir Grout Chicago has all the necessary tools and expertise to offer high-quality cost-effective solutions to your problems. Call us at (773) 923-2084 or fill out the "Request a Quote" form on this page to schedule a free assessment today. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with our latest news and promotions.

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