How to Properly Re-Grout and Re-Caulk Your Shower Or Bath
Does your shower have dirty, moldy and dingy looking grout and caulk?
There are many ways to re-grout and re-caulk a shower or bath but there is really only one way to do the job properly so your shower will stay waterproof and look beautiful for years to come.
First step is to thoroughly clean your tiles: Many dirty showers have soap scum accumulation which must be thoroughly cleaned before any re-grout procedure can begin. It is important to use a professional soap scum remover product as well as a professional scrub pad to scrub away the dirt and soap scum from your shower walls and floor. Do not use any type of abrasive scrub pad as they may scratch your tiles. It may also be helpful to utilize a professional steam cleaning machine in conjunction with the soap scum removers and scrub pads. A professional steam cleaning machine is useful to accelerate the cleaning job but professional soap scum removers and scrub pads as well as a fair amount of elbow grease can be very effective to remove all of the soap scum from your shower walls and floor.
Second step is to remove the dirty grout and caulking: It is important to first remove all the old caulking inside your shower. The best way to remove caulking is and always has been to just use a razor blade tool and scrape all the old caulking from your shower. After the old caulking has been removed it is now time to remove the grout from your shower. There are many tools like a Dremel or Rotozip tool to do this but the hands down best tool is a fein vibrating tool with a diamond bit. It is important to use the Fein tool over every grout line and clean every line with a stiff brush to make sure that the old grout is removed so the new grout will have a firm base to adhere to.
Third step is to dry out your walls: In most cases some water and mold has gotten into your wall. It is therefore necessary to thoroughly and completely dry your shower walls before any re-grout procedure can take place. Do not attempt to re-grout over top of a wet shower substrate. The water in your walls will continue to harbor mold and mildew. Also your grout will not set properly due to the moisture in your walls and will become discolored and will flake away after a very short period of time. The best way to dry out your shower walls is with a professional dehumidifier for at least 3-7 days. This way you can be certain your shower walls will become dry and any mold and mildew is killed in your shower walls and floor.
Fourth step is to re-grout your shower: It is best to use a profession powder mixed with latex additive for your new grout. Do not use any premixed or ready to use products as these are vastly inferior and technically not cement products at all. It is best to go to a professional tile store and purchase your grouting supplies from an experienced salesman and try to stay away from the big box home improvement stores as they do not specialize in tile installation products.
Fifth step is to re-caulk your shower: Caulking is the weakest link between water damaging your walls and floors. It is important to caulk all corners and between all tile planes to insure that water does not get between your tiles and into your walls and floor. It is best to use only 100% silicon caulks. 100% silicone caulk will last the longest of any type of caulk and they will not allow mold and mildew to grow in them like the cheaper water based latex caulks.
Sixth step is sealing: It is important to seal your grout with a professional impregnating sealer. A high quality sealer will protect your grout from stains and also prevent mold and mildew from forming. Here again it is recommended that your purchase a professional sealer from a tile store and stay away from the cheaper sealers being sold at the big box stores.
Seventh step is to wait 72 hours: - Wait 72 hours for your grout and caulk to fully cure and then go and enjoy your new looking shower. A re-grouting procedure can be done by many homeowners with the proper tools and some handyman skills. It can also be very convenient and save a lot of headaches to have a professional tile and grout cleaning and restoration company like Prestige Tile Care to professionally re-grout and re-caulk your shower or bath.
Make sure that your ask many questions of your potential re-grouting contractor and do not settle for cheap incomplete one day re-grout and re-caulking procedures that will look sloppy and not last. Also do not accept any company that just skim coats new grout over your old grout. A skim coat grout procedure will not last and it will only be a short period of time before your skim coated grout starts to chip and flake away. Also check with your state labor and industries as well as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to make sure your potential contractor is fully license and insured and does not have any unresolved issues that may be an indication of shoddy workmanship.
If you are in the Seattle region contact Prestige Tile Care for a FREE Estimate at 425-737-3231 to find out what Prestige Tile Care care can do for your tile and grout. You can also visit us online at http://www.tilecleaningseattle.com to read about our various tile and grout cleaning and restoration services.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Troy_Roberts
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Bathroom Wall Panels
Bathroom wall panels are water proof panels which are generally manufactured using thermoplastics, better known as UPVC, although some panels may be manufactured from Medite Exterior grade medium density fibreboard, which is more commonly known as MDF. This MDF board is then covered on the outer face with a high pressure laminate, and a balancing laminate is applied to the back to prevent distortion of the panel, this also improves the waterproof qualities of the panel.
Most UPVC bathroom wall panels are manufactured with two outer walls ( front & back ) and a honeycombed interior, which is necessary for good rigidity and keeping the panel flat. They are joined together using a tongue and groove system, depending on the style of panels, and this ensures each panel is locked together, thus making a more watertight and rigid joint. The joint between the panels can then be made more secure by applying a bead of silicone, and this is recommended particularly if a power shower or high pressure shower is installed.
Because the panels are manufactured using either UPVC or Laminated MDF, they are very easy to keep clean, and whilst they are extremely resistant to most chemical cleaners such as bleach products, it is recommended and indeed only necessary to use a wet soapy soft cloth, as this will be sufficient for most cleaning requirements.
All bathroom wall panels are totally waterproof are very hygienic and make a great alternative to the more conventional wall tiles, which are prone to certain strains of fungi particularly on the tiles grouting, which can produce a mouldy appearance.
They are available in many different styles and colours, which will suit any bathroom improvement requirements, and some of these styles can include:
* Woodgrain effect
* Marble effect
* Mosaic effect
* Plain colours
These wall panels can also be complimented with ceiling panels, and help to give that extra finished look.
UPVC and laminated wall panels are quick and easy to install. Installation can be applied in several ways, some of which are:
* Screw fixed
* Adhesive
* Self adhesive
Installation can be carried out by the purchaser, or may be supplied and fitted by the supplier, and all installed panels can be finished with a matching trim on the top and bottom edges. For a more quality installation suppliers will usually stock the appropriate matching coving, which adds to the overall appearance and produce a very stylish bathroom. Many panel systems are available in kit form, and an accomplished DIY enthusiast should have no problem with the installation. Most bathroom panels or panel systems will usually come with a 10 to 15 year guarantee, although this depends on the quality and system purchased and may vary.
If you are in need of this service check out our product pages, they contain many companies that specialise in this. John Cheesman writes about Bathroom Wall Panels. Visit the Businessmagnet product page for details and suppliers of Bathroom Wall Panels.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Cheesman
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Roman updates
range of shower accessories
Roman has refreshed and re-launched their popular range of shower
accessories. This year the range has been revived and updated to give it a sleek,
ultra modern look.
Customers can choose between 7 different shower baskets in a
range of shapes and sizes. There are options for a corner or a straight wall installation,
along with an option to hook the basket directly over the glass of the enclosure.
The baskets are forged from solid brass and finished with a contemporary chrome
effect.
New to Roman’s range of accessories are two mirrored bathroom
cabinets. These are available in a two door option, which features stylish clean
straight lines, or alternatively in a curvaceous single door option.
These Roman branded accessories are also backed by a 10 year
guarantee, giving the end user added peace of mind.
David Osborne, Managing Director at Roman, comments; “We
are very excited about the launch of our newly updated range of accessories. Since
we first launched our collection of accessories they have proved very popular.
With the modern bathroom becoming much more brand conscious, consumers are looking
for everything within their enclosure to sit under one complete brand name. Roman
can offer everything from the enclosure, tray, valve and accessory, all under
the Roman brand – the complete showering solution.”
Source: Plumbing
Park - The leading online magazine for the Plumbing and HVAC industry.
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