Penetrating sealer
Applied the same visit as the clean.
Sealing, color and caulk
Seal it, color it or replace it
The clean comes first. After it, the grout can be sealed to slow stains, colored to even out patches, or patched where it has cracked.
What the visit can include
A penetrating sealer worked into the grout lines
A color seal: one even coat over the lines, matched to a sample
Split caulk cut out and replaced in tubs, showers and corners
Small grout patches where a line has cracked or gone missing
Dry-time instructions in writing
A photo of each finished area
Priced in writing
How the finishes are priced
Grout finishes
Priced by the square foot of tile, after a clean.
Color seal
One coat, one color, matched to a sample.
Caulk and patches
Priced by the length or the area.
Caulk replaced, tub or shower
Old caulk removed, joint cleaned, new bead run.
Grout patch
A cracked or missing stretch, about a foot long.
The written price lists each finish and the square footage it was figured on.
A visit, in order
How a finishing visit goes
Sealing and color need a dry surface, so the finish always comes after the clean.
- 01
Step 1: Clean and dry
The grout is cleaned, rinsed and left to dry, with fans where it helps.
- 02
Step 2: Test and match
We try the color on a hidden stretch and show you a sample before we paint a line.
- 03
Step 3: Apply
Sealer or color goes on line by line, and the tile faces are wiped as we go.
- 04
Step 4: Cure
We write down how long to keep water and feet off. It is usually about a day.
- 05
Step 5: Photo
A photo of each area goes to your phone when we leave.
Good to know
Before we arrive, and what we leave alone
Before we arrive
Plan for a day without the shower or the floor
Open a window or run the fan
Pick a color from the sample at the visit
Pets and children out of the room
What we do not do
Seal grout that is cracking or crumbling
Color over grout that has come loose
Seal natural stone without testing it
Repair tile or the wall behind it
Questions
Sealing and color questions
Is sealing worth it?
A sealer slows stains but does not stop them, and it wears in high-traffic floors. We say plainly whether your grout is a good candidate.
What does color seal look like?
A thin, even coat in the grout color you choose. It evens out patches and does not hide cracks.
Can you change my grout color?
Color seal can go lighter or darker within reason. We test a hidden stretch first and show you before we do the room.
Ask about a finish
Tell us the room and the problem. We reply within one business day.