managing director of company i'm subbying to asked me to look at grout in shower area of a house he's just privately bought. Well i thought it must have been black grout in shower enclosure, but it was white at one time, just got ridden with mildew. If I rake out and re-grout it'll look ok for a while, but the enclosure is totaly enclosed (shower door has a stud wall on top of it) so damp air just collects in shower. Will a microban type grout stop it blackening up again?
Thanks, Doug

Hiya doug..........microban grouts will prevent anything growing within it but not on the surface.........tell him to install an expel-air..........as you say it is down to moisture and also he needs to keep it clean..

As above

lack of ventilation is the killer of grouts/silicons

Mildew & Black Grout is usually caused by a combination of things. Namely:

The type of substrate the tiles were fixed to.
The type of tiles.
The preparation of the substrate.
The type of adhesive used.
The type of grout and standard of finish.
The type of silicone and how well it was applied.
The sealer.
The ventilation.
Cleaning Regime.

Once you identify which of these or combination of these is at fault you can set about putting it right. However, any cleaner no matter how good it is is only a finger in the dyke in most cases.

Kev

To follow a theme from a well known tv program - Ventilation! Ventilation! Ventilation! then combine that with a simple REGULAR cleaning regime. This should eliminate any problems, even without a Microban product.

Lithofin do a product called mildew away and HG do a mould spray these both seem to keep it at bay for a lot longer , might also be worth speaking to lithofin as they do a grout protector to see if this is up to preventing the recurrence

The shower will need to be re-done all the backing board will need to be replaced. A re-grout may only last a month or so even with Microban. The reason being is most if not all wall boarding contains cellulose and this is what the mould attacks it eventually leeches into the grout if the grout stays wet, so as above members have mentioned increasing circulation of air will help stop the mould from advancing further, but the spore will remain, to kick off again once conditions become more favourable.

re-doing isn't an option to be honest,he bought house off his daughter so she could buy another house, he just wants it tarting up to stick back on the market!! Not doing what he wants isn't an option either 'cos he gives me a helluva lot of good work! catch 22 or what!

I've been doing some reading in an old book on cleaning remedies and things housewives put together many years ago to help with cleanig problems.

It says that mold and mildew can be contolled with OIL OF CLOVES 1 teaspoon in 1lt of water and sprayed onto the surface of the mould.

Maybe worth a try if a quick fix is needed. It couldn't hurt could it?

Originally Posted by MICK the Tiler

I've been doing some reading in an old book on cleaning remedies and things housewives put together many years ago to help with cleanig problems.

It says that mold and mildew can be contolled with OIL OF CLOVES 1 teaspoon in 1lt of water and sprayed onto the surface of the mould.

Maybe worth a try if a quick fix is needed. It couldn't hurt could it?

maybe chuck in eye of toad and frog's leg too!! just to be on the safe side cheers Mick, how's the weather in Brisbane? snowing here in lake district

Hi Doug,

Weathers fine for now, had some serious storms last week though. Alot of hoses had some bad damage done, Mine's ok though. Days are getting hot and humid 30deg is becoming more frequent now.

so I guess you don't need central heating on

Originally Posted by doug boardley

so i guess you don't need central heating on

what's that?????