Protect grout, add colour with sealant

New couches get Scotchgard, spouting gets snow straps and shower glass is coated, but when it comes to the investment in tiled areas, all too often people forget to protect their new grouting.

Then, a year after it’s laid, GroutPro gets a call to come and clean it up, at which point many are clued in to the benefits of the company’s specially formulated grout sealant.

Darryl Pocklington, owner of the Christchurch GroutPro franchise, says that while the company will give a professional clean to tiles and grout in existing homes, the best time for sealant to be applied is when a home has just been built.

‘‘Grout will start discolouring from day one if it isn’t protected,’’ he says.

‘‘If you spend that bit of money at the start, it will save you down the track.’’

As a porous substance, grout absorbs daily dirt and grime, which can end up spoiling the look of tiled surfaces in two of a home’s most visited rooms: the bathroom and kitchen.

Over time, an unhealthy mix of bacteria and mould can form on the grout surface.

‘‘Anyone can clean grout, but our point of difference is what we do after,’’ Pocklington says.

Using a product known as Colourseal, GroutPro places a protective barrier over the grout to create a highly stain- and water-resistant surface. This prevents moisture intake and discolouration. In doing so, it also takes much of the effort out of future cleaning.

‘‘It’s the only colour-seal on the market that repels both waterand oil-based staining materials,’’ Pocklington says.

GroutPro’s sealant also has the ability to harmonise a home’s interior by changing the colour of grout to suit a particular decor.

More than 90 shades are available, and by replacing a standard grout colour with one from the Colourseal range, homeowners can create an eyecatching point of difference, Pocklington says.

‘‘Just by changing the colour of your existing grout, you can completely transform your entire tiled area.’’

GroutPro Christchurch is part of the nationwide ProGroup franchise, which offers a range of home-improvement services to enhance day-to-day living.

Recently, Pocklington’s division expanded into carpeting for garages.

Through the fitting of a carpet designed in Europe specifically for garages, GroutPro extends a home’s living space by bringing warmth to what can otherwise be a cold and draughty part of a house.

The carpet won’t smell or rot, is easy to clean and comes with a lifetime guarantee against zippering.

Pocklington says that as well as reducing noise and preventing dirt being tracked inside, garage carpeting is an effective way to improve the sense of flow and comfort in a home.

It also gives treasured vehicles the footing they deserve and is the ideal way to separate a true man cave from the pretenders.