Highland Park is one of the oldest planned suburbs in North Texas, and some of its tile is nearly as old as the town. When Dallas declined to annex the area in 1913, its roughly 500 residents voted on November 29, 1913, to incorporate. By 1933 the town had 8,422 residents. Highland Park Village, built by Hugh Prather Sr. and Edgar Flippen in 1931 in a Mediterranean Spanish style, became the town’s shopping center and square. Many homes from the 1920s and 1930s have since been rebuilt, but others still have original bathrooms, and even rebuilt homes sit next door to ones that do not. Tile care here means knowing which era you are working on.
The short answer: most Highland Park homes should have tile and grout professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months. Original 1920s and 1930s tile needs a gentle, low-pressure process and careful grout repair, while new construction needs its grout sealed early and kept sealed.
Key Takeaways
- Highland Park buys its water from the Dallas County Park Cities Municipal Utility District, which draws from Grapevine Lake via the Elm Fork of the Trinity River.
- The district’s treatment plant began operating in 1950 and has since been upgraded with membrane filtration.
- Residents voted to incorporate on November 29, 1913, and the town had 8,422 people by 1933.
- Original bathrooms from the 1920s and 1930s often have small hex or square floor tile and glazed wall tile set in thick mortar beds.
- Teardown-and-rebuild construction next door sends fine dust and grit into neighboring homes.
Park Cities Water Is Filtered, but Still Carries Minerals
Highland Park and University Park share their own water district. The Dallas County Park Cities Municipal Utility District has run its treatment plant since 1950, first on raw water bought from Dallas and then on water from Grapevine Lake, which began filling in July 1952. The plant now uses membrane filtration, which is excellent at removing particles and microorganisms. Filtration of that kind does not take out dissolved calcium and magnesium, though, so the water still leaves a mineral film on shower glass, fixtures and grout over time. In a century-old shower, that film settles into grout that has already been scrubbed porous. Removing it takes a descaling step before cleaning, not stronger scrubbing.
Original 1920s and 1930s Bathrooms
Bathrooms built in Highland Park’s first decades often have small hexagonal or square floor tile and glazed wall tile set in thick mortar beds. That construction is very solid, and much of it is worth keeping. The grout is the weak point. After nearly 100 years it is often worn low, stained deep into its pores, or patched with mismatched grout and caulk from later repairs. Hot, high-pressure cleaning and acidic cleaners can damage old glazes and wash out weak joints. We clean these rooms with low pressure, pH-neutral products and hand detailing, match and replace failed grout where needed, and then seal. The goal is to keep original tile in the house, not push the owner into a remodel.
Rebuilds, Construction Dust and New Stone-Look Tile
Highland Park has a steady stream of teardowns and rebuilds, so many blocks have an active job site. Fine construction dust drifts into neighboring homes and settles into entry and kitchen grout, where foot traffic grinds it in. New homes often have large-format porcelain or stone-look tile with thin grout lines, and that grout needs to be sealed after construction and resealed on schedule. When it is not, it absorbs spills and dust quickly and loses its color within a few years. A deep clean and a quality sealer, or a color sealer where the grout has already stained, brings it back.
Professional Tile & Grout Cleaning
Gentle cleaning for original historic tile, grout matching and repair, and sealing for new construction. Upfront pricing, free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Highland Park’s water come from?
From the Dallas County Park Cities Municipal Utility District, which treats water from Grapevine Lake, delivered via the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, at a plant that uses membrane filtration.
If the water is filtered, why do I still get buildup in my shower?
Membrane filtration removes particles and microorganisms but not dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. Those minerals still dry into a film on glass, fixtures and grout.
Can original 1920s bathroom tile be cleaned safely?
Yes. It needs low pressure, pH-neutral products and careful hand work. Failed grout can be matched and replaced before the joints are sealed.
How often should Highland Park homes have tile and grout cleaned?
Every 12 to 18 months is a good baseline. Homes near an active rebuild may need entry and kitchen floors cleaned more often until construction ends.
Ultra Clean is IICRC-certified and has served Highland Park and the Dallas–Fort Worth area since 2013. Our methods follow the standards set by the IICRC.
