By Mike Kinney
Mark Torres is well known for putting in long hours for his community as president of the Richmond Little League Baseball and Girl’s Softball for the last 17 years, and as a case manager at the Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL), working with local youth.
What many folks might not know is that Torres also runs a successful small business. Even as owner of the The Grout Guys of the Bay Area, which is based in Richmond, Torres has developed a reputation for being a reliable source of support in the community.
A Richmond native who graduated from Richmond High in 1983, Torres takes great pride in running an independent, family-owned business, which he launched in May 2004 and which employs an all-Richmond workforce.
“Mark is an amazing business professional,” said John Ziesenhenne, owner of locally-based M.A. Hayes Insurance Company. “Everybody here in Richmond knows he is fair in his prices and his work in both residential and commercial buildings with regards to grouting and tile
work is very superior. He is definitely my go to guy.”
The Grout Guys offers full tile installations, but specializes in the restoration and cleaning of all tile and stone. Services include total regrouting, patch work, and all caulking needs.
Torres says his business uses regular cement sanded and non-sanded grouts, as well as epoxy grouts. The Grout Guys are often assigned bathrooms and kitchens, but the business also does swimming pools and indoor and outdoor tile floors. Unlike many contractors, the Grout Guys aims to save customers from buying into a full restoration, when possible.
“What I enjoy the most about my grouting company is the satisfaction of a completed job and knowing how happy that family will be with new areas of their home that we have worked on and made beautiful for them,” Torres said.
Torres was a tile and grout contractor before launching his own business. Even in the business realm, Torres works to support young Richmond residents as he does with Richmond Little League and RPAL. He says The Grout Guys provides an opportunity to “teach our young men and women trades that can help them make a great living.”
For more information on The Grout Guys, visit its Facebook or call (510) 427-4254.
