I'll defer to Bill on this one, I haven't used Stonetech products.

Sounds like they want to make darn sure that each phase of the project is fully cried/cured prior to moving on to the next.

Are the directions on the bottles that specific?

Mongo

Mongo,
That's what their rep. told me over the phone. I want to make sure I don't have hazing on the tiles.
Donna

There's a reason they're that specific concerning limestone. Many limestones are like sponges. They'll absorb and retain moisture for a good long time. Now, as most of you know, if you seal a surface, and there's any moisture at all in it, you're going to get a white haze that's tougher than hell to get rid of. So, the answer to that is to wait what seems an inordinate amount of time to make sure the material is completely dry.

OK Bill,
So how will I know when the limestone is completely dry?

Also after sealing I have to wait another week or so before grouting and after grouting I have to wait again to reseal. What is my contractor going to do while we are waiting for all this stuff to dry?

He said he's done 3 limestone bathrooms and didn't wait between each step. Is that enough limestone experience.
Donna

Okay-- there are two lines of thinking on this. First, is that the manufacturer will make sure that they stick to the 11th commandment (Thou shalt cover thine own a$$) by being overly cautious, which is what I explained in my last post. IOW, i would tend to agree with your contractor. The other line of thinking would be that it wouldn't hurt to follow the recommendations just to make sure that it doesn't screw up. There IS a way to check for moisture, though-- take a piece of saran wrap or polyethlene, and tape it over the floor. Be sure to seal the whole perimeter. Take it up a day later, and if the tile is darker under where the plastic was, you need to let it dry out further.

Thanks Bill,
I will definately do the Saran wrap test. After it's dry and I seal it, do I have to wait 3 days between each step again? Can I use the Saran test on the sealed tiles too?
Donna

You shouldn't have to wait three days after sealing to grout. Check the side of the bottle when you get it. That seems a little ridiculous, even by manufacturer's 11th commandment standards.

Bill,
Do I have to cover the entire floor with Saran wrap or can I do a small section? This will be on the walls too.
Donna

Just a small area-- maybe one foot square.

Bill,
Thanks for your help. I think I'm understanding the entire process now. I took out a tile last night and wet it. It dried up fast. I think I'll wait at least 3 days before grouting. It looks like about a 3 day wait between each step.
Donna

Bill,
I'm starting to stress out regarding this limestone. My contractor came over to see the tiles. The limestone is honed and the tops of many tiles have a very rough feel to them. Almost like a sandpaper feel. He is concerned that the grout will get in the rough areas and won't come out. He took home two tiles and said he is going to test them. He has done many marble and granite bathrooms but only 3 limestone. I know him well and find him to be very good at his craft.
I tested two tiles, one with Stonetech Enhancer Pro and the other with Impregnator Pro. The EP made the surface smooth but the color is too dark. The IP did nothing as far as water protection goes. Is the IP supposed to keep water from penetrating the tiles? I tried some Stone International sealer and the water just beaded up. My contractor thinks I should lay out all the tiles and pre seal them because of the rough surface. He also said maybe we should use a grout release before grouting. What do you think about the grout release? Do you know of a really good sealer that would help protect the rough spots on the limestone from the grout?
Donna

I'm going to give you a little hint that not even very many installers know. Everyone thinks that the solvent based sealers are the cat's meow, and as sealers, they are. They last alot longer, and will do their job alot better. BUT--- as a grout release, not a one of them will stand up to a water based sealer. Years ago, when I lived in south Florida, I did alot of Saltillo (terra cotta) tile. As I'd set it, I'd spray it down with Aquamix's water based sealer. As much of a nightmare as most people think it is to grout terra cotta, using that stuff as a grout release, it was like grouting glazed tile. A couple of years later, I was up here doing a Saltillo floor for my last employer, and they gave me Porous Plus-- supposedly the absolute best sealer for that purpose. I went thru twice the sealer, at almost TEN TIMES THE PRICE PER GALLON, and it STILL didn't do as good a job. I would submit that you'd get the same results with limestone, no matter HOW coarse the texture.

Check it out. Water based sealer isn't that much-- only about 20.00 a gallon-- pick up a gallon (and DON'T let them talk you into using ANY kind of solvent based sealer-- not Porous Plus, Not Bullet proof, NONE of them), and seal a piece of tile. Let it dry overnight, and then smear it with grout. Let it sit for about 20 minutes, and try and clean it. I have a pretty good feeling it'll put all your fears to rest.