Best grout sealer for glazed ceramic tile?

14 years ago

I know this should be easy, but I'm having a very hard time finding out which grout sealer to use for my old-fashioned glazed ceramic bathroom tile.

I would like to apply it by brush or with a cloth, not spray-on. Thanks for any advice!

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Comments (7)

bill_vincent
14 years ago
not spray-on

Smart move. Look for either Miracle's 511 Impregnator, or Stone Tech's Impregnator Pro. Either one will work well.
skippy05
14 years ago
OH NO!! We just used the spray on yesterday. It is what the people at the store where the tile was purchased recommended! Am I going to have a problem with this now also........
I think it is Seal Kote or something like that???
I know it has a picture of a little seal on it!
I am going to go find the can!!!!

Why not spray on??
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Hollysprings, I just realized I forgot to crosspost to the Kitchen Forum. Thank goodness I got your post. I told the installer after 5 PM when he called on Saturday that he could start on Monday but now I am getting so nervous as I want a floor easy to keep clean. He says the Power Grout still stains and is not worth the cost and is more difficult to use. I did do some research on it and in 2010, many installers were having so many problems with the Power Grout coming out when showering and staining feet. Maybe it has been improved? The first installer wanted me to pick up the Power Grout myself making his price $700 more. Also I am looking over the other estimate I got a few hours earlier before this installer called and it says that this other installer would prime the floor and supply the primer before installing the tile so maybe that is why the estimate is $300 more. This other installer says I am to buy my own grout. I did not consider him as his reply on when I asked what the grout width would be was that it would not be more than 1/4". I want a think grout line. The other two installers told me they would try to get as thin of a grout line as they can ONCE they assess the situation after they remove the Linoleum floor and see how flat the surface is and how the tiles are when they are placed on the floor in the running bond position. Now I am getting confused as I did say he could start and I felt so comfortable with the installer but I wonder if my floor needs to have a primer on it and I wonder if the other guy could install the Epoxy grout also without charging me more than the $300 more IF I buy the grout which I know is expensive. He would have to tell me how much to buy. The guy that is coming on Monday is supplying the TEC grout with the job and was one of the installers given to me by the store. My Spectralock grout has never turned colors and the front foyer still looks almost new since installed at the end of December 2008. The middle foyer where I keep the puppy pads is staining from the pee from my little dogs and it is difficult to keep clean but never turns black like I see in so many houses with light grout.
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jayco
Original Author
14 years ago
I don't know what Bill Vincent will say, but I didn't want the spray-on since I thought it would be easier to get a good solid coat if I hand-applied it, I didn't want to have to wipe it off all my tile, and I don't generally like the idea of having to breathe solvents if I can help it.

But maybe there's another reason.

Bill, thanks for the advice, I'm going to get the Miracle 511.
skippy05
14 years ago
Thanks Jayco! I hope that is the only reason...
Nothing else has been going right with this bathroom.
Actually is is called Sure Seal. The guy told us it was ok to get on tile, we actually coated the entire floor......

You are correct about breathing the solvents though!
It was strong. Fortunately it was great weather out yesterday, all the windows & doors were open.
jayco
Original Author
14 years ago
I am so far from an expert it's not even funny, Skippy05, so I'm just guessing here. But, I think floor tiles are different. I'm talking glazed ceramic wall tiles in a shower surround. Maybe Bill will come back and enlighten us both!
bill_vincent
14 years ago
There was a problem a few years back with a spray sealer from Tile Perfect being sold thru Home Depot. Even before an health problems surfaced, I wasn't crazy about the idea of a spray sealer for a couple of reasons. First, they say you can get it on the tile-- it doesn't hurt it, that it evaporates off. If that's the case, then how can it evaporate off the tile, and not the grout? Secondly, like Jayco, I didn't care for the idea of breathing that crap. I didn't need almost 70 people to go to the hospital, and two to die before I realised it wasn't a good thing.

Now, for legality sake, I have to add that those people allegedly went to the hospital because of a chemical that was added to the sealer and shouldn't have. But there are enough other chemicals in them to still make me personally shy away from them.
skippy05
14 years ago
I should have wrote something here before we did the sealer.
It is too late now,it is done. Fortunately no one got sick.

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Best grout sealer for glazed ceramic tile?

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Best grout sealer for glazed ceramic tile?

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