how to seal cement tiles?
viva99
12 years ago
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parksloper
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
NEED advice on how to clean tile floors before sealing.
Comments (1)Oxyclean and hot water, mixed as recommended on the side of the tub....See Moretile flooring - when and how to seal it?
Comments (3)I waited a week for my grout to cure. Then I used 511 Impregrnator sealer. It cost about $35 a quart, but it goes a LONG way. I've bought cheaper sealers but like this one better. My floor is NOT natural stone, otherwise I'd have ordered 511 Porous Plus. I bought a bag of cotton scraps (they actually are T shirt scraps, but I didn't have any I wanted to cut up). RULE #1 - Work in small areas at a time - you need to be cleaning this stuff one within about 30 mn of applying. It goes on much easier than it comes off. I apply it for about 5 mn, then wait 2 or so and start back where I started. Usually the whole routine takes me about 25 mn, and then I start on the next section. Where most DIY mess up is trying to do too much at one time and then they can't get the dried sealer off the tiles. First I put on vinyl gloves - they handled the chemicals well (no eating through or swelling of the glove). I used four rages for the process. I used one to apply the stuff. Make sure to saturate the joints good. Wait long enough so where I started has sat 5-8 minutes and then I start with the next three rags. I make sure not to mix them up. Now, if I've waited too long and it has dried, I go over it quickly with the first (now sealer soaked) rag - more sealer is the best thing to soften dried on sealer. I take my first rag and wipe over what I can reach, then use the second get it even drier and then buff with the last rag. I found this gets rid of the sealer haze the best. Then I move forward (right over what I just dried) and keep working forward until I've got the area done. If my first wipe rag starts to get a bit damp and is leaving streaks, I toss it and get a fresh one and then "rotate" the rags so the cleanest is always the last I use. Also, most say you should stay off it for 12 -24 hours, doing sections makes that part a bit easier, and doing it before going to bed helps too. Except when your husband decides he has to go to the bathroom right after you have applied sealer to in front of the door - grrr! I just finished up sealing about 520 sq feet of tile. Cathy...See MoreSealing marble tiles before install...how to store them after?
Comments (10)Both of your points are taken for sure. However, for smaller scale/low budget jobs at least around here (Toronto) it is common practice for contractors to leave sealing to the homeowner. I realize this is different than sealing after their job is done, because it’s pre-install and therefore I am taking on liability. But I really wanted to seal prior to grout and then again after, so it was actually my contractor’s as well as others’ suggestions to do so before the work starts, rather than having to halt for a full 1-2 days between tilesetting and grouting for sealant to dry. Noting and understanding your disapproval with this course of action, can we pretend I am a DIYer doing this tiling myself and asking the same original question? =) What would you suggest putting between the tiles to restack them after sealant is dry? Don’t have enough cloth/towels, would parchment paper be ok?...See Moreseal ceramic matte tile? how to clean?
Comments (9)Your white penny tile is unglazed. Glazing is the addition of a layer of liquid glass to the clay tile. Although glazing can sometimes scratch or chip, it doesn't stain through. (Unless it's a crackle glaze with tiny openings or cracks in the glaze itself. You do not have a crackle glaze). Your penny tile should be sealed to avoid staining. I don't have any recommendations but a tile store should be able to help, maybe even a big box tile department. Since your other tile doesn't specify that it is unglazed, I think you can assume it is glazed. Sealing won't provide any additional protection to the glazing, so don't waste your time. You might have to use something stronger on the scuffs, like a tile cleaner, but usually surface stains should come up fairly easily. Wax - you may have to soften with a hair dryer and scrape up with a plastic utensil....See MoreCarolyn H_K
8 years agomaybelle824
8 years agoshay_fox
8 years agoCalivilla
4 years ago
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