HI-old thread but wondering if there are any new product recommendations for honed marble? I would like to seal our marble pre-grouting. Then post-grout too unless that is not recommended?? Also-Is there any downside to sealing the marble before it is applied to the wall? Thanks very much!!!

I am leaning strongly toward having my old cast iron tub reglazed a different color in my bathroom redo, and am wondering about the order that work should proceed in to ensure that the seal works well between the edge of the granite tile for the bath enclosure and the reglazed tub, and that it looks as good as possible. In short, I am wondering if it would be best to demo the old tile, reglaze the tub and *then* have the granite tile installed (protecting the body of the tub during tile work with tyvek and cushioning underneath while work progresses, using blue painters' tape to adhere that). (The bonus of this order of work is that we get to see what the initial reglazing looks like and if it's really not up to par, we have the option of ripping out the tub and buying new before the tile work proceeds.) If instead we have retiling done first, what should they do about the bottom tiles where they meet the top of the tub ... is there any issue in using the usual silicon sealant that would leave some visible line... such that it would be better to not seal, have reglazing done and then seal? (Or, what? I could imagine issues with that procedure too.) Thanks PS for those interested, as to the reglazing choice: While I've heard about the durability of reglazed tubs being an issue, it would be OK if we had to have (and could have) spot reglazing done every year or two. We've got a great, deep old cast iron tub (5'x30") that is fit very closely into the alcove but with not much rim space at all. All the other cast iron tubs I see that have nice depth are going to be a little wider ... and very expensive... and I'd prefer cast iron to Americast and do not want acrylic. No matter what we got new, I think there could well be some issues with needing to recenter the plumbing, possibly losing the right-hand ledge altogether due to width even on the 30" wide tubs etc.

Bill, Another question about sealing marble, if you don't mind: What type of sealer do you recommend if you want enhancing properties? We recently had Crema Marfil put in our master bathroom (on the vanity) and our fabricator thought it would look better honed and I trusted that I'd like it. Unfortunately, I'm not crazy about the look as it too so much of the color out of it (it's such a "quiet" marble anyway that I feel like it robbed it of any beauty it had in the first place!). Also, where do you purchase these sealers? Do places like Lowes or Home Depot carry them? Many thanks!

Thanks, but it's long since done & passed :) If anyone else has this question in the future, pretty much all of the reliable tile folk I spoke to (who are familiar with slate) said to seal the slate before grouting, with a light coating, then again after grouting. Has been sealed; grout is drying as I type :) And it looks great!