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Help! Bill, other tile gurus - Last Minute Sealer/Grout Question

15 years ago

I'm x-posting from the flooring forum because I'm desperate with a last minute scheduling snafu.

I just laid a slate tile floor in my entryway. My plan was to clean & seal it tomorrow night, then grout & seal again. Meanwhile, my GC just told me he's planning on sending over the guys who are replacing the front door, including installing a completely new door frame, on Thursday. (It's now Tuesday eve) Meaning they'll be walking on the tile, with a very heavy door.

Tile guy doesn't want them walking on the tiles before it's grouted. I'm reading the sealer instructions, & it says wait to seal for 72 hours after the surface has been wet. Really? So I clean the tiles tomorrow night, then wait 72 hours before sealing, & meanwhile no heavy traffic on the entry? Or should I forget the pre-grout sealing step & clean & grout tomorrow afternoon & let the door guys do their thing on Thursday?

I guess what it comes down to is how important is the pre-grout sealing step when it comes to slate? & how long do I really need to wait after washing before I use the sealer?

Sealer, btw, is Glaze 'n Seal multi-purpose Sealer.

Thanks!

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Comments (3)

jmax_2008
15 years ago
you need to seal the slate prior to grouting so the grout will not be as imbedded in the clefts or stain the slate. In my opinion, as a tile installer, as long as the tiles are completely dry and cured, the door installers can walk on it. I would ask them to wear "booties" that slip over their shoes to not rub mud or anything in the tiles. Then, lightly dust or damp mop the tiles, pre-seal, let dry, then grout, then seal again.
moonkat99
Original Author
15 years ago
jmax I heard back from the tile store, & they felt pretty much the same as you just said (minus the booties, but still covering the tile with something).

That's probably what I'm going to do - I can't wait to get this door installed, but definitely want to do right by the tile, so as long as they can walk on it, I'll hold off on the sealing & grouting.

They did say that I should wait 72 hours after scrubbing the tiles clean, before sealing. As long as the door can be installed, I'm fine with that.

Thank you :)
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bill_vincent
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I'm reading the sealer instructions, & it says wait to seal for 72 hours after the surface has been wet. Really?

Really. Each sealer is different, and some will require you to wait that long.

Or should I forget the pre-grout sealing step & clean & grout tomorrow afternoon & let the door guys do their thing on Thursday?

I guess what it comes down to is how important is the pre-grout sealing step when it comes to slate? & how long do I really need to wait after washing before I use the sealer?

I would leave that up to the installer. If he feels confident that he can clean the tile well without sealing it, then let him. I know that for myself, I prefer to grout stone, including natural cleft slate, unsealed.

Even if it gets grouted, though, I'd still put a piece of plywood or at the very least, masonite, over the slate to protect it.

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