Sonoma Tile, seal after install before grout?
bluetea57
11 years ago
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Bunny
11 years agoMadeline616
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Seal floor tile before installation?
Comments (3)From Laticrete's website: Certain types of stone (e.g. Thasos White marble, White Carrara marb/e, other statuary marbles, and other absorptive stone) may draw the grout liquids into them causing a "picture framing" effect which will darken or discolor the stone. Coduct a test area to determine suitability and acceptability. Here is a link that might be useful: LATICRETE...See MoreSilicone corners before or after sealing grout?
Comments (2)Well, that's good (it doesn't make any difference) - I went ahead and sealed it first. The changes of plane I'll caulk in a a few days. I've got to paint the ceiling and non-tiled walls first of course. This has been a very drawn-out project, it's exciting to have it this close to completion....See MoreMosaic tile: seal before installing?
Comments (11)I'm not a tile expert but I did a lot of research before installing slate tile floors. What I read was that you want to avoid sealing before installing the stone tile because you want to make certain the stone tiles bond properly with the thinset on installation. When you seal before grouting, you want to seal the top of the tiles to avoid getting the grout stuck on the top (makes cleanup easier and decreases possible haze issues if you don't clean up quickly enough). But you do not want to saturate the grout joints because you want the grout to bond properly. So I would recommend installing, then sealing, then grouting, then cleaning, then sealing the grout. Sealing is quite easy....See Morestone enhancer before or after grouting?
Comments (6)Thanks so much for your input, Jim! I wasn't actually thinking about sealing the stones prior to installation; I was going to wait the 4-5 days before sealing.... but now you've started me thinking in new directions. We did a sample piece and it dries really quickly. Maybe I could get up early tomorrow and seal it all before the installer comes. He could do the back foyer floor while it's drying. I'm really glad you gave your advice about not getting sealer on the grout-sides of the tiles. I was thinking the exact opposite! I didn't think about adhesion. I just thought that if the marble absorbed the moisture from the grout, it might crack/crumble fairly soon. I too hope a definitive answer comes through soon. I should have considered all this long before now. Good luck with your project. My guess (which isn't likely worth much) is that the sealer will slightly darken your grout. You probably wouldn't need too much grout sealer for the job... Is there one on the market that is not an enhancer as well (water-based, not solvent based) and therefore might allow your grout to remain its intended colour? Sandra...See MoreBunny
11 years agobluetea57
11 years agorazamatazzy
10 years agocalumin
10 years agoBunny
10 years agobluetea57
10 years agoMadeline616
10 years agojellytoast
10 years agoBunny
10 years agorazamatazzy
10 years agocvw_ky
6 years agoBunny
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoLyn Mellia-Follini
6 years agoKristen Hallock
6 years ago
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