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PROFESSIONAL SEALING: WHY, WHEN, and with WHAT?
Sealing - When to Seal Stone and Grout
At Installation: The best time to get a high quality sealer on your stone and grout is when it is first installed. After the grout has properly cured, best after 48-72 hours, have a professional apply the correct sealer. See this blog - http://eurotechmaui.blogspot.com/2010/11/natural-stone-porcelain-tile-cleaning.html
Resealing: When your grout or stone gets and stays dark quickly after water exposure, it means that water, oil or other stain making elements could seep into the stone or grout and stain and discolor it. How quickly your grout or stone dries indicates how effective your sealer is.
Why Professionally Reseal? Article link: (More Here)
- Protect your investment from stains and discoloration
- Extend the life of the stone or grout
- Preserve the beauty of the stone
- Makes surfaces repel water, oil and stains
- Some of the top grade sealers require accreditation for application.
- One call we get frequently is for areas which can't be cleaned due to improper sealer application
- Proper preparation makes a difference in how well the sealer will protect
- Expert recommendations on which kind of sealer is best for your particular application
What Kind of Sealer should I use?
Depending on the type of surface you are sealing and where that material is installed, for example, is it interior or exterior? What is the surface used for - countertops for food preparation or a floor or shower wall? There are quite a few factors that will determine what kind of sealer would be best suited to your needs.
Generally, there are guidelines we follow when making sealer recommendations:
- It should be impregnating or penetrating. Topical sealers are less frequently recommended for natural stone and cost more for maintenance and reapplication. Penetrating sealers don't show a wear pattern as topical sealers do.
- It should be breathable. Trapping moisture inside of stone is never good. It can cause spalling, pitting and discoloration.
- It should repel water and oils. Keeping water and oils from saturating natural stone is key. Even very dense stone, like granite, will absorb oils within minutes if not properly sealed during manufacturing, fabrication or installation.
- Depending on the sealer, what the surface is exposed to, and how it is maintained, resealing can have a lifespan of anywhere from 1 to 15 years. Some sealers are considered 'permanent' as they permanently bond with and change the stone. We recommend testing and touching up even permanent sealers when applied.
- Professional Grade Sealers work best. Although what you can buy at the hardware store is certainly better than nothing, the stone care industry has come a long way and offers many, many options and grades of sealers. Generally, you get what you pay for in the cost of your sealer. Investing in a professional grade sealer pays off in preventing costly restorations and replacements of the stone or grout.
Sealing is intended to stop liquids from penetrating stone and grout. It holds liquids (stain makers) at the surface so you have more time to wipe up the stain causing agent. Dirt and other deposits will still collect on the surface of the stone or grout, so no matter how long your sealer is rated for, daily cleaning and maintenance cleaning is still recommended. Proper sealing will likely dictate how cleaned your surface will get during your future cleanings.
How long will my sealer last?
Manufacturers rate the time that the sealers are expected to be effective. However, sealer efficacy is affected by both maintenance practices and products, traffic and use, weather, salt and UV exposure. The best guide to resealing is to test your surfaces regularly and do it before the stone or grout soaks rapidly with water exposure. If you have questions on your surfaces, ask a care professional.
- Topical Sealers adhere to the top of the stone and must be stripped and resealed regularly.
- Topical Sealers may show wear patterns in high traffic areas
- Topical Sealers may be suitable for adding protection to particular types of stone
- Topical Sealers create a barrier which prevents staining and damage to the stone
- Topical Sealers require maintenance scrub and extraction cleanings to prevent buildup on the sealer
- Topical Sealers may be water, acid, stainproof
- Topical Sealers need to be chosen carefully because of slip factor when exposed to rain or water
"All sealers can be broken down into two categories. They can be a topical sealer, or they can be a penetrating sealer. As one would surmise, a topical sealer covers the top surface and bonds with the material it is applied to. A penetrating sealer works into the surface of the material it is applied to, and binds with the molecular structures of the material from the surface and up to 2 inches below it in some cases. While there is some new sealers on the market that claim to work on and below the surface, they have mixed reviews as to their claims. Choosing the type of sealer you are going to use depends on the desired outcome you are trying to achieve.
Topical sealers (also referred to as film-forming) form a protective barrier against mold, mildew, algae and most mild chemicals that can cause staining. Their job is to protect the surface of the material they are applied to. Film forming sealers are typically thicker than penetrating sealers as they contain acrylic or epoxy polymers. Film formers will be visible as they often enhance the color of the material they are applied to and appear glossy. Acrylics typically last a couple of years while some epoxies can last 7-10 years before re-application. As one might expect, topical sealers can be slippery when wet. Anti-skid additives can help reduce the slip factor. Topical sealers have a nice look when new. Topical sealers can also peel and flake if the surface is not prepped properly or as the surface encounters wear.
Penetrating sealers make use of chemicals whose molecular structure is much smaller than acrylics and epoxies. Their smaller size allows them to penetrate the surface. They are also more sophisticated in their design as they contain fusion forming particulates that seek out compatible molecules in the material they are applied to. Like magnets sticking together, these compatible molecules fill in the microscopic capillaries of the material they are applied to, forming an impenetrable barrier. Most penetrating sealers do not enhance color. They also do not appear glossy and typically do not increase the slip factor. Penetrating sealers are not known to peel or flake. Because they fuse with the material below the surface, penetrating sealers last longer than film forming sealers."How else can I protect my floors? More Here
By putting doormats at your entry, the amount of debris that will get ground into your floors is reduced. See this article to choose your doormat: http://www.doormatsource.com/doormats/materialarticle.cfm
