Identify your tile type for sealing...

[Rich]

Wanted to put up some info on different tile and surface types and which need sealing and which dont. This info is from the LTP product range, many of the experts on here will recommend LTP sealers and have used them for many years. LTP products can be bought or ordered from any Tile Giant store.

Quick test

A level teaspoon of water applied at room temperature will quickly show how absorbant your surface is. Gently appy the water to the surface of the tile and time how long it takes for the water to be absorbed. Absorption has been reached when no further water remains on the surface even if there is evidence of a water mark.

High porosity - Water absorbed within 5 mins - 3-4 coats of sealer normally required

Medium porosity - Water absorbed within 15mis - 2-3 coats of sealer normally required

Low porosity - Water absorbed within 1 hour or longer - 1-2 coats of sealer normally required.


Natural Stone
There are many varieties of natural stone and certainly too numerous to adequately cover in this literature. Most examples are porous, absorbant and need sealing to resist staining (limestone is particuarly absorbant).


Travertine

A brown, beige or grey dense and holey stone harder than limestone or marble. Sometimes filled with a resin to fill the open voids on the surface prior to honing.

Quick test - Up to 15mins

Limestone & Flagstones

New and old limestone and flagstones show great variation in porosity (such porosity sometimes varies within a single tile). 'Flags' are generally large, thick, irregular and rectangular. Limestone tiles tend to be more modular and more rfined in appearance. Colours range from beige, white, grey, brown and black. Limestone form Europe, India and the Far East are normally thinner and more regular in size. English Limestone such as Purbeck Stone, Hamstone, Bathstone, Stanford Stone, Lincolnshire Stone and Cotswold Limestone are normally thicker and in some cases vary in thickness from piece to piece.

Quick test - may very between 1 min and 1 hour

Sandstone

Normally has a rough riven textured surface. However some Indian Sandstone is sawn and honed, so are smooth on the surface. Although harder than limestone, it has a similar absorbency. Colour ranges from red, beige, brown, green to grey. Well known sandstone includes Yorkstone, Fossil Stone, Raj Green and Rainbow.

Quick test - may very between 1 min and 1 hour

Tumbled & Unpolished Marble

Normally smaller in size ranging from small mosaics to 30x30cm tiles and tumbled to give a more rounded worn appearance. Colours range from red, green, brown, beige, black, white, yellow and grey. Smaller mosaic pieces are commonly used to create a decorative border between glazed ceramic tiles.

Quick test - up to 15 mins

Riven or Honed Slate

Lower absorbancy slate is a very dense compact materiel and tends to have a fairly smooth regular surface. Common examples include slates from Brazil, China, Wales and Portugal which normally have a natural riven surface, but are sometimes mechanically honed to make them smooth.

Quick test - up to 1 hour

Higher absorbency slate is far less dense; softer, friable and more absorbent material. The surface of higher absorbency slate tends to be more laminated and irregular. Common examples include slates from India and Cornwall.

Quick test - up to 15mins

Polished Porcelain

A very hard full bodies man made tile that is availiable in a variety of colours and is mechanically polished to create a highly polished surface. The polishing porcess in most cases opens up micro-pores on the surface making the tile susceptible to staining. It is advisable to establish the gereral absorbency before sealing. This will vary according to the origin of the tile and where it has been manufactured.

Quick test - up to 2 hours

Polished Granite, Marble & Limestone

This is normally very smooth and although mechanically polished it is susceptible to to staining. Most polished stones react detrimentally to acid based substances such as lemon, vinegar and wine. This type of stone id found in a variety of colours and is particularly recognisable for its shiney appearance.

Quick test - up to 30mins

Low Porosity Terracotta & Quarry Tiles Including Victorian

Minimal absorbency, highly vitrified, machine made tiles which are either dust pressed or extruded. They have a resilient hard surface which is difficult to scratch. Available in a variety of colours which range from browns, blacks and reds to creams and blues. Quarry tiles should not be confused with 'Encaustic' tiles which are extreamly absorbent.

Quick test - may vary between 15mins and 1 hour

Medium & High porosity Terracotta

Machine made terracotta is generally smooth in appearance with regular edges. Handmade terracotta normally has a rougher texture which is sometimes pitted, may be friable, imprecise in shape with edges that are distorted or frayed. Terracotta will readily scratch and stain when unsealed.

Quick test - up to 5 mins*
*NB Reclaimed and old terracotta which may appear similar to high porosity terracotta will sometimes not properly absorb sealer. This is due, in most cases, to accumulated matter such as natural waxes, grease and grime which have been worn in to the tile over a period of time. In which case clean well with LTP Grimex and leave to dry before carrying out the quick test to establish porosity.

Encaustic Tiles

Encaustics, made from natural stone and stregthened with crushed marble, are generally brightly coloured, plain or patterned tiles. The pigments, natural oxides, are applied whilst the clay mixture is still in a semi-liquid state and harden into the tile surface. To the untrained eye Encaustics may appear similar to quarry tiles but their variation in porosity is distinctive; unlike quarry tiles, liquids are quickly absorbed into unsealed Encaustic tiles and without protection will easily stain.

Quick test - up to 5 mins

Glazed Ceramic &Porcelain

Normaly fully vitrified with no absorbency because of the glaze. Available in a variety of colours and in some cases manufactured to mimiuc the appearance of ntural stone or terracotta, so should not be confused with a natural material. If in doubt do a quick test to establish your material type. Does not normally require sealing and is easy to maintain. For matt and textured glazes it is possible to coat the surface with LTP Glaze Protector which will give the surface the appearance of a 'just washed floor' and help with anti slip.

Quick test - Non absorbent

Full Bodied Unglazed Porcelain

A minimal absorbency machine made highly vitrified material with a resilient hard surface that is difficult to scratch. Available in a variety of colours and different textures. The absorbency will vary and normally depend upon the origin og the tile and how it was manufactured.

Quick test - over 1 hour

Grouting

Most grouting is water resistant and not water proof and so absorbs moisture. It is normally moisture carrying dirt particals that discolour grout. Sealing the grout joints helps prevent moisture penetration and prevent dirt particals from being carried into the grout. This means that when washing tiled surfaces dirt is washed away from the grout joint rather than straight into it.

Quick test - up to 5mins

Terrazzo

This like marble is extremely porous, readily stains and reacts detrimentally to acid. It is made from pulverised and chipped marble which are bound together and finished by polishing. It is distiguished from marble by its more crystalline and granular struture, but should still be sealed in the same manner as marble.

Quick test - up to 30mins

[Dave]

Great post.. Stickied it for you..

[TF Ed]

top post as always rich !!

ed

[user123]

I think we should make you a milk bottle top medal... Brilliant, thanks, Richard!

[Rich]

I think we should make you a milk bottle top medal... Brilliant, thanks, Richard!

I want one of them! Have a word with Dave for me and see if I can have it next to my arms member/established tiler/ trusted advisor badge!

[Dave]

[Rich]

Holy cow!! What milk do you drink Dave!? You are charging to much mate

[Dave]

A special chocolate coin medal made from top cows milk..

[Rich]

Im touched! Forget the milk top medal, Im going up in the world!!

[nybor62]

great post thanks

[swanman]

Great post Rich

Really Helpful

[Muse2k8]

Great post. Really useful