How to seal natural stone tiles

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[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Can you please give me step by step advice on cleaning and sealing natural stone mosaics? Do I use a damp cloth to clean the dust off and then wait to dry? How long should I allow to dry before sealing? Do I seal them once in one direction and then seal again in opposite direction? Do I also have to seal sides of the tiles as well as the tops of the tiles? Once I seal them, can I put them back into the box until the tiler comes to adhere them to the wall?[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff] I have spent a lot of money on these tiles and want perfection![/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Thank you for the advice.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Boz[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
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[basshunter]

dont seal them before if you dont have to.the best thing to do is fix them whilst working clean(remove any adhesive with a damp sponge) seal prior to grouting.grout,then seal twice more following the instructions on the product.

if you do have the luxury of time and space to lay all the tiles out and seal- then do it-but dont stack them, together damp!!!

[Defy]

Originally Posted by mclewley

Hi,

Can you please give me step by step advice on cleaning and sealing natural stone mosaics? Do I use a damp cloth to clean the dust off and then wait to dry? How long should I allow to dry before sealing? Do I seal them once in one direction and then seal again in opposite direction? Do I also have to seal sides of the tiles as well as the tops of the tiles? Once I seal them, can I put them back into the box until the tiler comes to adhere them to the wall?
I have spent a lot of money on these tiles and want perfection!
Thank you for the advice.

Boz

1. What stone are they

2. Where are they being used

3. What sealer do you have

4. Are you wanting to enhance the colour

5. Do you think I am telepathic


Soon as you like

I am using Lithofin Stain StopMN, in a downstairs loo, It is a tumbled unpolished marble. If you were telepathic, you would have known instinctively the answers to your questions!

[balloonlady]

Personallly speaking I prefer to seal the tiles prior to laying that way, as I know I'm a mucky tiler, I'm not likely to stain the tiles in anyway.

Don't use a wet cloth to wipe off the dust as this could again stain the tile, use a lint free cloth or closed cell sponge (one with tiny holes not great big fat ones)
Seal north to south, leave to dry then seal east to west, creating a lattice effect - that saves creating direction marks

DO NOT seal the sides or underneath - this will stop the adhesive and grout from adhering to the tile

Seal as many times as the tile needs to be done until it stops readily soaking the sealer up

Lay, gently wiping off any adhesive from the face,then seal n-s e-w again before grouting, and then adding a final seal

Longer way round but pretty much failsafe


Remember also that the sealer will wear off over time, so will need stripping back and resealing again....

Hi,

Thank you all for the advice.

Boz

[Kstrats]

Hi This is the first time I've used this site and done any grouting!. It looks like I've made a major bodge job straight away as I have not sealed the tiles prior to grouting and although I've cleaned them off well, is it too late to put a coat of sealer on the tiles to finish off?

They are natual stone and they are wall tiles in the kitchen. If I do it now will the sealer discolour the grout? Also do I wash the sealer off once I've put it on with a cloth - sorry being totally thick!!

If you can advise that would be great!

Originally Posted by balloonlady

Personallly speaking I prefer to seal the tiles prior to laying that way, as I know I'm a mucky tiler, I'm not likely to stain the tiles in anyway.

Don't use a wet cloth to wipe off the dust as this could again stain the tile, use a lint free cloth or closed cell sponge (one with tiny holes not great big fat ones)
Seal north to south, leave to dry then seal east to west, creating a lattice effect - that saves creating direction marks

DO NOT seal the sides or underneath - this will stop the adhesive and grout from adhering to the tile

Seal as many times as the tile needs to be done until it stops readily soaking the sealer up

Lay, gently wiping off any adhesive from the face,then seal n-s e-w again before grouting, and then adding a final seal

Longer way round but pretty much failsafe


Remember also that the sealer will wear off over time, so will need stripping back and resealing again....

I thought stainstop was a penetrating sealer!!!

Kev

[beanz]

Originally Posted by Kstrats

Hi This is the first time I've used this site and done any grouting!. It looks like I've made a major bodge job straight away as I have not sealed the tiles prior to grouting and although I've cleaned them off well, is it too late to put a coat of sealer on the tiles to finish off?

They are natual stone and they are wall tiles in the kitchen. If I do it now will the sealer discolour the grout? Also do I wash the sealer off once I've put it on with a cloth - sorry being totally thick!!

If you can advise that would be great!

The sealer shouldn't discolour the grout. The reason for sealing before grouting, is to stop the grout soaking into the tile and staining.Excess sealer should be wiped off with a lint free cloth after about 10 mins.

What stone are the tiles made of? If the grout didn't stain them, maybe they have a coating on!?!

[Kstrats]

Thank you Beanz, the tiles are from Wicks - Travertine Mosaic wall tiles, they came in a pack and it just says natural stone. Maybe not much help there. I'm going to run with putting a thin coat on and then see how they come out, if that works I'll give it another coat and hope for the best.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Kstrats

Thank you Beanz, the tiles are from Wicks - Travertine Mosaic wall tiles, they came in a pack and it just says natural stone. Maybe not much help there. I'm going to run with putting a thin coat on and then see how they come out, if that works I'll give it another coat and hope for the best.

They will be fine...you seal after grouting anyway with those tiles......make sure they are clean first....Use an impregnating sealer.....something like lithofin stainstop...

Good luck..

[doug boardley]

Originally Posted by Dave

They will be fine...you seal after grouting anyway with those tiles......make sure they are clean first....Use an impregnating sealer.....something like lithofin stainstop...

Good luck..

I'd remembered that (and not confused it with FZ or flipping burgers lol)!