Sealing tumbled natural stone

[mikedavey]

Got a floor to tile in tumbled natural stone & i've been told a number of methods when it comes down to sealing the tiles. The tiles are tumbled travetine & marble. Most sites tell you different info when sealing. Do you adhere tiles then seal or do you seal b4 ??
What do you suggest?

[brian c]

seal before and after grouting m8.

[Leatherface]

I seal tiles before grouting.

[Dave]

you can seal them as you lay them...grout once dry and then seal again once clean....

[vivaro]

Originally Posted by dhceramics

you can seal them as you lay them...grout once dry and then seal again once clean....

if you seal them as you lay them, if you do manage to get adhesives on tile will it be easy to remove from tile

[Dave]

If you are a messy tiler then you wont be able to seal as you lay..coz you will be washing them as you lay...so wait for them to set then seal or seal before you lay...

[vivaro]

Originally Posted by dhceramics

If you are a messy tiler then you wont be able to seal as you lay..coz you will be washing them as you lay...so wait for them to set then seal or seal before you lay...

cheers dave

[pjc]

have i got it wrong ? grout fist then seal

[Holohana]

lay tiles clean and let em dry.

Seal and let dry then grout and let dry and then seal again!

[silverfox]

What about cuts from your wet cutter, will this cause any problems if the tile isn't sealed first or is it just a matter of wiping it clean as soon as your finished with the cut? You know how dirty the water can get if not changed every so often.

[Yorkie]

Dependant upon which natural your laying it is advisable too seal BEFORE laying and before using a wet cutter as this can cause stainage although as mentioned you can lay and seal if you keep yourself clean, but you run the risk of something staining it and if your only going to seal it anyway you may as well do them all together in the first place beforehand to be on the safe side but its "horses for courses" on that one. When laying slate its ok to lay then clean them by giving them a quick wipe over before sealing checking that theres no footprints etc as you don't want a size nine reebok classic sealed in the centre, grout then seal again.

[pjc]

slate i seal first keep but tumbled i grout first on some limestone & sandstone i seal first it depends on the stone and the job funny world some time its to do with speed (it aint ard to tile but its hard to make money at it)