Melbourne Tile & Grout Sealing

Sealing involves the application of a chemical solution to a porous tile or stone which soaks into the surface by penetrating it.

Having to choose from thousands of tiles and grouts available in today’s market isn’t an easy task. However, protecting your choice is an important one. Sealing the tiles and grout offers this protection and can extend the life of your tiles and grout as well as assist in keeping them clean, hygienic and presentable. 

Different Tiles and grouts require different types of sealers. Tiles can be an expensive investment so sealing them straight after installation is a wise choice.

Generally, ceramic tiles never need sealing whereas most other types including natural stone do. In all cases, grout lines should be sealed. This process might sound like an additional cost to the purchase of tiles and grout however the cost of not sealing and protecting them can add up to 5 times more.

MELBOURNE TILE RESTORATION have spent the past decade working with different tiles, grouts, cleaners and sealers so when you choose us you can be sure you are in safe hands. Unless new, tiles and grout must be cleaned prior to sealing with appropriate sealer. Even in freshly laid situations, all grout haze must be removed prior to sealing.

At MELBOURNE TILE RESTORATION we ensure our consistent process produces only the best results including the following method:

1. Inspection of all tiles and grout
2. Cleaning of all areas using appropriate cleaning solutions
3. Stain treatment, if required
4. Drying of all cleaned areas
5. Provide customers with a selection of sealers
6. Apply required number of coats of chosen sealer
7. Recommend the best method of maintaining your newly sealed surfaces

 

Types of Sealers:

Topical Sealers:

Topical sealers are surface coatings. They are designed to sit on top of the stone or tile and offer a high gloss finish. They are water based products made from polymers and are the cheapest to apply. Topical sealers are applied to the surface after cleaning and can go up to 4 coats deep. The more coats, the glossier the surface will be. 

Pros:

• A cost effective solution – cheaper than the others
• High gloss finish
• Can improve slip resistance
• Provides a barrier coating

Cons:

• Short lifetime – 2 to 3 years maximum
• More costly to maintain as they can show scuff marks from furniture
• Unless changed within 3 years it might start to yellow
• Can change look of the stone by offering a highly gloss finish

Penetrating Sealers:

Penetrating Sealers are also known as impregnating sealers. They are most commonly used in the sealing industry as they offer high protection from water and stains and have a long life of up to 10 years.

Penetrating sealers impregnate the surface of tiles and stone in order to provide protection. During the application the resin lines the pores of the surface and creates a multidimensional connection which is then absorbed by the tile and repels water, oil and stains. Because this type of sealer is absorbed into the stone or tile they do not change the appearance of the surface nor affect slip resistant properties. This means if your surface was non slip prior to sealing, it will be non slip after the sealing too. Majority of penetrating sealers have a matte finish 

Properties:

Offers superior protection against water, stains, oil with a long lifetime of up to 10 years
Makes cleaning and maintenance easier
Does not change the appearance or slip resistance properties of the surface being sealed
Allows natural stone to breathe
Reduces or eliminates mould, moss and efflorescence
Increases the life of tile or stone

 

Solvent sealers

Solvent sealers are also impregnating sealers. They penetrate deeper into the surface, however are much more difficult to apply and have high VOC, meaning they give strong odours during application. Once applied, they will give a long reasonable protection against water and some stains. They are not the greatest sealers against oil stains.

Solvent based sealers provide a semi gloss finish once cured and usually two coats are applied. They are suitable to use on low porosity tiles which may include polished marble, porcelain or granite. Solvent based sealers have a high penetrating power and are able to penetrate up to 20mm into the stone.

Pros:

• High penetrating power – works well in low porosity stone
• Repels water and some stains
• Offer good per sq meter coverage

Cons:

• More difficult to apply
• Extremely hard to strip
• High VOC – gives off strong odours during application
• Don’t offer much protection against oil stains
• Can have a negative reaction with stones that contain factory applied resin
• Can damage natural stone if not stripped prior to resealing

To schedule your appointment or to obtain a free estimate, please Call 03 5410 7929 or use our online enquiry form. We cover all Melbourne suburbs