From Realtà Mapei n° 39 - 12/13/2024
Choosing the right product to seal your natural stone, tile or grout is critical to the life, longevity and overall appearance of your surface. Sealing your stone, tile and grout helps to protect against staining and allows dirt to release easier from the surface, making the floor easier to keep clean. Selecting the wrong product can have both disastrous and costly effects, by causing irreparable damage. There are many factors to consider when choosing the right sealer. Knowing the type of surface you have, where/how the sealer will be used and its performance and aesthetic expectations will help when selecting the best sealer for the job.
When selecting a sealer, a good rule of thumb to follow is: If the surface is dense, use a solvent-based product such as UltraCare Penetrating Plus SB Stone & Porcelain Tile Sealer. If the surface is porous, use a water-based product such as UltraCare Penetrating Plus Stone, Tile & Grout Sealer. Solvent-based products have a smaller molecular construction than water-based products and are generally preferred for use on the denser surfaces such as polished granite, marble and porcelain tile. Water-based penetrating sealers, with their larger molecules, are preferred for use on the more porous surfaces such as brick, clay tile, grout and slate. However, this isn’t a hard and fast rule, as both types of sealers can work on the same surfaces and the choice will sometimes come down to the preference of the end user.
In years past, solvent-based products were considered superior to water-based products but, with today’s technology, that is no longer the norm. Chemistry has evolved to the point where we can now formulate high-performance, water-based sealers that are safer to use, are more environmentally friendly and can outperform solvent-based products, offering consumers a variety of choices.
Sealers are generally classified into two categories, penetrating and topical. Both can be either water- or solvent-based. Both types can be used on a variety of stone and tile surfaces, including brick, clay tile, cement-based grouts, concrete tile, pavers, granite, marble, limestone, onyx, porcelain tile, quarry tile, sandstone, slate, travertine and more. After properly curing, penetrating sealers leave the surface unchanged and natural in appearance, although some penetrating sealers are also color-enhancing sealers. Topical coatings change the surface appearance by changing the angle that light reflects off the surface. Low-sheen and high-gloss finishes are popular choices available in the market.
Natural-look or enhancing penetrating sealers, also known as “impregnators,” are designed to penetrate deep into the surface and leave the stone, tile and/or grout unchanged or enhanced in appearance, depending on the type of sealer chosen. Penetrating sealers do not form a film, so they will never peel or flake and do not change the coefficient of friction (COF) or slip resistance of the surface when correctly applied. Penetrating sealers leave the surface exposed and do not protect against etching caused by acidic beverages and contaminants. This is important to know, especially when working with acid-sensitive surfaces such as marble, travertine, limestone and concrete tiles. Penetrating type sealers generally offer two levels of protection, standard and premium.
Standard protection: Sealers in this category offer protection against staining caused by most water-based contaminants, beverages, dirt and soiling caused by accidents such as food spills and pet stains. These types of sealers rarely offer protection from oil-based contaminants and would provide inadequate protection if used in a residential kitchen or commercial food-service area. Products in this category are usually less expensive to purchase than sealers that offer protection against both water and oil-based contaminants.
However, don’t assume that because a sealer offers only standard protection against waterborne staining, it is an inferior product. Although these types of sealers may not be best suited for use in a food-service environment, where grease and oil repellency would be required, they would be an excellent choice for use on an exterior brick wall, marble statue, stone fountain, paver walkway, and stone tile or grout where oil repellency isn’t needed. These sealers can last for years in the right environment, at a very reasonable cost to the consumer. MAPEI’s standard protection, natural-look sealers are:
Premium protection: Premium penetrating sealers offer high-performance, premium protection by resisting oil-based contaminants, in addition to basic protection against beverages. They also typically offer higher chemical resistance and life expectancy than a standard protection sealer. These sealers are excellent for use in food preparation and service areas, or anywhere premium protection is desired. Products in this category usually have a higher price point than standard-type sealers. MAPEI’s premium protection sealers are:
Topical coatings are just as the name implies: They sit on top of the surface, producing either a low-sheen or high-gloss finish. These products are for interior-use installations only. Topical coatings can wear off with pedestrian foot traffic and will require reapplication more frequently than a penetrating sealer will. More than one coat is usually needed to adequately protect the surface. MAPEI offers two topical coatings:
Enhancing sealers are a type of penetrating sealer that deepen and enhance the natural colors and veining of natural stone, certain tiles and masonry materials, making the stone more vibrant without producing a gloss. Some enhancers offer premium protection and resistance to oil-based contaminants. MAPEI’s UltraCare line offers two enhancing sealers that provide premium protection:
Regardless of the surface that is being treated or the level of protection chosen, it will be necessary to periodically reapply sealer over the life of the treated surface, to maintain an optimal level of protection. Reapplying sealer should become part of a regular maintenance program. The frequency of reapplying would be directly related to the amount of wear and tear caused by foot traffic, how often the floor is cleaned and what is being used to clean the floor.
A simple water droplet test will help determine if the surface needs resealing. Simply sprinkle a little water over the area and allow it to stand for several minutes. If it penetrates quickly and darkens, it’s probably time to reapply sealer. If the droplets penetrate slowly over several minutes, or not at all, reapplication may not be needed.
Always check the manufacturer’s label for the best application methods and maintenance recommendations. The use of strong cleaning chemicals can severely affect the performance of penetrating sealers and can render those sealers ineffective after only one cleaning. It is generally recommended to maintain sealed natural stone and tile with a mild, neutral-pH cleaner such as UltraCare Concentrated Tile & Grout Cleaner for floor installations and UltraCare Everyday Stone, Tile & Grout Cleaner for countertops and backsplashes. Always test sealers and cleaners in a few small, inconspicuous areas to determine the desired results are achieved before applying them to the entire area.
Unlike penetrating sealers, topical sealers sit on the surface of the tile, producing a barrier between the tile surface and contaminants. Layers of these sealers become the walking surface and, as time passes, they begin to show wear patterns, especially in the high-traffic areas. Pay close attention to these areas, as they begin to visibly show wear. Make sure the area is clean and dry, and apply a few thin coats over these areas, stopping at a common grout joint.
We rarely walk on the perimeter of the floor, and in some areas of the floor we may never cause a visible wear pattern. If only half of a tile shows wear, it’s always better to apply sealer to the entire tile face. It is not recommended to apply sealer to half of a tile, as you may see a demarcation line where the old and new coats meet. There is no need to apply sealer over the entire floor, especially in areas that have minimal traffic, and the focus can be only on the worn area of the high-traffic pattern. It is also very important to not let the sealer wear down to bare tile, which would necessitate stripping the sealer completely before re-building the coats of sealer.
Always perform test trials, in inconspicuous areas, to determine suitability and desired results are achieved. Follow the manufacturer’s label and technical data sheets for the best application methods and maintenance recommendations. The use of strong cleaning chemicals can severely affect the performance of penetrating sealers and can render them ineffective after only one cleaning. These types of cleaners can also harm topical sealers, making them sticky, tacky and hazy. It is generally recommended to maintain sealed natural stone and tile with a mild, neutral-pH cleaner such as UltraCare Concentrated Tile & Grout Cleaner.
MAPEI is a world leader in tile and stone installations systems, offering a variety of products for nearly every type of installation of stone, tile and grout. Contact MAPEI and speak with our Technical Support team with questions and when competent guidance is needed.
About the author:
Nick Valenti joined MAPEI in 2012 as the technical expert for the UltraCare line. He has more than 25 years of experience in the product line of sealers and cleaners. While his experience includes an in-depth knowledge of products, Nick also understands the major issues and problems that can arise with the surfaces to be protected and has solutions for these challenges. In charge of training MAPEI’s sales and technical services teams regarding sealers and cleaners, Nick is even more importantly the in-the-field resource for MAPEI’s customers and end users.
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