Should You Seal Ceramic Tile

Where should you use ceramic and porcelain tile sealer products.

Should you seal ceramic tile.

Typically unglazed porcelain tile comes in polished and unpolished formats. Sealing is done to strengthen tile or grout s defenses against dirt spills and erosion of grout but not all tile needs to be sealed. There s an argument to say that you d only seal a polished porcelain tile and that matt or textured tiles should be left untreated. Take a look on google and you ll find a host of conflicting views.

Different types of ceramic tiles and grout have distinct features that should be considered when choosing sealing products. Next choose your sealer based on the type of tile you have and its. Should a porcelain tile floor be sealed after installation. On the commercial side you re going to have restrooms shower facilities kitchens showrooms entrance ways hallways lobby areas and stairways both interior and exterior.

I assume you have a glazed porcelain tile. However with unglazed porcelain tile the use of a sealer may or not be needed for several reasons which we will discuss here. Put generally speaking you don t have to seal it. Whether you are repairing or replacing tile and grout new or old sealing them is the last and usually most overlooked step.

When to seal tiles. I assume it is a cementitious grout which is porous. On the consumer or residential side in the living areas kitchens and the bathrooms. Adhesion wanting to seal your ceramic floor tile surfaces because an existing floor sealer is peeling off.

Even if you can find a sealer to adhere to the surface it will most likely peel or wear very quickly usually in 2 12 months. You will need to find out what type of tile you have to determine what type of sealer to use and if you can use a sealer. You should be fine using a high quality sealer. There are some exceptions to this so check with your manufacturer to be sure.

If your tile is ceramic or porcelain it probably won t need to be sealed. It s a question that we get asked on a regular basis. Ceramic tile floors are an attractive and durable addition to high traffic and wet areas in a home. A primer is used mostly before painting not sealing a tile.

When you re finished cleaning the grout allow the area to dry for 45 minutes before sealing. Thank you for getting in touch. Sealers or coatings do not adhere or stick well to ceramic floor tiles. The water absorption rating for porcelain tile according to ansi 137 1 and ptca porcelain tile certification agency is 5 or less.

If you have a porcelain or ceramic tile you may not be able to seal the tile. It will get darker over time whether you seal it or not but it will be easier to clean and will less likely stain if you do seal it.