Tile and Grout Sealing - is it necessary?

There are many debates on this subject among the experts. Sealing is a matter of preference and also lifestyle. It cannot be assumed that all surfaces need to be sealed or not sealed. Therefore it is important to address each case individually and following expert advise.

For example, a travertine floor that is in the living area of the home. This floor could have a number of things that need to be considered. 1-What is the density of the stone, 2-How porous is the stone, 3-What kinds of activities take place here, and 4-is it honed, natural or polished finish?

Travertine is created underwater. Should we be concerned if it gets wet? I wouldn't think so. What are we trying to protect against by sealing a floor like this? If the surface is polished, we need to be concerned with acids etching the finish - not the stone. Sealing will not prevent this. Proper care and daily maintenance are required to address this situation. If the surface is natural, the stone may still be too dense to absorb the sealer. Having a sealer applied to this surface is a waste of time and money. If a penetrating sealer does not penetrate, what good can it do. It will simply be wiped right off the surface during the process. This is ill advised and any professional that is trained in stone should tell you this.

If the surface is porous (proven by the testing of the floor by a professional), then a penetrating sealer can be useful. Will it stop the floor from getting dirty? NO. It will however, fill the pores of the surface, thereby preventing or slowing the absorption of liquid and allowing time for the spill to be wiped off the surface. This is the purpose of a sealer.

Sealing grout on the other hand, is almost always a good idea. During the normal cleaning process that most utilize, the dirt from the top of the tile is suspended in the mop water. It is then carried by the mop into the low lying area of the floor - the grout. There it is left to evaporate leaving behind the crud and dirt that was mopped off the surface. Repetition of this process over months and years can leave behind a difficult cleaning scenario.

The best advice? Contact a profession tile and stone contractor to help you make the decision. If you are unsure of what to do with your surface contact Hard Surface Solutions in Orlando for assistance. Check them out at http://www.hssflorida.com