How to Know If Your Tile Needs Sealing
Tiles are beautiful, durable, and the perfect material for hungover sleepovers. It is a natural choice for wet areas such as kitchens, bathrooms and hallways because it tolerates water well and is easy to clean. Tiles are so durable and seem to be impervious to dirt and dust that we sometimes mistakenly assume they don’t require any real maintenance – just stick them on a wall or floor and forget it, right?
Unfortunately no. If you’ve had tile in your home for a while, you may have noticed that it can actually get dirty and dirty, and if left to its own devices, it will eventually start to erode, crack, and begin to weaken. . Like everything else in this changing world, tile requires regular maintenance to make it stand the test of time, and one of the most important things you can do for your tile and the grout in between is to seal it regularly.
Not all tiles need to be sealed, and even if they do, you may not know when your tile was last sealed, especially if you’re new to the home. Here’s how to determine if your tile and grout needs to be sealed (or re-sealed), and why you should.
Not all tiles need to be sealed
Sealing tiles and grout is designed to prevent water intrusion. Water is literally every minute trying to destroy your home. If it doesn’t come in the form of hurricanes and floods, it drips from a leaky pipe onto drywall or floorboards, causing mold and rot. And it’s also likely to sink into the pores of your tile and grout and grow moldy, trapping dirt and breaking the adhesive bond of your thin coat or mastic.
Almost all grouts need to be sealed – grout is a cement, and it’s pretty versatile porous. The sealant will protect your grout from this watery intrusion, helping it look fresh and new while preventing destructive demise. The sealing solution will also prevent stains that form as a result of water entering the solution where it is difficult to clean.
But not all tiles need to be sealed. Natural stone almost always needs to be sealed, but most ceramic or porcelain tiles are non-porous and therefore do not require this, but there are exceptions to this rule, so it is a good idea to always check with your tile manufacturer. to see what they recommend.
How to know when it’s time to seal
If you have a porous tile such as natural stone (like travertine or marble) and you’re not sure if it needs to be sealed, you can do a very simple test: put a few drops of water on the tile and grout. If it clumps and doesn’t absorb, your tile is sealed and the caulk is holding. If liquid seeps into the tile or grout and darkens the area, the tile must be sealed. And don’t assume that just because your tile was freshly installed by the pros, it’s been sealed – because grout takes time to cure, many installers don’t seal tile after it’s installed, so be sure to test your new tile as well as your existing tile. How often do you need to worry about it? Most tile manufacturers and installers recommend sealing porous tile and grout at least every two years, but it’s best to do it annually – you can’t seal too often, so why not play it safe?
How to choose a sealant for tiles and grout
Once you’ve determined that your tile or grout needs to be sealed, there are a few more factors to consider.
sealant type. Basically, there are two types of tile sealers: penetrating and non-penetrating. Penetrating sealants penetrate grout and tile and fill those tiny pores while keeping water and dirt out. These sealants are ideal for areas exposed to large amounts of water, such as shower or bathroom floors, because they allow the grout and tile to “breathe” and do not trap water that may pass through them. Non-penetrating sealants form a surface coating over tile and grout that repels water but also prevents it from evaporating easily, which can promote mold growth and stains. While a penetrating sealer is usually the best option, for low humidity areas such as kitchen floors, a non-penetrating sealer can be good enough and a little easier to apply. Always test the caulk in an inconspicuous area before laying to ensure it does not change the color profile of the tile or grout.
It doesn’t matter how long the tile has been sitting or when the last caulk was applied—tile and grout can be sealed no matter how old they are, as long as they’re still in good condition—but you should definitely give away the existing tile. and a solid cleaning solution before sealing it.