When you think about your home, what comes to mind? Is it the beautiful landscaping that surrounds your property? The way the morning sunlight casts a warm glow on your porch? Or maybe it’s the feeling of coming home after a long day at work. While these are all important things, there is one thing that can make or break any house: tile grout. Tile grouts job is to fill in the gaps between tiles and create an unbroken surface for people to walk on. Without proper care and maintenance, this space will be susceptible to water damage and other problems like mold growth which could cost you even more money in repairs.
Protect Your Investment
You’ve taken the time to install your tiles and painstakingly seal them. But what about those grout lines you didn’t know existed until they were dry? Do I need to seal my grout too? If you’re not sure, read on for some expert advice! Grout is porous and absorbs water over time. This moisture can eventually cause mold or mildew growth in the joints between flooring materials. The sealant will help prevent this from happening by stopping water absorption and also providing a waterproof barrier that resists staining from everyday spills or food coloring. You’ll be glad you did when it comes time to sell your home!
Is it important to use grout sealer?
Arguments against grout sealing:
– Grout is intended to be porous, and grout sealer prevents grout from absorbing water. This can lead to grout failure.
– The grout you see on the surface is not the grout that’s underneath the tiles, and grout sealer doesn’t penetrate far enough into grout to stop moisture penetration for good.
Free counterarguments:
– The elastomeric nature of grouted tile means that most seals fail. Even if there was no penetration of liquids before sealing, there will be afterwards! Sealing provides a layer between your tile installation and liquids that might come in contact with it, just as waterproofing does roofs or other surfaces requiring protection.
– Grout is porous, grout sealer penetrates grout; would you ever do a partial tile job? (not suggesting to stop grouting or anything like that, but grouting does not always mean full tile coverage). If there are two surfaces, one sealed and one unsealed, which will absorb more water?
– Even if grout doesn’t fully absorb liquids–in the case of an accident with bleach or something else that should not be allowed to touch your grouted tiles–grout sealers provide extra protection against penetration. With grout sealing, even if you have some penetration between individual grout lines, it’s still better than having penetrating substances go through loose grouts.
Our grout is sealed, so liquids won’t penetrate between grouted grout lines.
Free counterarguments:
– Grout should not be allowed to come into contact with bleach or other harsh chemicals. Grout sealers are not “miracle” solutions that will protect grouted tiles from all substances; grouting does not always mean tile coverage either.
– Grout sealant is only good for 1-2 years (or 5-10). It needs to be redone regularly if you want it to function properly–sealing grout lines against water penetration but providing no protection against direct liquid spills like bleach, cocktails, etc…
Free advice: redo your grouting every 2 years
Grout sealers should be applied after grouting.
Free counterarguments:
– Grouting would take too long and grouts are messy to work with, especially if tiles were already grouted (and grout sealer is not compatible with pre-existing grouts).
– Grout sealers don’t always work because of the elastomeric nature of grouted tile; this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply grout sealer at all, but it means that applying it before grouting might make installation easier and more effective.
– Pros do it both ways: some like to wet out the grout first, grout, then grout seal. Some like to grout and grout seal at the same time. Even if grouting before grouting sealer was wrong, which is better–grouting before or after? Again, redoing grouts every 2 years would be ideal anyway so if you’d rather have wet-out first…
Free counterargument against the free counterarguments:
– Grouted grout lines are porous even if they appear solid. This means that liquids can still penetrate between grouts even though it looks dry on the surface.
– The elastomeric nature of grouted tile means that most seals fail because grouts are designed to expand and contract just as much as tiles do.
Sealing grout lines against water penetration but providing no protection against direct liquid spills like bleach, cocktails, etc. is not protecting grouted tiles from all substances.
– Grouting takes time and grouts are messy to work with while grout sealer is not compatible with pre-existing grouts.
After reviewing the different types of grout sealers on the market today, we have found Ironclad from K.O.R Stone Care Products to be your best option for a quality product that can be used before or after grouting. The #1 all around tile and grout sealer is designed with professionals in mind and it does not disappoint! Order some today by clicking below
Solution
Search: Ironclad From K.O.R. Stone Care Products
K.O.R. Ironclad “Tile and Stone Sealer”
K.O.R. Ironclad “Tile And Stone Sealer” Creates A Tight Seal Over Tile And Stone For Efficient Cleaning
Put down that tile cleaner! You’re skipping a critical step which can make your tile and stonework last for years.
The K.O.R. Ironclad “Tile and Stone Sealer” creates a protective layer over porous stone and tile surfaces making them resistant to stains and moisture.
How K.O.R. Ironclad “Tile and Stone Sealer” Works
K.O.R. Ironclad “Tile and Stone Sealer” places a thin layer of high-end polymers between the surface of the tile or stone and the potential stain. So when you clean the surface with a tile or stone cleaner, the seal gives you time to clean up before the potential damage becomes permanent.
Using the sealer is as simple as wiping a countertop or mopping a floor:
Step 1
Clean the surface thoroughly making sure to remove all dust, grease, moisture and other contaminants.
Step 2
Apply K.O.R. Ironclad “Tile and Stone Sealer” using a clean sponge or a mop with a lambswool applicator.
Step 3
Allow the sealer to sit for 5 minutes. The sealer may penetrate quickly on porous surfaces. If the surface dries up before time’s up, apply an additional layer of the sealer.
Step 4
Wipe the area completely dry with a clean, microfiber cloth or paper towel. Make sure to remove all residue.
It’s that simple!
Applications
Safe to apply K.O.R. Ironclad “Tile and Stone Sealer” to :
Granite
Marble
Limestone
Saltillo
Walls
Travertine
Concrete
Masonry
Choose K.O.R. Ironclad “Tile and Stone Sealer” for luxury bathroom renovations or a simple cleaning job and make stone and tile-work last for years.
