Unraveling the Mystery: The Truth about Tile and Stone Sealers You Never Knew

Maintaining the beauty and longevity of your surfaces can seem daunting, but choosing the right sealer makes a world of difference. For many homeowners and designers, the importance of sealing tile and stone surfaces to protect against stains and damage is well understood. However, the differences between tile sealers and stone sealers are crucial for achieving the best results. This blog post will explore these distinctions and offer you insights to help you make an informed choice.

Understanding Sealers

Sealers act as protective barriers for various surfaces, stopping moisture, stains, and other harmful elements from penetrating. They can't completely repel it all, but they do give a window to wipe up any spills that can become permanent. Each type of sealer is tailored to specific surface types, primarily tile and stone. Choosing the correct sealer is essential for maintaining your surfaces' integrity and aesthetic appeal.

Sealers come in different formulations, including acrylics, polyurethanes, and penetrating sealers, each with unique properties and applications. Recognizing the specific needs of tile and stone is something you don't have to worry about as we have gone through all the research and testing to know which sealer is best for your unique surface.

Tile Sealers

Tile sealers are designed specifically for porous materials such as grout. Even though some tiles are dense and less porous, and we don't worry about sealing them as we do with grout they do benefit from sealing as it creates surface tension helping to keep dirt, grime, and moisture at bay which makes your regular at home cleaning easier.

Types of Sealers

• Penetrating Sealers: These sealers absorb into the grout lines, providing internal protection. They effectively repel both water and oil-based stains without affecting the tile's appearance. For example, a good quality penetrating sealer can reduce stain absorption by up to 85%.

  
  

• Topical Sealers: These are applied directly to the tile's surface and create a moisture-resistant layer, adding shine. They are suitable for high gloss finishes but may need reapplication every six months to a year, depending on traffic and wear. This type of sealer is an option although we at Platinum Tile & Stone Care Specialist normally steer away from it as the reapplication is very necessary to keep the appearance of the area in good shape. The constant need of maintenance can become a headache, and an inconvenience is not what we to look create for our customers.

  
  

Stone Sealers

Natural stone is typically very porous and can and will absorb stains more readily, making sealing essential. With various types of stone, including granite, marble, limestone, and slate, choosing the right sealer becomes even more crucial. Again, we have put in all the work of research and testing so you don't have to.

Types of Stone Sealers

• Impregnating Sealers: Similar to penetrating sealers for tiles, these sealers deeply infiltrate the stone, protecting against moisture and stains without altering its appearance. Using an impregnating sealer can reduce water absorption by nearly 90%.

  
  

• Enhancing Sealers: These enhance the natural color of the stone, bringing out its beauty while providing a protective barrier. For example, if you're working with slate or granite, an enhancing sealer can bring out richer tones and patterns, making the surface pop.

• Topical Sealers: We recommend to never have any type of topical sealer applied to your natural stone as there are more cons than pros for topical sealers. One of those cons is trapping moisture which can lead to damaging your stone within time.

Keep in mind if you want your stone surface to shine naturally then you are looking for the polishing service that we offer.

When choosing a stone sealer to be used we choose based on the type of stone and the desired visual effect the homeowner wants for their stone. For instance, marble is sensitive and requires specialized moisture barriers to avoid surface damage.

Key Differences Between Tile and Stone Sealers

Tile and stone sealers, while both protective, differ significantly in composition and application:

• Tile & Grout:

• Porosity: Stone is more porous than tile, meaning it usually requires deeper penetration for effective protection. This characteristic necessitates the use of impregnating sealers when working with stone. Stone sealers generally prioritize retaining the natural look of the surface unless they are designed for enhancement.

• Maintenance and Longevity for stone: Stone surfaces generally need more frequent resealing compared to tile surfaces. This increased upkeep is warranted due to higher susceptibility to stains and wear. Always use neutral cleaners for you stone surfaces.

• Maintenance for tile & grout: We always let our customers know there are too many factors for us to say when you should have your tile & grout care service done and re-sealed. The homeowner can gauge it by comparing the edges of areas that do not get a lot of traffic on them to those areas that do get a lot of traffic. If the color of your grout is slightly changing to a darker color, then you know it's time to give us a call for our steam and seal services.

  
  

Wrapping It Up

We understand that it is vital for any homeowner or designer to preserve the beauty and functionality of tile and stone surfaces. That is exactly what we aim for when choosing the right sealer for your home. Platinum Tile & Stone Care Specialist has made it it's world to comprehend the differences between tile sealers and stone sealers, along with understanding what each type offers. It is our world, so that it can be your neatly preserved home.