[Grant Whyte]

Hi all

Can you recommend a product?

After a deep clean and neutralising rinse I'm looking to apply an impregnator to an unglazed ceramic tiled floor.

Thanks

Grant

[Kev Martin]

It is not possible to apply am impregnating sealer to ceramic tiles.

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd

[Jamie Pearson]

The only reason for doing this would be to seal the grout lines (depending on type) this is where water can ingress potentially causing problems with the substrate.

Somewhere I have a video of a porcelain tile that I have half treated then write on with a permanent marker and it can't be cleaned off the unsealed area easily.

[Grant Whyte]

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm aware that ceramic tiles do not get sealed. Perhaps I've misidentified the tiles but they're semi porous and prone to rapid soiling. Water seeps into the tiles eg. during weekly maintenance dual mopping.

To prevent rapid re-soiling and to improve weekly maintenance cleaning I thought an impregnator could penetrate the tile pores and prevent or limit porosity which causes the ingrained grime. In principle something like a wood stain but obviously something suited to tile/stone impregnation.

I did a test patch for a client demo. See pic

[Kev Martin]

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm aware that ceramic tiles do not get sealed. Perhaps I've misidentified the tiles but they're semi porous and prone to rapid soiling. Water seeps into the tiles eg. during weekly maintenance dual mopping.

To prevent rapid re-soiling and to improve weekly maintenance cleaning I thought an impregnator could penetrate the tile pores and prevent or limit porosity which causes the ingrained grime. In principle something like a wood stain but obviously something suited to tile/stone impregnation.

I did a test patch for a client demo. See pic

Ceramic tiles with a non polished finish especially if riven can get very dirty very easily.  They are designed to be as non slip as possible and therefore grip.  So by definition they will grip dirt very well.

Kev Martin
Marblelife ltd

[Grant Whyte]

Ceramic tiles with a non polished finish especially if riven can get very dirty very easily.  They are designed to be as non slip as possible and therefore grip.  So by definition they will grip dirt very well.
[/quote]

Thanks for the useful info. There must be something on the market to deal with this problem. I will keep looking and if I find something, will post.

[Kev Martin]

Ceramic tiles with a non polished finish especially if riven can get very dirty very easily.  They are designed to be as non slip as possible and therefore grip.  So by definition they will grip dirt very well.

Thanks for the useful info. There must be something on the market to deal with this problem. I will keep looking and if I find something, will post.
[/quote]

There are plently of things on the market to deal with it and I can advise you if you have a specific problem.  However, this said the best route normally is to perform a deep clean using something like Aqua Mix Heavy Duty Tile & Grout cleaner.  Then seal the grout and finally and most importantly install a floor care plan with the correct cleaning methods.

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd

[Jamie Pearson]

A more extreme solution if its required would be to apply Dr.Schutz Superbond then PU Sealer to the tiles.

This is a MVT Polyurethane sealer in matt, satin or gloss - even colours. Can be chemical resistant if required or anti-slip. It is amazingly easy to maintain and has awesome appearance retention.

Your client would be looking to pay in the region of £10-£15/m2 with a lifecycle of around 3-5 years before it required a top up coat. Maintenance would be with a neutral cleaner and microfibre mops or a scrubber dryer.

Like I say this is possibly beyond what they are looking for. It is to my knowledge the only topical sealer that will a)stick to ceramic tiles and b) wont require re-application every 8-12 weeks.

[Kev Martin]

A more extreme solution if its required would be to apply Dr.Schutz Superbond then PU Sealer to the tiles.

This is a MVT Polyurethane sealer in matt, satin or gloss - even colours. Can be chemical resistant if required or anti-slip. It is amazingly easy to maintain and has awesome appearance retention.

Your client would be looking to pay in the region of £10-£15/m2 with a lifecycle of around 3-5 years before it required a top up coat. Maintenance would be with a neutral cleaner and microfibre mops or a scrubber dryer.

Like I say this is possibly beyond what they are looking for. It is to my knowledge the only topical sealer that will a)stick to ceramic tiles and b) wont require re-application every 8-12 weeks.

Jamie

There are others on the market in fact there is one that is on a par with Dr Schutz but as you say the costs outweigh the original materiel.  I still think a deep clean then a floor care plan are the best solution.  (After all they did not leave the factory dirty did they?)

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd

[Ian Caddy]

Hi Grant, I recently cleaned and sealed some new ceramic tiles.
First I cleaned them as normal then rinsed them, after they were dry I used a product called Lithofin, Stain-Stop I applied two coats of this, via a roller, it just soaks in, you have to spread it evenly, it acts as a water proofer and stops staining etc, not cheap to buy but perfect for the job. It's around £ 20.00 for 500ml but if you use a roller, it goes a very long way. This was the first time I had done ceramic tiles, so I seeked this info from a floor & tile specialist company, worked a treat, it was in a doctors surgery in the reception. Hope this helps.

[Kev Martin]

Hi Grant, I recently cleaned and sealed some new ceramic tiles.
First I cleaned them as normal then rinsed them, after they were dry I used a product called Lithofin, Stain-Stop I applied two coats of this, via a roller, it just soaks in, you have to spread it evenly, it acts as a water proofer and stops staining etc, not cheap to buy but perfect for the job. It's around £ 20.00 for 500ml but if you use a roller, it goes a very long way. This was the first time I had done ceramic tiles, so I seeked this info from a floor & tile specialist company, worked a treat, it was in a doctors surgery in the reception. Hope this helps.
[/quote

Ian
I am sorry to contradict you but it is not possible to get an impregnating sealer into ceramic tiles. You cannot get a sealer through glaze! Furthermore no impregnating sealer stops staining! It may well have been porcelain tiles you sealed. The mistake is very common.

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd

[Ian Caddy]

Hi, They were unglazed. The sealer I used was Lithofin Stain Stop KF for ceramic and quarry tiles, which acts as a waterproofer and helps against staining, look the chemical up

[Kev Martin]

Hi, They were unglazed. The sealer I used was Lithofin Stain Stop KF for ceramic and quarry tiles, which acts as a waterproofer and helps against staining, look the chemical up

Ian

I don't need to look it up " I have tested it".  Essentially Lithofin use the Term Impregnator quite loosely.  In this case it is almost acting as a topical sealer as it only sits on the surface.

I will say Lithofin is a well known brand and once therefore because it's been around so long it sells well and once applied it is a good sealer.  However if it were starting off today as a new product it wouldn't get off the starting block.  I have never been able to take any Lithofin Product seriously as they totally contradict themselves on their own labels.  They tell you never to allow the sealer to dry on  the surface but then tell you to open all windows and doors into the room you are sealing for maximum ventilation.  What do you think the draught of air blowing across the surface does to the sealer???  Furthermore 99% of their products stink, it is banned from all the commercial clients I work for because of the smell. 

Ian next time you are sealing a job ring me and I will let you have the appropriate Aqua Mix or Aqua seal product not only does it have more coverage it is 3 x easier to apply and no smell.  Finally it out performs Lithofin by a country mile.

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd

[Ian Caddy]

Ok, cool. Thanks for advise, never knew that they were that rubbish and yes they do smell bad.
I will keep you in mind for next time, thanks.

[Kev Martin]

Ok, cool. Thanks for advise, never knew that they were that rubbish and yes they do smell bad.
I will keep you in mind for next time, thanks.

Ian

It is not a rubbish sealer!  It works and stands up well when compared against similar products!  It is just that there are  better alternatives available.  I am on the Aqua Mix and Aqua Seal campaign wagon and have been for quite a few years but this is because they are 99% Water based but we also sell lots of LTP Products as well.  At the end of the day it always pays to remember:

 "Any sealer within reason is better than no sealer"

Lithofin along with other manufacturers are working hard to introduce water based sealers because they have suddenly realised that in this "Green Eco World" we live in nothing else will be accepted eventually.  Solvent based sealers will meet the same demise as Leaded Petrol eventually!!!

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd

[Tadgh O Shea]

Hi Guys

I can suggest a solution where the tiles wont need any sealer, and they can still be maintained on a daily basis without any soil build up. use waffle microfiber floor cloths slightly damp with water and telescopic mop handle with 30cm frame, and a low ph floor cleaner between 7 to 9 on the scale , these floor cloths are far superior to conventional string mops, or microfiber flat mop pads, we have recommended this new way to maintaining hard floors to many of our clients and they cant believe how effective it is and that finally they have a solution to the problem of soil build on hard floors.
Regards

Tadgh

[brilhoservices]

you can use glazed anti skit ceramic tiles

[Kev Martin]

you can use glazed anti skit ceramic tiles

Perhaps you could expand??

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd