[derek west]

to seal or not to seal, that is the question?

[terrazzoman]

why the need to !!!

[Kev Martin]

It's simple do a porosity test first.

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd

[derek west]

sorry, i shouldn't of been so vague.
i know you can seal porcelain tiles. but is it worth it? its not like they are majorly porous? family friend thinks they should seal there tiles and i'm saying its not worth it so thought i'd ask on here.

[Kev Martin]

Derek

The same thing applies do a porosity test to check or  "Have you just said don't bother sealing"?  Because if so you know who's fault it will be if they get stained don't you?

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd

[Victoria Hutchinso]

I totally agree that you should test the tiles first. In my opinion you should seal the tiles.

[stoneshine]

3M or DIVERSEY make an excellent solvent based sealer which are ideal for sealing Porcelain tiles. DO NOT OVER APPLY!!!! 30m2 per 1 litre.  Use a good quality micro fiber applicater
Have a profitable day

[Max Campbell]

It's simple do a porosity test first.

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd

So... if it's not porous, don't seal? We're about to clean some tiles which I say are glazed (non-porous top surface, porous sides & underneath), but have a matt finish. Custy wants them smoother / shinier. I'm not keen to attempt sealer, business partner wants to try sealer. Wax has been mentioned, but I'm not keen - we normally use a penetrating enhancing solvent-based sealer.

[Kev Martin]

Max

I didn't say that!  I said do a porosity test first that is what determines if they need sealing or not.  It is important in all cases to do a test first!  I cannot impress on you all enough!  TEST! TEST! TEST!   Get it in your minds and keep repeating it because eventually you will thank me and it will save you a lot of money.

Do not forget you cannot seal polished ceramic glazed tiles.  In some cases you can seal Porcelain both Matt & Polished but do a test first.

Kev Martin
Tiling Logistics
Marblelife Ltd

[Max Campbell]

Max

I didn't say that!  I said do a porosity test first that is what determines if they need sealing or not.  It is important in all cases to do a test first!  I cannot impress on you all enough!  TEST! TEST! TEST!   Get it in your minds and keep repeating it because eventually you will thank me and it will save you a lot of money.

Do not forget you cannot seal polished ceramic glazed tiles.  In some cases you can seal Porcelain both Matt & Polished but do a test first.

Kev Martin
Tiling Logistics
Marblelife Ltd

OK I get it, test, then if it's not porous.....what?

[sherco]

Dont seal. 

[Max Campbell]

Dont seal. 

That's what I thought he was saying - apparently not

[Kev Martin]

Max

Is this a wind up?  If you do a porosity test on any tile and it will not stain or is non porous what is the point of sealing?  You  normally seal for one of two reasons: 

1.  Because the tile needs sealing and offers a degree of stain protection.
2.  Sometimes the customer just wants to change the appearance.

Kev Martin
Tiling Logistics
Marblelife Ltd

[derek west]

talked them out of it, apparantly they were doing there own porosity test and thats why they wanted them sealing, so i cleaned all the grout haze off and then did a porosity test in front of them and you guessed it, they didn't need sealing.

[Kev Martin]

Derek

Brilliant, by removing the grout haze you removed the problem of the dirt trap because it was probably the haze trhat was dirty and not the tile.

Kev Martin
Tiling Logistics

[Max Campbell]

Max

Is this a wind up? 

Not at all. I asked what people thought about wax on a matt but apparently glazed, non-porous tile. You said "do a porosity test", so to clarify I asked "so if not porous, don't seal?" to which you replied "I didn't say that", but I think you are saying "that" - ie if not porous, don't seal. I quite see the point - as I said in my first post, I don't want to seal, but my partner wants to try & make them shinier.