Different ceramic & porcelain tile sealers

A sealer is a liquid coat which is applied to the porous surface of the tile or grout. The sealer has the purpose of protecting surfaces from oxidation, natural deterioration and day-to-day wear. Sealers are generally used to protect unglazed tiles and grouts from absorbing stains. We will not provide you guidelines meant to get you started when it comes to choosing the right sealant:

Types

There are two important types of sealers for ceramic and porcelain tile:

1. Penetrating Sealers: are absorbed into the tile or grout and form a stain resistant shield below the surface.
2. Surface Sealers: are coated on the top of tile and grout and form a non-porous, stain resistant sealant.

Important Notes:

• The surfaces of most ceramic and porcelain tiles do not need to be sealed.
• Some require a light application of a penetrating sealer in order to fill the micro pores on the surface of the tile.
• All unglazed tiles and even dense porcelains must be sealed prior to grouting in order to prevent the grout from staining the tile.
• Impregnating sealers go into the grout joint and protect against water and oil-based stains.
• Highly absorbent tiles such as hand-made Saltillo tiles must be permanently sealed with either a penetrating or surface sealer.
• We recommend you only using penetrating sealers on dense, unglazed tiles (for example quarries or porcelains).
• Follow manufacturer recommendations and read the instructions provided.

For further information ask a BuildDirect product expert or a professional installer about which type of sealer performs best for the tile you’ve chosen.

Click here to take a look at our floor care products for ceramic & porcelain tile.