Sealed tiles: Do I Need to Seal My Tile Floors?

Do I Need to Seal My Tile Floors?

Sarah Aguirre

Sarah Aguirre is a housekeeping expert with over 20 years of experience cleaning residentially and commercially. Over that time, she has been writing about tips and tricks for housekeeping and organizing a home for national publications.

Learn more about The Spruce’s
Editorial Process

Updated on 08/28/22

Reviewed by

Johnathan Brewer

Reviewed by
Johnathan Brewer

Johnathan C. Brewer II is a licensed general contractor specializing in kitchen, bath remodels, and general construction with two decades of professional experience.

Learn more about The Spruce’s
Review Board

Fact checked by

Jessica Wrubel

Fact checked by
Jessica Wrubel

Jessica Wrubel has an accomplished background as a writer and copy editor, working for various publications, newspapers and in public libraries assisting with reference, research and special projects. In addition to her journalism experience, she has been educating on health and wellness topics for over 15 years in and outside of the classroom.

Learn more about The Spruce’s
Editorial Process

The Spruce / Ashley Luciano

Imagine you’ve just moved into a new home that comes complete with a brand new kitchen. Its tile floors are gorgeous but they seem like a pain to keep up with. Many people are advising you to seal the tile floors, but you thought it was just the grout that needed to be sealed. What’s the proper way to take care of your beautiful tiles?

Should You Seal the Tile or the Grout?

It’s important to realize that there are two parts of a tile floor: the tile and the grout. Most of the floor is made up of the actual tiles but the grout is just as important. It’s the often overlooked material that holds the tiles in place. Grout needs to be sealed. It’s naturally porous and will stain easily. Most installers of tile floors do not seal them because grout has to cure first. It’s something you should do to keep your grout looking its best. As a bonus, sealed grout is much easier to keep clean.

When to Seal Tiles

Sealing is done to strengthen tile or grout’s defenses against dirt, spills, and erosion of grout, but not all tile needs to be sealed. If your tile is ceramic or porcelain, it probably won’t need to be sealed. There are some exceptions to this, so check with your manufacturer to be sure. If your tile is stone (slate, marble, granite, travertine, etc.) then it will need to be sealed. Stone is naturally porous and will absorb spills and stain fairly easily.

Tip

Sealing hued tiles can sometimes alter the color or tone of the tile. Test the sealant in an inconspicuous area before applying it across the surface to ensure you like the results.

How to Tell If Grout Is Sealed

You can sometimes tell if your tile or grout has been sealed by spreading a few drops of water on them. If they darken or change color, they are probably not sealed. If they stay the same, they may have already been sealed.

It’s always a good idea to follow your manufacturer’s instructions on a schedule for sealing grout and tile. If a tile job was completed years ago, it may need to be resealed. If your tile work is in an outdoor area the elements will likely wear it down faster. However, grout in unventilated bathrooms is exposed to a lot of humidity and moisture which can cause it to break down. If you notice loose tiles or your grout flaking off when you wash the tub it might be time to have it redone.

Cleaning Sealed Grout and Tiles

While sealing your tiles and grout will help protect them from stains, accidents still happen. If you notice a stain on your tiles, just rub it with a mild bleach solution. Be careful not to scrub your tiles with anything too stiff, like a metal brush, that could scratch or damage the tiles. Grout usually needs to set for about a month before it can be sealed. If it gets stained before it’s sealed just use the mild bleach solution and scrub lightly. If you seal the stained grout, you will probably never be able to get the stain out again.

Does Ceramic Tile Need To Be Sealed ~

Does Ceramic Tile Need To Be Sealed

Every homeowner wants beautiful floor tiles that are easy to clean and maintain. You may however find yourself in a house with tiles that are difficult to clean and maintain. Most people will advise you to seal the tile flooring, but you may assume you only need to seal the grout. What’s the best approach to look after your lovely tiles?

This question has a number of factors.

The bathroom, for starters, has a variety of tile types. Floor tile, shower tile, counter tile, and tile backsplashes are all options. The type of tile you select is the second factor to consider. Sealant options for natural stone tiles differ from those for gleaming ceramic or porcelain tile.

Most ceramic tiles are not sealed. This is because of the glass glaze on top of the clay that prevents anything from penetrating it. When ceramic tiles are not glazed, they simply need to be sealed. (Tile Fix Direct, 2020)

Is It Better To Seal The Tile Or The Grout?

It’s crucial to understand that a tile floor is made up of two parts: the tile and grout. The actual tiles make up the majority of the floor, but the grout is also as significant. The substance that holds the tiles in place is often ignored.

The grout must be sealed and maintained. It’s porous by nature and will stain quickly. Because grout must cure first, most tile installers do not seal their floors.

To maintain the appearance of your grout it’s important to seal it. Sealing grout also makes it much easier to maintain clean.

When Should You Seal Your Tiles

Tile is sealed to keep dirt, spills, and even the grout used to fill in the seams from staining it. Natural stone tile is not cheap, and neither is the work required to install it, so safeguarding your investment is prudent. This is because it’s nearly impossible to remove a stain after it’s lodged in the tile.

If your tile is ceramic or porcelain, it is unlikely that it will require sealing. There are a few exceptions, so double-check with your manufacturer. If your tile is made of stone (such as slate, marble, granite, or travertine) it must be sealed.

Stone is porous by nature and will readily absorb spills and stains. Porous tiles need to be sealed prior to grouting. This is best done before installation, then reapplied as needed when the grout has fully set. (The Spruce, 2021)

ProTip Takeaway. Sealing colored tiles can occasionally change their color or tone. To guarantee you like the results, test the sealant in an inconspicuous spot before applying it to the entire surface of the tile.

Why You Shouldn’t Seal Ceramic Tiles

Hardwood floors are usually the only ones that need to be sealed. Most ceramic tiles have a glass glaze on top of the clay back. This creates a non-porous surface because glass cannot be penetrated unless it is unglazed.

Most floors are sealed to prevent them from being damaged by excessive moisture. Ceramic tiles, which have a moisture-resistant barrier, are exempted from this rule.

Only unglazed ceramic tiles, as previously stated, require sealing. This is because the protective barrier is missing in this form of ceramic tile. It’s worth noting that most home improvement stores provide glazed ceramic tiles that don’t need to be sealed.

If you’re set on sealing your ceramic, it might be time to rethink your strategy. Here are some reasons why your ceramic tiles should not be sealed:

Ceramic tile sealing may make cleaning more difficult.

It is a common assumption that sealing your ceramic tiles will make them easier to clean; however, this is not the case. We know that ceramic tiles are easy to clean and maintain because of their nature. It’s possible that the problem is that you haven’t found the right cleanser for your floor.

Stronger cleaning chemicals should be avoided because they may cause damage to your floors. You may need to do some research to identify the best cleaning products for your floor. Begin by putting the product to the test in an inconspicuous part of your floor. The outcome will indicate whether you should proceed or attempt a different cleaning product.

Ceramic tile sealing makes the floor surface slippery.

Using a non-slip type of sealer may help to prevent this problem. However, we do not recommend sealing ceramic floor tiles. Even if you use a non-slip floor sealer, you’ll have to reapply it on a regular basis. This will in return create a new cleaning problem.

Ceramic tile sealing makes maintenance more difficult.

It’s simply too much effort to maintain a sealed ceramic floor tile. Because most floor sealers are softer, when applied in traffic areas, they will be harmed by the traffic, spills, and everyday wear and tear. This almost always means extra work for you. You’ll have to spend more money on tile repair and replacement.

Sealing Your Ceramic Tiles Might Make Them Look Bad.

Another assumption is that sealing your ceramic floor tiles would improve their appearance. It’s important to note that ceramic floor tiles are not designed to be sealed.

Your ceramic tiles may have a dull appearance despite using many cleaning procedures to restore their glossy look. If none of the options work, you may need to re-tile the entire floor rather than seal it. (Home Décor, 2020)

Types Of Tile Sealants

Tile Sealers are divided into two categories; penetrating sealers and surface sealers.

Penetrating Sealants

These seep into the tile or grout and produce a stain-resistant barrier just beneath the surface of the tile. The appearance of the tile will not be altered by most penetrating sealers.

Surface Sealants

These are non-porous, stain-resistant sealants that are applied to the top of tile and grout. The surface sealer will enhance the tile’s rich natural hues and add a small sheen, similar to a wood-grain ceramic tile.

What Kind Of Ceramic Tile Sealer should You Use?

A sealer is not required for most ceramic tiles with a high gloss finish. Glazing transforms the surface of the tile into a thin layer of molten glass. If you’re installing new tile, a little coat of penetrating sealer might be used to fill the pores. The appearance of the tile is unaffected by penetrating sealers.

Rather, they soak just beneath the tile’s surface to prevent water infiltration and discoloration. This type of impregnating sealer fills any small holes or defects in your ceramic tile. It also cleans the grout around the tiles. You might also use it to touch up your tile if you think it needs it.

ProTip Takeaway. New porcelain tile, like ceramic tile, does not require sealing. A smooth finish protects the tile surface against water penetration and discoloration.

However, the grout will need to be sealed. Some dense porcelains may appear unglazed, in which case a coat of sealer should be applied.

Sealing The Grout Lines

Although ceramic tiles were never designed to be sealed, there is a compelling case to be made for sealing porous grout lines. They tend to gather and hold unsightly dirt and pollutants over a period of time. It’s recommended to use a penetrating or impregnating type of sealer like Pro Seal Ultra instead of a coating for this.

The grout sealer is not visible, but it repels water and stains. This job is made easier by several fantastic grout sealing application equipment. If you acquire some grout sealer on the tile surface, you should be able to wipe it away easily with the correct product if you remove it straight away. (Rogue Engineer, 2020)

How To Tell If Grout Is Sealed

By sprinkling a few droplets of water on your tile or grout, you can sometimes determine if they’ve been sealed. They are probably not sealed if they darken or change color. They may have already been sealed if they remain the same color.

How to Clean Grout and Tiles

Maintaining and cleaning a sealed ceramic floor tile requires a lot of effort and money. If a stain appears on your tiles, all you have to do is scrub it with a gentle bleach solution. Scrub your tiles gently with a soft brush to avoid scratching or damaging them.

Before grout can be sealed, it needs to cure for roughly a month. If it gets stained before it’s sealed, just scrub it with a mild bleach solution. If you seal the soiled grout, the stain will almost certainly never come out. (XO2, 2020)

Please Note: It is critical to use the correct type of tile sealant for the type of tile being installed. Using the incorrect sealant could cause irreversible damage to the ceramic tile.

Do You Need Any Help In Flooring?

We hope you find this information useful. If you are in Houston Texas and require any assistance or advice on the floor care please contact us today. Visit our offices at 12711 Fuqua St, Suite 106, Houston, TX 77034. You can also visit our website or call us on 832 800 8889 for a free consultation today.

Sealed Carrara Marble Tiles Suppliers, Manufacturers, Factory – Customized Granite Cobble Stone Wholesale

Carrara White Marble Tiles for Hotel Lobby Floor with Seal Treatment

Carrara White Marble is one of the iconic luxury Italian marbles with shades of white and grey.

Carrara white kind of white marble loved by designers and owners, widely used in high-end hotels, high-end villas, high-end leisure facilities decoration, decorative materials. White background with light gray veins, each piece is different, delicate texture, fashion sense, simple and generous with details, so that life presents taste, the ultimate.

Characteristics of the plate: gray vein on a white background, vein with dotted and veined.

Application area: mainly used in interior decoration such as floors, walls, columns and countertops

Carrara White. As a typical and classic dolomiti white marble, Bianco Carrara white marble has a long history in the stone market, it is one of the most popular white marble in the world for it enjoy the durable quality of the marble structure.

material	Carrara White marble
Color	White with gray veins
origin	Italy
usage	Indoor decoration
Recommend tile size	30. 5 x 30.5cm/61cm 30 x 30cm/60cm 40 x 40cm/80cm Or other size according to customer’s request
Recommend plate size	240up x 120up cm 240up x 130up cm 250up x 120upcm 250up x 130up cm 260up x 140up cm Or other size according to customer’s request
thickness	1.6cm, 1.8cm, 2cm, 2.5cm, 3cm, 4cm, etc.
finishing	Polished, Honed, Brushed, etc.
Number of economic orders	One full container

No 1. What is the best way to remove stains?

la. If a stain occurs on marble tiles, cleaning is a fairly simple procedure. For the same reason marbles are susceptible to staining for the same reason stains are straight forward to remove – marble is porous. A procedure called “poulticing” is a great way to remove stains because it draws a stain out of marble and into other material – a mixture of reducing agent soaked in a cloth or paper towel is the most basic variety of poultice. The best methods should always be measured against the kind of spots you have.

No 2. Can marble be repaired if it is damaged?

Answer: Yes. Most often, epoxy or filler will be used. Wiping down any broken pieces with acetone to remove any foreign material is the first step in making sure they re-bond with the rest of the tile. Make sure to clean all bonding agents from the marble tile surface. Remember to apply the right amount of pressure for the right amount of time.

How to make a house look like a medieval castle using facade tiles – TECHNONICOL

A stylish facade can tell a lot about the owner of the house. For example, with its help it is easy to show that you are a real knight at heart.

Such a coating is suitable for those who want to recreate the atmosphere of a castle, standing on a hill in the middle of a forest and surrounded by a moat. Right angles, straight lines and well-balanced proportions of the facing material are clearly associated with history, traditions and reliability.

Don’t worry, dark gray tiles won’t make your home look gloomy. Such a palette, on the contrary, will highlight it against the background of stormy greenery, and it will also look advantageous both in cloudy and sunny weather.

The “warm” option will appeal to those who want to arrange a real greenhouse in front of the house with a sea of flowers of all varieties and shades. Previously, social evenings and balls were held in such gardens – you can also organize something similar if you like noisy gatherings.

Or you can equip the veranda with cozy wicker furniture and spend evenings here reading books under a warm blanket – the facing material will perfectly fit into any mood.

You must have heard of the castle-island of Mont Saint-Michel. So, if you are a history lover and crazy about everything French, then you can make your house visually similar to this fortress.

No need to buy a building at the mouth of the Couesnon River in Normandy – just use tiles in a similar shade for cladding.

“English brick” for those who want to live in a British castle, but do not want to leave their native middle lane

Such a tile is suitable for those who see the facade of their nest exclusively in a warm palette. By the way, in the United Kingdom, not only majestic old castles are decorated with red brick, but also many quite ordinary modern buildings. You can feel like a typical Englishman.

A façade with these tiles is a great way to add a sophisticated English aesthetic to your home. Do not forget only about tea, buns and jam.

“Quartzite” for those who love stone (and fairy tales)

This finish looks strict and stylish – it allows you to really feel behind a stone wall. If you want to make your home a real fortress, then take a closer look at this option.

The tile also resembles dragon scales, so fans of fairy tales set in the magical Middle Ages will definitely like it.

How to decorate the facade of a private house? Detailed guide to popular materials

8 minutes

7871

Read

Why we recommend HAUBERK tiles

It is created on the basis of fiberglass, improved bitumen and natural basalt granulate – thanks to these materials, the tile is as tight as possible, resistant to corrosion and temperature fluctuations. And it does not fade, does not crumble and does not collapse under the influence of wind and precipitation.

Facade tiles HAUBERK universal – it is used for covering any type of wall. It is suitable for frame houses, buildings made of aerated concrete, timber or brick. And for real castles, of course 🙂

In addition, it is very easy to install. First you need to make a crate and flooring to create a ventilation gap – this will help to avoid thermal expansion. And then it remains only to attach the tile according to the instructions.