Four Top Myths About Sealing Tile And Grout
When starting a tiling project, you have to do many things, like choosing the right materials, getting the layout right, and laying the tiles.
Sealing tile and grout is an important step to protect the materials and make sure your tile lasts for a long time, but it’s also the step that people usually forget.
We’ll tell you the truth about 4 common myths and facts about sealing tiles to ensure you know everything you need to know about this important step to ensure your tiles last and look good.
Myth #1: Grout Doesn't Wear Out.
Wouldn’t it be great if your grout never got dirty and stayed clean for life? People often think that grout between tiles is made to last forever. In reality, grout can last very long in the right conditions, but it’s not made to last forever.
Traditional grout is made from cement, and whether sanded or not, it’s always very porous. Imagine a sponge with a million tiny holes in it. Each hole would catch any water, dirt, or oil through it.
Don’t be afraid! Adding a layer of sealant to protect the grout and tiles can make them last longer and keep them looking good.
Myth 2: All Grout Sealers Do The Same Thing.
People tend to think that all sealers for grout and tiles offer the same level of protection. The truth is that no one sealer works best in all situations. Depending on the tile and where it is, you can choose between two main types of grout sealer: sealers that penetrate the grout and sealers that form a membrane over the grout.
Penetrating grout sealers soak up the grout and help keep stains and grease from getting into it. As your chosen sealer gets soaked up by the porous grout, it fills in all the gaps and keeps moisture out. This grout sealer helps fill the pores inside the grout instead of coating the top, so the grout can still breathe.
Because of this, it works best in places with a lot of water. This makes it perfect for sealing tile showers, tubs, and bathroom backsplashes, which are more likely to be exposed to water, mildew, and oil for a long time.
Myth 3: Old Grout Can't Be Sealed.
Even though sealing grout right after installing tile is the best way to protect your investment and reduce maintenance over the tile’s lifetime, you can always seal old grout to prevent damage in the future.
If you’re working with an existing tile and are wondering if it’s properly sealed, test it first to see if it needs to be resealed. To do this, put a few drops of water on the dry grout and see if it beads up and sits on the surface or if it soaks in.
If the grout completely soaks up the water, it’s time to seal it again. Even if you know how to seal the grout, you still need to deep clean and fix old grout.
Use an old toothbrush or a grout brush, and get down on your knees to scrub the grout. This will give it a deep clean. It would be best to clean the old grout before sealing a tile shower, a kitchen backsplash, or a bathroom floor.
Myth 4: Sealing The Tile Is Less Important Than The Grout.
Sealing porous tile is just as important as sealing grout. If it’s that easy, why don’t we seal all of the tiles? Not all tile surfaces need to be sealed because they are the same. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are popular because they last longer and don’t need to be sealed very often.
But it must be sealed when ceramic or porcelain tile is left unglazed. Even though all-natural stone tiles are beautiful, they are more likely to get scratches or stains in high-traffic areas. Sealing natural stone tiles can help keep them from getting stained and extend their life.
So why is it so important to seal tile? Like sealed grout, a good tile sealant keeps dirt, liquids, and debris out of porous materials. This keeps them from getting in and makes it easy to clean up stains.
Another reason to seal porous tile is to keep the grout and mortar from getting into the tile and ruining the finish. If you don’t seal the tile, the grout can get into the tile and ruin the finish.