Tile Sealing

Sealing is a specialist field. At TILE ENVY, all tiles are treated and tested on their own merits, and then a proposal is tailored to your particular requirements. This is a free service.

If you then decide to go ahead on the sealing job, we usually completes the work just before or after handover but it depends on your situation. TILE ENVY works with the client to best suit the new home or renovation situation.

After sealing, it is sometime possivle that the area can be used instantly however most sealers do take at least four hours to cure properly.

Some types of tile sealer can enhance the look of the tile. For example - the colours in sandstone can be enhanced as part of the sealing process. Slate and terracotta can be given a wet or matt finish look if required.

Tiles which require sealing are tested before any sealer is applied. This helps to determine whether the tile can be sealed successfully. TILE ENVY will advise the customer if indeed your tiles require or will benefit from the sealing process.

As some types of natural stone tiles such as limestone, sandstone and volcanic stone are very porous and can provide a challenge to the tiler or builder if not pre-sealed. Some common problems include glue or grout penetrating the tile leaving ‘wet’ marks in the tile or around the edge of the tile. This can be prevented by pre-sealing the tile either before laying or before grouting.

Another approach is to pre-seal stone tiles (travertine, marble, limestone) before the grout has been applied. This greatly helps the cleaning process as the grout haze is easier to remove when a final clean and seal is required.

Pre-sealing provides excellent long term value for customers in maintaining the quality of the tile and reducing cleaning time.

Porcelain tiles vary greatly in quality and type.

Unglazed and profiled: Some of these tiles will benefit from sealing depending on the porosity (how porous the tile is) of the tile. As in all situations these tiles will need to be tested for sealing. The main benefit of sealing these tiles is the ease of cleaning after sealing. They will require only a minimum of maintenance after sealing although some outdoor tiles may stain from substances such as leaves, soil and rust if not cleaned immediately.

Polished porcelain: The process of polishing opens up the tiny clay pockets of the tile which will accept stains and therefore need to be treated with a special sealer. The sealer impregnates and lines the small cavities, prohibiting the penetration of stains. Penetrating sealers do not generally alter the appearance of polished porcelain products since they are designed to only fill the microscopic pores and not coat the tile, nor should they affect the slip resistance of the tile.

Some porcelain tiles come pre-sealed from the factory. This has presented problems in the field as the sealers do not seem to have consistent characteristics. These tiles can generally still be sealed with quality known products.

All stone tiles should be treated carefully during the installation process and should be sealed as they can easily be stained by a range of substances. The sealing scan be completed after the tiles have been laid or when construction is complete.

Terracotta, slate and pavers are common products which require maintenance. This maybe a top up seal or it may require all the existing sealer to be stripped, bringing back the natural beauty of the tile, then re sealed.

Tile pre-sealing and sealing provide the customer with excellent value for money by being pro-active in long term tile care and maintenance. TILE ENVY only uses quality products which will enhance and protect your quality tiles.

Maintaining Appearance after the Sealing Process

After any sealing job, TILE ENVY provides each customer with a simple tile maintenance program and complimentary sample cleaner to suit your requirements.