When you make a positive addition to your home, you should want to make sure that it’s looked after and you get the full value from your investment.
As our name suggests, Stone Tile Company specialises in providing our customers with fantastic tiling solutions that can really help advance the makeup of their home.
Beyond our brilliant product range, we also want to provide insight and guidance that can provide you with the information you need to make the most of your tiles over time.
One of our most popular ranges is our natural stone tile selection. With natural stone wall tiles and natural stone floor tiles aplenty to pick from, we love it when our customers choose to use this type of surface for their homes.
However, we do sometimes hear certain questions about natural stone tiles. Common ones include ‘does natural stone tile need sealing?’ and ‘how often should I seal my stone tiles?’
So in our latest blog, we wanted to address these questions for anybody searching for an answer.
Do natural stone tiles need sealing?
The short answer to this is yes. Because natural stone tiles are porous to different degrees, all do require some surface sealer over time. This will help extend the life of your tiles and really get the most out of your investment.
If you take a look at our General Installation Guide. This comprehensive guide will detail which sealer to use on your chosen stone and how to apply in the fitting process too.
How often should you seal your stone tiles?
So now to the big question, the topic you are here to learn all about. Once your stone tiles are in place and sealed, how long is it until you need to reseal them?
As mentioned, the surface of a stone tile is porous if it is not sealed, meaning water, grease, oils and acidic products can get into the tile if left on the surface for a period of time. Once sealed, any droplets of substances can be wiped away from the surface of the stone as the sealer assists in forming a barrier of protection. However, over time the efficiency of the sealant can wear off, especially in high traffic areas.
After having fitted stone in your own home, one good trick is to look at the droplets of water on your stone when it’s first fitted. Any sealed spillages will bead on the surface like a rain drop on a window. So, if over time you start to see any water seeping into the surface of your stone, this will be a good point to give it a quick seal.
To keep it simple though, in areas with average wear, it’s a good idea to reseal your tiles every 3 or 4 years. So to answer the question, you should seal your stone every 3-4 years.
How do I reseal my stone?
When it comes to resealing stone, it’s important to give them a good clean with soap and water or with Grimex for more stubborn dirt.
We recommend adding one layer of sealant and then applying a further coat once this has dried. You can then add a second layer to give the tiles many more years of protection. Remember to select the appropriate sealer for your stone, which again will be listed in our Design & Installation Guide or on the product page for reference.
Do I need to strip my sealer?
Very old floors with multiple layers of sealer could do with stripping to get them back to looking their best. You will need to use a Power Stripper to remove old layers of sealer and then, once removed, seal as recommended for your stone.
How do I keep my stone looking great after sealing?
Ensure you clean your floors with the appropriate floor cleaner for your stone. WaxWash is a neutral floor cleaner for use with natural stone tiles and will assist you by not stripping all that amazing sealer from the surface, unlike standard household detergent. Simply use once or twice a week when you mop and leave to dry. Your floor will smell and look fantastic.
Shop with Stone Tile Company today
As well as our brilliant collection of natural stone tiles, we also stock a range of accessories, including adhesive and grout, as well as sealers and cleaners. The Stone Tile Company collection of products has everything you need to create a successful situation with your tiles, so don’t delay.
Be sure to browse through our natural stone tile choices too. You can pick up slate tiles, limestone tiles, quartzite tiles, granite tiles and travertine tiles. And we also have split face mosaic tiles to choose from. So there really is everything you could hope for when it comes to brilliant tile choices at Stone Tile Company.
Be sure to take a look at our delivery options, and if you have any questions, simply get in touch with the Stone Tile Company team.
