Lainey
02-16-2004, 07:04 PM
We had a LOT of tiling done last year (big kitchen, 3 bathrooms, hallways, entrance foyer), all with porcelain tile and light colored grout, and the tile guy didn't even MENTION sealing grout. Doh. So I finally went to the same store we bought the tile at, to get some grout sealer.
Since the tiles are all large and the grout lines are VERY narrow (1/8" or less), I also bought a bunch of small artists' brushes with which to apply the grout sealer. And a kneeling pad.
A week later, my back's broken, my arms are killing me, and my knees will probably never be the same, but it's all finally DONE. I had several unopened bottles of grout sealer left over, so I took them back to the tile store. Salesman said why don't I keep them, because the grout will have to be sealed again in another year and the stuff doesn't go bad. I said "What?? The sealer only lasts a year?" (*&&%%$#!!!
So I found out about this forum and browsed the posts about "grout sealer" earlier today. Now, too late for my back etc., I learn that the stuff the store sold me (water based silicone) indeed has to be redone every year. This is Not A Good Thing At All. I also read about Aqua Mix Sealers Choice 15 which lasts 15 yrs (now THAT is more like what I had in mind!!!!), so I went to Lowes this afternoon and bought some.
Reading the back of the bottle, I see it can be used on tile (which I don't need it for) and also grout (which I do). But in the instructions it says that the surface to which it'll be applied "must be free of previous sealers". But.. but... I just got done putting down the semi-useless water/silicone stuff (which soaked in and dried amazingly fast, btw). Does that mean I can't use the Aqua Mix on top of it? But how would I remove something that has already soaked into the grout? :-(
Or was that "must be free of" referring to TILE, not grout? (please Lord)
Also... when I tested the previous stuff on a section of white grout in a bathroom, it did yellow it a bit. So I didn't use it there. Will the Aqua Mix Sealers Choice do the same thing? I really don't want yellowy white grout. :-/ But I don't want dirty grout in there also, which is what we already have, after 8 months in the house. Not awful, but noticeable up close. I read here about Stone Armor Tile & Grout Restorer. Should I use that on the white grout, and then seal it with the Sealer's Choice? I'm assuming I can buy it online, as neither Lowes nor Home Depot nor the tile store carries it.
So, did I screw up royally by putting down the water/silicone sealer, to the extent that I now can't apply the AquaMix Sealers Choice? Not that I am looking forward to doing that job all over again (OUCH) but I don't want dirty grout either.
Thanks!
Since the tiles are all large and the grout lines are VERY narrow (1/8" or less), I also bought a bunch of small artists' brushes with which to apply the grout sealer. And a kneeling pad.
A week later, my back's broken, my arms are killing me, and my knees will probably never be the same, but it's all finally DONE. I had several unopened bottles of grout sealer left over, so I took them back to the tile store. Salesman said why don't I keep them, because the grout will have to be sealed again in another year and the stuff doesn't go bad. I said "What?? The sealer only lasts a year?" (*&&%%$#!!!
So I found out about this forum and browsed the posts about "grout sealer" earlier today. Now, too late for my back etc., I learn that the stuff the store sold me (water based silicone) indeed has to be redone every year. This is Not A Good Thing At All. I also read about Aqua Mix Sealers Choice 15 which lasts 15 yrs (now THAT is more like what I had in mind!!!!), so I went to Lowes this afternoon and bought some.
Reading the back of the bottle, I see it can be used on tile (which I don't need it for) and also grout (which I do). But in the instructions it says that the surface to which it'll be applied "must be free of previous sealers". But.. but... I just got done putting down the semi-useless water/silicone stuff (which soaked in and dried amazingly fast, btw). Does that mean I can't use the Aqua Mix on top of it? But how would I remove something that has already soaked into the grout? :-(
Or was that "must be free of" referring to TILE, not grout? (please Lord)
Also... when I tested the previous stuff on a section of white grout in a bathroom, it did yellow it a bit. So I didn't use it there. Will the Aqua Mix Sealers Choice do the same thing? I really don't want yellowy white grout. :-/ But I don't want dirty grout in there also, which is what we already have, after 8 months in the house. Not awful, but noticeable up close. I read here about Stone Armor Tile & Grout Restorer. Should I use that on the white grout, and then seal it with the Sealer's Choice? I'm assuming I can buy it online, as neither Lowes nor Home Depot nor the tile store carries it.
So, did I screw up royally by putting down the water/silicone sealer, to the extent that I now can't apply the AquaMix Sealers Choice? Not that I am looking forward to doing that job all over again (OUCH) but I don't want dirty grout either.
Thanks!