marble sealer HELP please

[vietco]

Hi all,

This is my 1st post after sitting on the side for a few weeks reading all the usefull info from this site! I'm just done installed marble tiles on one bathroom vanity top and floor and need help on sealer. I bought the most expensive sealer from HD ($90/gl TileLab), but now I'm not so sure if it is the best after I learned about the StoneArmor product from here...picky, greedy:) Could someone please tell me the different between them? Is penetrating sealer really better then surface sealer? Will penetrating sealer also seal the surface at the same time? Would it be overkill to use both?

thanks,
opps...almost forget...my name is Anh.

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[vietco]

Hi,

it is me again...I forget 1 thing. Some of the marble tiles on my floor have haze (some look like water marks if I look at them at the right reflection angle) I'm not sure if these tiles came in that way or from residues leftover from contruction proccess such as grouting, etc. I've tried to rub them hard with towel using TileLab clearner, but nothing is different. Do I have to learn to like them instead?

thanks again,
Anh

[davem]

Hello Anh, welcome. :)

I'm going to move this to the Cleaning/Restoration forum. :)

[vietco]

thanks Dave...sorry...I'll try to my best to post in the right forum next time.

cheers.
Anh

[Maurizio Bertoli]

Dear Anh:
I didn't know that there was a surface sealer for marble (to be compared with an impregnator!) ;)
The Tile-Lab product doesn't enjoy much of a reputation, but the issue is really immaterial, because polished marble doesn't need to be sealed with an impregnator/sealer. It will not absorb the stuff, because, contrary to widespread misconception, polished marble is not absorbent (porous). :shades:
If you didn't open the bottle, take the stuff back to the HD and get your money back.
Concern yourself with learning on how to take proper care of your stone, instead of getting overly concerned over a useless (under the circumstances) impregnator/sealer. There are more important things to know, i.e.: how to avoid "water stains!" (No sealer in the world could ever help you with that!) ;)
About that one particular dull tile, it could either be a natural flaw in the stone, or something that was spilled on it and etched the surface. If the former is the case, then that's that. If the latter is the case instead, then you could try to re-polish it by using a polishing compound/powder for marble.
If you feel like needing any additional assistance on this latter issue, feel free to gimme a shout through the "Contact Us" section of my web-page listed below. :)
Ciao and good luck,

[Michael Meyer]

Hello Anh, What is the name of your marble? Some forms of polished marble actually are better served with the use of an impregnator. Place a couple of teaspoons of water upon your marble for several minutes, has it turned your natural stone dark? If so then I suggest that you impregnate. I agree with Mr. B, take the HD product back to the store. Michael of Stonehenge

[John Bridge]

Hello Anh,

Please hang around and wait for Kemguru to show up. I think he'll have something in his bag to help you get the marks off the few tiles. I suspect it's either residue from dirty grout water or some of the sealer you used (if you used it).

We have had no good reports on the Tile Lab products. And you would never need a gallon for a bathroom project. More like a quart.

[doitright]

Hi Anh, :)

As far as the possible water marks, what shape are they? A white pad with a strong dilution of a nuetral cleaner may be enough to remove them, if the stone isn't etched. Etched stone is another ball of wax! ;)

[Steven Hauser]

Hi Anh,

Welcome,

Many good points have been raised. Can you post a picher(picture) of your tile?

:)

[vietco]

thanks all for prompt replies and great advices.

I had tried TileLab Cleaner solution on these tiles and let it sit for about a minute. I then used a small towel rubbing it badly, but those marks just keep poking my eyes..argrrr. A couple tiles look like haze cover partially while others look like natual water marks (these marks I think might have came in that way). Should I let the clearner sit on longer, let says 10min, before wipe it off? Should this hurt the marble? My marble is Perlato.

I will return the expensive 1gl TileLab bottle since I've not used it. So what is the right thing/the right product for my marble counter top and floor? Mr. B said sealer might not be needed on polished marble, but if I put on some anyway, will it add just a little more protection?

thanks.
Anh

[Maurizio Bertoli]

Dear Anh:
Perlato Siclia is one of the densest and hardest compact limestone on the market. It's like a piece of glass: it won't absorb a darn thing, impregnator/sealer included. ;)
The application of an impregnator/sealer anyway wouldn't do the first thing to add protection to your stone. It would only do some good to the bank account of the product's manufacturer and their distributor! :) So, at this point, if you really insist with the "sealing thing" and you are in a philantropic mood, I would like to encourage you to purchase the TYW Stone Armor: at least you'd be sponsoring this wonderful forum a little bit! ;)
About your other problem with those few tiles, there's no such a thing like a "water stain", no matter what it looks like. I have to assume that something acidic has been accidentally spilled on your tiles and etched them (it's a mark of corrosion). While the bad news is that there is nothing that you can do to prevent such surface damages from happening - other than usining good maintenance tips (do you remember my little hint about this in my previous follow-up?) and the right cleaning agents (like the TYW neutral cleaner) - the good news is that I have a product that will molst likely enable you to repair those etch marks and bring those tiles back to a factory finish! ;) :shades:
Gimme a holler throught the contact us section of my website listed below, if you're interested.
Ciao and good luck,

[John Bridge]

I will ping Tim. I would like to see what he has to say. Please wait for him. ;)

[kemguru]

Hi Anh :)

I agree with Maurizio. Your marble will not allow any impregnator to penetrate. You should at least seal your grout joints, to help prevent staining and make cleaning all that much easier. Now, while sealing your joints, you can brush some impregnator over the whole tile for peace of mind. ;) Just make sure you remove ALL excess seal that did not soak in, which will probably be all of it. If the stone does not allow the seal to penetrate, just work the excess into the joint, and then buff the remainder off the tiles. You will not use, or waste, much seal if you do it that way. ;)

It’s tough for anyone to say what’s going on with the dull spots. You’ve tried cleaning and buffing hard already, so I’m guessing you will need to re-polish those areas. :( Only if they bother you that much. :D

[fernwoodCT]

I hope it’s OK for me to jump in here, because my current question is much more relevant to this thread than to my old one in the other forum (ping: Tim and/or Maurizio!).
The tile installer did some trim in the new bathroom with a mottled white/gray marble (don’t know the name, maybe I could find out). It looks polished, but maybe not very well? Anyway, I have no problem with its dry appearance, but it continues to soak up water after three rounds of Stone Armor. :uhh:
If I had bought a sealer elsewhere with the same label and got to this point, I would be asking about another product. Now, you guys have convinced me that there is no better product; so should I just keep going until it seems really sealed? I am particularly concerned about the shower curb, for obvious reasons.
As always, I am profoundly grateful for your sage counsel. :bow:
Thanks, Fern

[doitright]

Hi Fern :)

Has applying the Stone Armor, made a differance, than not? If it has, like some porous granites, then multiple applications is necessary. I've never run into this with a polished marble. Honed & tumbled yes.

Was your 1st coat a flood coat? Did you apply wet on wet? Many variables here.

You are obviously including the grout joints. Are they repelling water while the marble is soaking it in? I'd have to get a video of this one, or find out the name of the stone you are working with. :D

Anyway, I want to learn with you on this one. Next time start a new thread. We might go a few rounds. ;)