Water-based sealer on top of oil-based sealer?

[Jenn]

Our new kitchen countertop and backsplash were installed last week by a professional who's been in the business for many years and did a nice job. (He's the one who recommended corbels under the 18" countertop.) On the day he finished the job, he sealed the grout with Miracle sealer.

I was planning to use Aqua Mix as recommended here, and I was surprised he sealed it on the day it was finished, instead of waiting 2-3 days as I thought was recommended.

Since this is the kitchen, I'd like to be sure the grout is sufficiently sealed before we make coffee, fry bacon, cook spaghetti sauce... you get the idea. So, we went to HD tonight and almost bought the Aqua Mix. As I was standing there with a bottle in my hand, Hubby noticed that the Miracle sealer is petroleum based, and the Aqua Mix is water based.

Is it OK to apply a coat (or 2) of Aqua Mix on top of the 1-week-old coat of Miracle sealer?

A few days after the job was finished, I put a large bead of water on a small area of grout. The bead sat there for perhaps 15-20 minutes... maybe a little longer, but eventually soaked in. Is there another way to know if it is sufficiently sealed?

BTW, the grout color is Custom's Chapparal, which is not very light and not very dark -- just medium.

Thanks,
Jen

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[Mike2]

Hi Jen.

I don't think mixing the two different types of impregnator/sealers is a good idea, but you really need to talk to the experts. To that end I'm moving this Thread over to our Restoration section. You may not get a response until Monday so hang on, and in the mean time don't apply a different sealer to your CT until you get the green light.

[Jenn]

OK Mike, thanks. We didn't buy any sealer yet and won't touch it until we get the green light. But now I'm concerned.... the Restoration forum??? I hope our new countertop isn't ruined..... :cry:

Jen

[Monicakm]

For over two years now, everything I've read on this site and ntc-stone.com says to not use different formulas of sealer. If you start out with a solvent based...keep using it. Same for water based. I believe Aquamix makes a solvent based sealer. I used their solvent based Stone Enhancing sealer on my granite tile ct. If you really want to use a water based, there might be a way of removing the first sealer so that you can 'start over" and use what you want.
Monica

[doitright]

Hi Jen :)

What Monica said! :)

If the water is beading for that long, you're fine. There is no reason to strip, or reapply sealer at this time! :yipee:

[Jenn]

Thank you, I feel a little better now. :yipee:

I tried the water test again this morning... I put large beads of water on two different areas. That was more than 15 minutes ago and most of the water is still sitting there. There are one or two small spots where the water soaked in.

I have a couple more questions:

-- What about the fact that the Miracle sealer was applied the same day the job was done, instead of waiting at least 2 days? Is there going to be a problem?

-- When the water bead sits on the grout, should the grout not change color (look wet) at all? It takes several seconds to start looking wet while the water bead remains sitting on top.

-- What about our other tile jobs done 8 years ago that probably need to be resealed? I have no idea what sealer we used at that time (whatever it was, the fumes were so strong I was wheezing for a couple days afterward).

Thanks,
Jen

[Jenn]

Well, it's been 45 minutes since I started the new water-bead test this morning, and most of the water is still sitting there without soaking in. I put the water in two areas covering several inches of grout. In one area, there is a small spot (about 1") where the water soaked in after about 15 minutes, plus another tiny spot nearby. All the other water is still beaded and hasn't soaked in.

Knowing that I wouldn't leave puddles of coffee, spaghetti sauce, etc. beaded up on the grout for longer than about a few seconds (as long as it takes to grab a rag and wipe it off), I think things are lookin' good. What do you think?

But I'm still wondering about whatever issues might exist from sealing the grout on the day the job was done. (The tiler did that, not us.)

Jen

[KChurch1]

It's not recommended to seal grout the same day as installation because it may interfere with the grout curing and with the grout being damp you won't get complete penetration of the sealer. If the grout is crumbly or soft and scrapes out of the joints easily with a fingernail... there could be a problem.
If the grout seems to be hard and stable... you're probably okay. Most good sealers don't interfere with cure time. The Miracle is a good sealer. Do you know if they used 511 or 511 porous plus? It's possible that the installer didn't get complete penetration when sealing the new grout and you can reapply the Miracle. I think Miracle also makes water based sealers... so check with the installer to see which one he used and then apply more of the same.
I think you will be fine.

[Jenn]

Thanks Karen.
I scraped it with my fingernail in a few spots and it diesn't scrape out easily at all. At the most I got a tiny bit of grout dust but it could also be regular dust from other work being done... it's all over the stove top too. But in no way does the grout seem crumbly or soft.

My husband will know which Miracle sealer he used... he recognized it right away last night.

And more than 90 minutes later, most of the water is still beaded... :)

Jen