Pro-Solv 10 or Sealers Choice 15 Gold

[fenderskirt66]

Hey all! Just got off the phone with Aqua-mix and the tech recommended pro-solv 10 for my slate install in the kitchen and entryway. Just need to get 2nd opinions before I lay this stuff down, it's a solvent based in which I heard will penetrate the "tight" pores of the slate that I have more than the water base. I want to maintain the "natural" stone look and provide the ultimate protection from everyday kitchen use (oil's, water, food, etc).

Ok, let me have it! Which shall I use and why?

Thanks in advance,
Kelly
Fenderskirt66

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[fenderskirt66]

oh yea, forgot to add that the tile is down but haven't grouted yet. I want the sealer to go on CAREFULLY avoiding the grout areas to aid in grout clean-up. With that said, will the solvent sealer interfere with grout adhesion vs. water based?

Thanks Again,
Kelly
Fenderskirt66

[Davestone]

Both are equally good, and technology has made the water based sealers about as good as oil based.Aquamix also makes a slate sealer i believe,but i don't know what the difference is.Just don't put it on so thick it runs down the edges too much. :)

[Tool Guy - Kg]

Check out the "Bullet-Proof" sealer by StoneTech. You can find it right here on this site under the online store. http://www.tileyourworld.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=43
This stuff is water-based so it doesn't give off obnoxious fumes like most of the oil-based sealers. Also, they have figured out a way to vary the sizes of the globs of molecules on a molecular level. Now why on earth am I talking about this? Well "Bullet-Proof" is a water-based sealer that seals like an oil-based sealer. That is, it penetrates....big time.

If you are interested....read on: Traditional water-based sealers with their large molecules, can't seal the surfaces well enough to hold back accidental spills on the floor that contain oil. Like cooking oil. Oil-based sealers have smaller molecules and penetrates the pores better. So in the past, if you wanted the best sealer for protection against oil-based spills, your only hope was to use stinky oil-based sealers. And get all whooozie doing it. :loaded: But now "Bullet-proof" has molecules that range in size, it does an outstanding job of sealing everything. Big pores, small pores, you name it. Not to worry with the Bullet-proof, its got ya covered.

No, I do not work for StoneTec or anything like that. I found this stuff some months ago and switched from Aqua Mix to this. It's all I use now. :yipee:

[fenderskirt66]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! It sounds like water and solvent based products are equal. Toolguy, I really would like to try the product you mentioned but I have to get the tile sealed tomorrow. Because of my time constraint, I don't have the time to wait for the stonetech to be shipped. HD has both the Pro-solv 10 and sealers choice 15 gold.....With durability and ease of application in mind, can you all help me make a decision? I am "leaning" towards the pro-solv and want to be 100% that the solvent based sealer wont interfere with my grouting whatsoever. I have been extremely maticulous during this entire process and taking my time so everything comes out right, im 75% there and I know this is a crucial step (have read too many horror stories on this board :cry: ) I will take extra care not to let the sealer get on the edge of each tile. Appreciate everyone's feedback and help with this matter.

Kelly
Fenderskirt66

[fenderskirt66]

Any takers!? Hoping to get started first thing, just need someone with experience to help me out with sealer selection..

Many Thanks!
Kelly

[cx]

Hi, Kelly. Cool name. :)

I'm gonna move you over the the Cleaning and Resoration forum. More people who are versed in your subject are likely to look in there.

[Tool Guy - Kg]

Sorry about the delay. I’ve been cleaning soda out of the keyboard. :uhh: I heard “daddy…daddy….daddy…daddy” 10 times in 3 seconds. I turned around and spill-o-rama! I have literally typed this in 5 times now and each time I loose the whole thing cause the keyboard goes crazy. Kids, I love em. :yipee: Now I go to type this in again and it been moved!!

Back to business……go for the Pro Solv 10. The extra protection it has for any oil-based stains makes it worth it. Remember this coat has to be put on at least 6 hours prior to grouting, so plan accordingly. This coat is going to take a heavy beating during grouting, so you’ll have to apply another 1 to 2 coats after the grout is dried. (Pay attention to the proper amount of dry time). That slate is really gonna soak the stuff up. The slate will soak up a lot on the first coat, then less on subsequent coats.

Just be sure to heed Dave’s advice to apply this in such a manner as to not allow the stuff to ooze down over the edges.

[fenderskirt66]

Kurt, CX, Dave-
Fella's, Thanks a million for getting back to me this evening!...oh, and sorry to hear about the keyboard Kurt! So anyhow, Pro-Solv 10 it is....will be getting up bright and early to get started. I plan on using a paint brush to apply the sealer, and after 3 min "buff" any remaining sealer into the stone surface. Unless you all have a better techniqe that is :) Anyhow, just want to say thanks to all of you on this board who actually read and interact providing advice to us newbies. The internet is amazing and to think just a few weeks ago I had absolutely no idea on how to tile and here I am looking at beutifull slate stone in my house....feels pretty good to say the least. I'll keep you guys updated on the progress and will post some pics when it's all completed.

Thanks Again!
Kelly
Fenderskirt66

[Tool Guy - Kg]

I'd use a wide foam brush or a neatly folded-up old t-shirt. These both control the amount of sealer you deposit onto the tile. The foam brush works good because there are no straying bristles wiping sealer on the edges of tiles accidentally (and it hold pretty much sealer material). The t-shirt neatly folded-up works good for two reasons, one there is no straying bristles, and two, there is no chance that the t-shirt can drop down into the grout-lines where it can accidentally deposit sealer on the edges of the tiles. The only drawback on the t0-shirt is that it doesn't easily cover all the tile surface with the heavy texture that is present on slate tiles. My choice is usually a wide foam brush. Get several, they are gonna fall apart from all the abuse. And get a shallow bucket for the sealer. And a few terry cloth white rags for polishing the excess sealer.

For me, the paintbrush allows way too much depositing of material onto the edge of a tile when the brush stroke is stroked into the next tile. When the bristles hit the hard outside edge, sealer is gonna come off the brush and run down that side of the tile. The only way I'd feel comfortable with a paintbrush is stroking from the middle of the tile outwards over the edge. But even then, you are going to overlap onto the next tile a bit and sealer is going to run down the side of that tile. No good.

[fenderskirt66]

Hey Kurt!
Used a 3" foam brush (several :) ) and carefully brushed on the pro-solv 10 sealer and everything went smooth! Little to no drips over the edge, anytime I noticed that it might start to drip I dried it up before it made it too far. One thing I might as well mention, not really a complaint, but the sealer seemed to "slightly" dull the tile's brilliance and color. I have a feeling if I use the stone cleaner and polisher by aqua mix, it should bring it right back out. Has this happend to anyone else after using solvent based sealer? Anyhow, grouting is the next beast that will be overcome this week and another coat or two of sealer afterwards. Oh yea, just for record I bought a quart of sealer and used maybe a quarter of it for approx. 130 sq ft of slate on the first coat. I think the subsequent coats will require less. Boy the water sure beads right off the stone, it's some good stuff. Will update you guys with pics when it's all finished.

Thanks!
Kelly
Fenderskirt66

[krysti0423]

Hi Kelly,

Depending upon who's sealer you are using, I am not sure about Aquamix, but many of them are made to not change the color of the stone. You will want to use a pH neutral cleaner as an everday cleaner for your stone. Also, make sure that you do seal the grout. Using a polish is up to you. It is not something you need but a lot of people prefer using it once a week or a few times a month. It is basically like polishing your furniture but for stone. This may help a little if you have some dulling or a slight color change.
:yipee: