TYW Grout sealer, what's the difference?

[Trav]

Hello everyone. I have just completed a new installation of porcelain tile and need to seal the grout lines. I have been reading here about the different products to use and have finally decided I should go with one of the StoneTech sealers offered at the TYW store. What is the difference between the three types offered; Bulletproof, Heavy Duty, and Impregnator Pro Heavy Duty? Is one of these three the same sealer as the TYW Stone Armor I have read so much about here?

Also, I am not sure if the pocelain tile I installed is glazed or not. I bought it from lowes (Cermica Del Conca Rialto Beige). I understand that glazed tile does not need to be sealed. But if it is not glazed, can it be sealed with any type of sealer? If so, what? I am getting conflicting information about that. Some say their product will seal porcelain, some say not to seal porcelain, but only the grout lines.
Can anybody clear this up for me?
Thanks.
Travis

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[Steven Hauser]

Most differences in impregnating repellants AKA sealers differ in several ways.

1) Some are solvent based and some are water based. This is the delivery medium. Some solids do better in solvents some emulsify. Some do fine in water.

2) The type of solid used. The silicone based products do a very good job of repelling water but not as good at repelling oil. So the differences start there. There are solid compounds that do a really good job of one or the other and a few more that do a good job with both.

3) The type of material being coated. Some igneous stones are denser than say a limestone and some products will do better with those that have a lower surface tension. Some do much better when the product is very absorbant.

Finally, The TYW Stone Armor is not available so we switched to the Stone Tech products.

Your tile is known as a glazed porcelain product. Thus it won't require an impregnating repellant.

The grout is usually quite absorbtive and will require several applications.

The product the TYW store carries that most suites your application is
Impregnator Pro™ Heavy Duty Stone, Tile & Grout Sealer

:)

[Trav]

Thanks Steven! That is just the information I was looking for.

I am very glad I found this site. Keep up the good work!

Travis

[Steven Hauser]

Glad it helped.
:)