help with sealer products

[Squirt]

Hi all. I'm new to posting. I've been told several times in the bath forum on the garden web that this is the sight for accurate information!
I'm newly in my house - 6 months now. I have not sealed my grout yet because it's been regrouted and my home has been a revolving door for subcontractors. My white grout was already dingy. Not from use, but from the dust settling in it. But they've just regrouted the white...so while it's fresh and clean I want to get it sealed.
I called Aquamix today and asked which of their several sealers they recommend. He told me Aquamix Sealer's Choice 15 Gold for the kitchen and "Grout Sealer" for the bathroom.
He said the Gold will help with any area prone to stains and the Grout Sealer is better for wet areas because it has "silicinate" (sp?) in it that is a must for showers/mold/mildew areas.
This is the first time I've been told I need two different products.
Do I need two different products?
Home Depot told me to use Tile Lab because it has Teflon.
And of course I've heard the JB products here are good. I didn't see any applicators to buy though...like a little paint brush or bottle/sponge roller.
Thanks for the advice!

[smee]

Welcome Squirt - gotta name besides squirt?

You may want to go into the section 'Tile & Stone Cleaning\Restoration' on this forum.

Also, in the liberry there is quite a bit of info on that very subject!

Kemguru is the local expert and he should be along to address this for you!

The products here at the tile your world store are great!

good luck

[Squirt]

Yes, my name is Deborah. Looking forward to the feedback! Thanks for the welcome!

[davem]

Hi Deborah, welcome.

I just moved your thread to the Cleaning/Restoration forum.

[John Bridge]

Hi Deborah, Welcome.

Tim, our chemical guru, will be along shortly to correct anything wrong I might say.

Don't use "Grout Sealer" on the shower floor, though. The floor needs to breathe. In fact, don't use Grout Sealer at all. Use TYW Stone Armor.

[kemguru]

Hi Squirt

I cant read Aqua Mix’s mind, nor do I want to put words in their mouth

Here’s my thoughts. They’re correct…to a point.

They’re saving you a few pennies by switching you to the lower cost seal in the bathroom. These products do not allow as much vapor transmission as a fluoro product, such as Sealers Choice. Since they don’t breathe as well, they appear to hold water out better than a fluoro product. Surfaces sealed with a fluoro-based impregnator can slightly darken when wet with water, but the surface will dry (lighten) within a couple of minutes after the topical water is removed. It takes much longer for an unsealed surface to dry and lighten. No worries, a little water vapor never hurt anything.

I want a surface to be protected to the best of our ability. Yet surfaces in wet areas need to breathe. Fluoro products exhibit the best stain resistance and the highest vapor transmission properties. If I’m going to go through the motion of sealing, I might as well use the best products.

The mildew statement is strange. The only thing I can say is use a product that does not contain something mold and mildew can thrive on. Since I don’t know what’s in other products, I cant comment. I can assure you that TYW Stone Armor does not contain anything that mold and mildew finds attractive.

By the way, fluoro products and "Teflon" are pretty much one in the same chemistry. Teflon is just a brand name. I dont know why it is, but that particular Home Depot product does not perform to most peoples standards. There's a lot of negative feedback on these forums about that product.

[Squirt]

Thank you Tim,
Sooo. Basically the Stone Amour will perform like the Aquamix Gold and I don't need the product with the silicinates...just use the same sealer throughout the house right?
So if I order the Amour online I still need to get the roller applicator and brushes from a HD type store?
Thanks!
Deborah

[doitright]

Hi Deborah

The beauty of the TYW products is they're not trying to sell you anything you don't need. Apply with, and I quote "sponge, roller, or string mop". I'm sure you've got one of those!

[Squirt]

OK I placed my order for the cleaner and sealer here! Hurry and ship fast I want to seal before my painters come next week and spill the red paint!....speaking of which...how many days after sealing can the room be used? Does the sealer need to cure?
OK application...sponge, roller or string mop? What's a string mop?
Should I just go to Lowe's and get that roller spongy applicator so the sealer doesn't get on the tile?
Basically I want to know the most affective way to apply and the fastest...although that might not be one in the same. Two coats too right?
I ordered the 32oz one...I hope that'll be enough for the second coat if needed.
So easiest method of application?
Thanks again!
Deb

[John Bridge]

Deb,

One of the best applicators is a piece of sponge, a tile sponge, not a cheap one. Find it in the tile aisle at HD. Pour some of the Armor into a dish or bowl type container and dab it out with the sponge and get it on the joints. Have a damp rag handy to clean the excess off the edges of the tiles. The applicator bottles work okay on floors, but they are worthless on walls where gravity defeats you. The bit of sponge is the way to go. I learned this from Tim, by the way.

If you are sealing smaller tiles, wipe the sealer over the whole surface and then remove the excess with dry rags or paper towels. If you are sealing standard wall tiles (4- 1/4 in.) seal tile and grout together. Contrary to belief, all glazed tiles are not waterproof, and most will absorb some sealer. Make sure you remove all excess from the surface before it dries.

The shipping costs on plastic applicators would make them impractical in our store. We would have to rip you, and that's not our policy.

[davem]

I'll add that you don't have to be in a huge hurry to get it off the tiles. You want to give it a while to soak in. I just kept wiping my tiles with the sponge for about 10 minutes, then buffed it off. Here's a good thread where Kemguru chimes in with his method.
http://johnbridge.com/vbulletin/show...+minutes+armor

[KChurch1]

For sealing grout, I like the little bottle applicators with the brush tip... I use it on floors, walls, countertops... on the walls I turn the bottle upside down and squeeze.... You can also use a spray bottle, but wear a mask... don't want to breath anything you don't have to. I find the bottle less messy and saves more product. A sponge will work fine, but I prefer the bottle applicator.
Don't let it dry on the surface of the tile... it will come off with some agitation, but it's easier to wipe off the excess before it dries. If you are doing two coats, you can wait until after you apply the second coat to wipe the excess off the tiles... the wet sealer will help remove whatever sealer has dried on the tile. You can also apply some sealer to your rag to help remove any stubborn spots. If your tile has a gloss finish, the dried sealer haze will be more noticable.... matte finish tiles aren't such a problem.
You can't go wrong with Tile Your World Stone Armor...it's as good as the best sealers on the market if not better... and easy to work with.

[Squirt]

Thanks guys,
I got a good sponge tonight and the bottle with brish applicator.
Should work
Now I'll patiently waite for my products to arrive.
thanks again,
Deb

[kemguru]

Thank you, Deb

Karen and John K,

Thanks for the kind words and the great support in this here forum.

[doitright]