It’s important to seal your grouts so that they can stay clean and look great. When you seal them in such a way, you create a barrier preventing stains caused by dirt, mildew or even water. Among the important aspects to take into account while sealing grout are:
Benefits Of Sealing Grout:
Properly sealed grout prevents discolouration and deterioration with time, saving the beauty of your ceramic, natural stone, or porcelain tile surfaces. Additionally, sealed joints enhance the ease of cleaning since they repel both liquids and dirt.
Water Damage Prevention:
Unsealed grout can absorb water in areas where people walk a lot, such as bathrooms and kitchens. This usually happens if the floor is not dried after cleaning or when someone takes a shower and forgets to spread a bathing mat. Failure to remove such moisture leads to mildew growth, which may cause structural defects like weakening of walls. To avoid such problems, use penetrating sealers because they will protect against them accordingly.
Longevity Improvement:
The fact that you’re using high-quality sealers means that the life span of your tiles will definitely be extended. It is important for the grout lines to stay strong, especially in the areas where they are exposed to water more often or there is heavy human traffic. Therefore, if this doesn’t happen, then most likely, this person didn’t seal his/her joints.
Stain Protection:
Natural stone tiles, especially, are porous and can easily get stained when grout is not well sealed. For example, use a solvent-based sealer or deep-penetrating grout sealer to protect your stone tiles from being discoloured by spills or even day-to-day traffic.
Different Types Of Grout Sealers
When it comes to keeping your tile surfaces spotless, selecting the right grout sealer is crucial. With the wide array of options available, understanding the different types of grout sealers can help you make an informed choice that best suits your needs. Let’s delve into the various types of grout sealers to enhance the longevity and appearance of your grout lines.
Penetrating Sealer
Description: This type of sealer penetrates the porous tile and grout line to create a protective barrier from within.
Benefits: Ideal for natural stone and porous tiles, it provides long-lasting protection without altering the surface’s appearance.
Tip: Apply with a roller sealer applicator for even coverage on high-traffic areas.
Solvent-Based Sealer
Description: Formulated with solvents, this sealer is excellent for deep-penetrating grout sealing.
Benefits: It offers enhanced durability and water resistance, which is perfect for shower grout and wet areas.
Tip: Ensure proper ventilation during application due to the solvent content.
Spray-On Sealer
Description: A convenient option that can be easily sprayed on the grout lines without much hassle.
Benefits: Quick application process suitable for new applications or touch-ups in different areas.
Tip: Choose this type for its ease of use, especially in large surface areas.
Knowing the complexities of various grout sealers helps in choosing the right one, depending on the kind of tiles and the amount of protection needed. It does not matter if the tile is a natural stone, ceramic, or porcelain because every kind of tile requires a correctly chosen grout sealer for maintenance.