How to Seal Slate Floor Tile
Slate tile, like all natural stone, is porous, and should be sealed with chemical sealant during installation to prevent moisture penetration and stains. The sealing process isn't complicated--it's basically a matter of brushing the sealer onto it--but it needs to be done in conjunction with the grout sealing. This complicates things, since grout will stain unsealed slate during the grout-application process. The solution is to seal the tile right after installation but before grouting, then re-seal the whole surface after it's grouted. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Penetrating liquid grout & tile sealer
- Paint brush
- Unsanded grout
- Grout float (flat rubber trowel)
- Sponge
Instructions
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1
Use your brush to spread sealer over the surface of the newly installed slate, starting at one corner of the tiled area and brushing in the direction of the slate grain. Brush the sealer only onto the surface of the tiles, taking care not to let it drip into the spaces between the tiles. (The grout will set better in the spaces if they're not sealed.)
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2
Let the sealer dry for two hours. Apply a second coat of sealer. Let it dry overnight.
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3
Grout the tile, using your float to apply the grout to the lines between the tiles. Run the grout over the surface with the edge of the float, pressing it into the lines and squeezing it off the face. Work in sections of a few square feet, letting the grout sit in the lines for a minute, then wiping off the excess with a damp sponge.
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4
Let the grout cure for at least two days. Apply another coat of sealer in the same manner as the first, but this time, go over the tiles and grout all at once.
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Let the sealer dry for two hours, then apply another coat over the whole tiled area. Let it set for a day before resuming use of the area.
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Tips & Warnings
Ventilate the room when applying sealer.
