Advice on whether to seal glazed porcelain

[DIY beginner]

Help please! We recently tiled most of our downstairs (about 50 sq m)with porcelain 300 x 600 beige tiles - they are glazed porcelain from China purchased from B&Q (the only affordable porcelain we could see). We've never had porcelain floor tiles before, always carpet or vinyl.

Is it a good idea to seal the grout in the kitchen area (or all over?).

On researching this topic we were horrified to see the negative feedback on B&Q porcelain and now wondering whether the whole floor should be sealed. Will this help to prevent staining, or is it just a waste of time/money if the tiles are glazed?

Any advice gratefully accepted - and products to use - too late to change the tiles, tho'.

Thanks

Helen B

 

[DHTiling]

Hi Helen...if they are glazed then sealer will not take......have you the name of the tile..?

 

[beanz]

You should only need to seal polished porcelain tiles. If you're using a light grout, i'd probably recommend sealing that, just to make it easier to clean. 😉

 

[merlecollins]

Glazed Porcelain by it's very nature is non-porous so any sealer won't soak in as it should and will always just lie on the surface and wear off in time. :yikes:

If it's a good quality porcelain it shouldn't ever stain and therefore not need any protection.

 

[DHTiling]

Porcealin isn't very porous but it's the open pores in the tiles surface( un-glazed) that grab dirt and stains and the use of a special penetrating sealer like lithofin FZ impregnator or even LTP MPG sealer will work fine..and help in the cleaning and maintenence of the tiles.

 

[smurf21]

Correct me if i m wrong but if its glazed porcelain it does not need sealing only polished porcelaine needs sealing.........

 

[merlecollins]

CORRECT smurf21 :hurray:

 

[grumpygrouter]

Correct me if i m wrong but if its glazed porcelain it does not need sealing only polished porcelaine needs sealing.........

See Smurf, we agree on this too.....:8:

 

[DIY beginner]

Thank you - I will seal the grout only.

The tiles are called Zafira - glazed porcelain.

Helen

 

[p bond]

Hi can you please tell me how you got on with your tiling with those tiles as i have bought the same tiles from b and q. Also if you have any left over and willing to sell them, please let me know as I am a few tiles short and I can't get them anywhere as B and Q said its all gone now.
Many thanks.