Does Sealing The Back Of Stone Impair Adhesion?

[Gazzer]

Keep your thoughts coming...remember this will be a debate not an argument. All will be revealed in time but I will need your help once again before that can happen.

 

[Concrete guy]

There are reasons why you don't pre seal stone products, most of which are to do with adhesion and water dispersion.

Most stone is wet cut at the production plant and unless it's a particularly hot country is often packed wet.

In an ideal world any case of stone should be unpacked and allowed to dry/settle in the room in which it's being fitted. But that's not practical in the real world.

So you fit the stone raw, with a suitable adhesive and allow it all to dry, then use sealing products.

I can see your thought process Neale, but in the real world it's very unusual for a stone tile delivery to be free from moisture. Any moisture content would inhibit the effectiveness of chemicals applied to it.

 

[The D]

well I work with natural stone a lot , I also have few friends (stone masons) , they work with stone every day for many years, and they say the same thing. But let's see what other members say 🙂

lol done a bit myself m8

 

[Tony73]

I did a lot of stone work for "ideal stone interiors" years ago. And they have drying room, so we used to dry stone properly and then seal. But I agree with you ATS , many stone suppliers bring vet stone tiles to site.

 

[Tony73]

lol done a bit myself m8

I know deano, you have much more years then me 🙂, in tiling . And I have learned something from you already mate. Only saying my opinion about this

 

[The D]

just pulling your leg m8 :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Tony73]

just pulling your leg m8 :smilewinkgrin:

Thanks for that :lol:

 

[jonnyc]

There are reasons why you don't pre seal stone products, most of which are to do with adhesion and water dispersion.

Most stone is wet cut at the production plant and unless it's a particularly hot country is often packed wet.

In an ideal world any case of stone should be unpacked and allowed to dry/settle in the room in which it's being fitted. But that's not practical in the real world.

So you fit the stone raw, with a suitable adhesive and allow it all to dry, then use sealing products.

I can see your thought process Neale, but in the real world it's very unusual for a stone tile delivery to be free from moisture. Any moisture content would inhibit the effectiveness of chemicals applied to it.

exactly what i think as well.
there is a stone company called stoneage in london who recommend me to fix their products.
they have a service whereby they preseal the stone prior to delivery.
this is only advantageous if you are on a tight schedule or access problems with people getting on floor like tight jobs in london.
but they do not seal the stone until it is bone dry . they have a big room with racks on which they lay stone and air can get all round it. then dehumidifiers etc.
i did used to question what happens with the mositure that is in the adhesive if top of stone sealed , but appently stainstop does let moisture up through it.
far more moisture obviously if fixing stone in normal set which i never do anyway.
there is also a big stone company in italy that preseals peitra serena and if you are doing a job outside this is very helpful .

in the 80s fired earth used to tell everyone to lay out terracotta and preseal because of fear of staining dutring fixing but they always delivered dry terracotta.

you can get picture framing on very porous stone from ingress of moisture in grout which is why we always try and get sealers down edges of joints .

 

[jonnyc]

I did a lot of stone work for "ideal stone interiors" years ago. And they have drying room, so we used to dry stone properly and then seal. But I agree with you ATS , many stone suppliers bring vet stone tiles to site.

i think they may have got their stone presealed by stoneage tony.

 

[jonnyc]

tony are ideal stone the company who have irish owners.
i rember getting stuff cut there maybe 6 -7 years ago . green 40mm brazilain slate cut in to 900 x 300 pool copings from slab. you might have cut it for me !!!