to seal before or after

[ms.tiles]

Hi All

Got a job of tiling a bathroom walls with 60x30 polished porcelain tiles.
Ive always sealed the tiles before starting tiling but my customer has just told me hes taken all 18 boxes up to the bathroom for me, my question is, is it ok to seal the tiles once they are up? I'll be using weber spf in white and would keep the tiles clean but in 7 years of tiling ive never not sealed any tile first.

Your thoughts are appreciated

many thanks

 

[Ian]

I used to be the same as you, always seal before fitting. Now I just work cleanly and seal before and after grouting, even with limestone. Keep the job clean and you will save yourself the hassle of presealing in the future.


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[Andrew Case]

I've been taught to seal afterwards, just work clean. Have a sponge to hand in case

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Don't you just hate it when they call you back to get the red wine and beetroot off the polished porcelain wall tiles!

 

[ythan]

Porcelain tiles shouldn't need sealing at all.....they're normally totally immune to all sorts of spillages and totally maintenance free.

Natural stone tiles....now; they do normally need sealing.....and re-sealing every so on.

 

[peteablard]

Porcelain tiles shouldn't need sealing at all.....they're normally totally immune to all sorts of spillages and totally maintenance free.

Natural stone tiles....now; they do normally need sealing.....and re-sealing every so on.

That's incorrect mate, polished porcelain will usually need sealing

 

[Topshop]

I was always taught that the ceramics and porc. tiles didn't need sealing unless they are unglazed. Only the grout needs sealing afterword - there goes the advantage of the rest of the man made stuff.

 

[Dan]

Ceramics wont as they have a glaze surface, which is like a thin sheet of glass. But porcelain, if you leave a few drops of water on it and after half hour they're still as you left them and you can wipe them away with no marks, shouldn't need sealing. Though you can find porcelain that'll soak in the water after a period of time, those need sealing.

There's also a felt pen test, if you use a felt pen on it and can wipe it away, it should be fine as is. If it leaves a slight stain, they need sealing.

Porcelain can have a porosity rate of < 1% - but that's still enough to soak in water.

(I might be wrong with some of the finder details there but I think i'm on the right track - lol)

 

[ythan]

I've done a bit of research:

Evidently it's the polishing process that can cause problems (staining) with polished porcelain, particularly imported far eastern tiles. The polishing process grinds away some of the top surface, and can increase porosity, and risk of staining.



Most if not all non-polished porcelain tiles should not need sealing, but best test as suggested above.

Meanwhile, here's what one tile supplier recommends - no mention of sealing.
[h=1]''Polished Porcelain Tiles[/h] Suitable for Walls and Floors A collection of polished porcelain black and white wall and floor tiles, available in two size formats rectangular 600x300 and square 600x600. These tiles are extremely hard wearing and suitable for all domestic and commercial situations.

To protect the tiles from scratching during transportation and storage an oily substance is thinly applied to the surface of these tiles. This is best removed by using a small amount of white grout (in powder form) and a dry paper towel, the powder will absorb the oil. We recommend that this process is carried out after grouting when the grout is dry as this would prevent dry powder falling into the joints.''