Unglazed porcelain tiles

[bureaucrazy]

Hello,

I have some 'black' Nero granite unglazed porcelain tiles (actually very dark grey)

Broken Link Removed.

I have a bottle of Lithofin Protective impregnator to apply to the tiles.

[DLMURL]http://www.lithofin.co.uk/en-gb/__i/Lithofin-FZ-Protective-Impregnator[/DLMURL]

I have some questions about suitability, protection and maintenance.

The tiles are for a kitchen which has a door to the garden. This floor is likely to be exposed to dirt and grit from outside as well as oil, grease, curry, puke (including stomach acid and partially digested food), etc that may be spilled or splashed on it and then left possibly for a long time before being cleaned up. I wish I had got glazed porcelain instead, but I was incorrectly advised that it was not possible to manufacture black glazed porcelain and it's too late to return them now.

1. I would like to know whether the unglazed tiles if treated correctly with the impregnator will resist stains and dirt and scratches from grit/stones (see above) as well as glazed ones would have given the intended use above?

2. When the tiles get dirty, could cleaning them with strong detergents/bleach lessen the protection provided by the Lithofin impregnator or even damage the surface of the tiles?

3. Will the protective sealer coating ever wear off? After how long? Is it possible to reseal? or will ground in stains be impossible to remove before sealing them again?

4. If the Lithofin the correct product or is there a better option?

Maybe my worries are unfounded and they will be very durable and practical? Or, should I cut my losses (£300) and buy all new glazed ones from elsewhere?

Many thanks in advance for your wisdom and experience.

 

[Stef]

I've fitted a few Nero granite tiles, inside & out & never sealed any of them.
I don't think a sealer will penetrate into this tile & will probably sit on the surface, not 100% sure but someone else could answer this.
Done these last week Nero granite beige.
Only sealer I used was for the grout.

 

[Andy Allen]

Oil, grease, curry ,stomac acid and puke .....some wild party's you have....lol

 

[Lithofin BOB]

Hello,

I have some 'black' Nero granite unglazed porcelain tiles (actually very dark grey)

Broken Link Removed.

I have a bottle of Lithofin Protective impregnator to apply to the tiles.

[DLMURL]http://www.lithofin.co.uk/en-gb/__i/Lithofin-FZ-Protective-Impregnator[/DLMURL]

I have some questions about suitability, protection and maintenance.

The tiles are for a kitchen which has a door to the garden. This floor is likely to be exposed to dirt and grit from outside as well as oil, grease, curry, puke (including stomach acid and partially digested food), etc that may be spilled or splashed on it and then left possibly for a long time before being cleaned up. I wish I had got glazed porcelain instead, but I was incorrectly advised that it was not possible to manufacture black glazed porcelain and it's too late to return them now.

1. I would like to know whether the unglazed tiles if treated correctly with the impregnator will resist stains and dirt and scratches from grit/stones (see above) as well as glazed ones would have given the intended use above?

2. When the tiles get dirty, could cleaning them with strong detergents/bleach lessen the protection provided by the Lithofin impregnator or even damage the surface of the tiles?

3. Will the protective sealer coating ever wear off? After how long? Is it possible to reseal? or will ground in stains be impossible to remove before sealing them again?

4. If the Lithofin the correct product or is there a better option?

Maybe my worries are unfounded and they will be very durable and practical? Or, should I cut my losses (£300) and buy all new glazed ones from elsewhere?

Many thanks in advance for your wisdom and experience.

Hi,
1. the tiles if sealed with the protective impregnator, this will give water and oil reppelance, saturate for 20-25 min to give the tiles an opportunity to absorb the product . wipe off all excess ( buff completely dry) leave to cure. the contaminants you speak off will break through any impregnator (acidics especially ) . if the tiles are laid apply and see, if not seal one unlaid tile and test with all above staining and other "things" you have got going on there. scratches will happen sealed or not.

The main thing is, if you do break the sealer down (through contaminants) it may be worth maintaining only forget the seal and use deeper cleaners to maintain this area, by deeper cleaning this area regulary you will break the sealer down anyway.so just clean it.

2. these types of cleaner will,yes have an effect on the impregnator,

3.It wont wear off its an impregnator , the above cleaners or contaminants will breakdown and the impregnator will deteriorate. The product can be reapplied at any point , the tiles we can always get clean generally , the cement based grout may be a little more difficult, poss epoxy!!

4. lithofin protective impregnator is the correct product for the tile, but for this situation?

cheers bob

 

[steve1953]

Oil, grease, curry ,stomac acid and puke .....some wild party's you have....lol

I guess they have a dog

 

[Lithofin BOB]

I guess they have a dog

Poss A very poorly dog Steve !!

 

[steve1953]

Poss A very poorly dog Steve !!

or a wild party dog like my Yorkie

 

[Lithofin BOB]

or a wild party dog

Could have been my floor at 18, god I miss them days!!!

 

[m3fitter]

lithofin FZ is for non vitrified porcelain, to seal the orange peal effect in the production process, that can pick up stains... but with traffic requires regular sealing... get normal porcs...

 

[TJ Smiler]

Yeah think i would gio down the porcs route too..... Not saying what you got aint any good but you know 100% what your getting with porcs and what they can do and withstand.