Sealing Slate Tiles Albany

Slate typically comes from Brazil, Vermont, China and India. The Brazilian and Vermont slate varieties tend to have a low absorption rate, while Indian and Chinese have variable absorption rates. Softer slate requires more attention with sealing before and after installation compared to harder slate tiles.

Slate is a foliated metamorphic rock derived from shale and consisting mainly of grains of mica and quartz. Most slate is grey to black, but the rock may be red or purple, depending on its mineral content. The surface of slate is generally uneven with cleft planes which can spall or flake due to the cleaving of the stone along its layers.

A bit more knowledge about the origin of your slate will help you determine how you want to treat it. Brazilian slate is typically dense and has variegated colours while Vermont slate is typically dense, smooth and one consistent colour (black, blue, green red). In contrast, Chinese and Indian slates are typically variable in density (soft to hard) with variegated colouring. If you have a soft slate, typically Chinese or Indian, pre-seal using a deep penetrating porous stone sealer.

We provide specialised stripping & sealing solutions for slate floor surfaces.

You can easily test how porous your natural slate is by applying a drop of water to the surface and watching how it is absorbed. You can then see how any type of water based stain can be absorbed by the slate tile surface and grout.

Sealing your slate will keep most stains suspended at the surface, creating a barrier that provides protection against chemical attack, deterioration and contamination. Sealing is the first important step towards protecting your investment against stains.

Which look do you want your slate floor to have -- natural, wet, or glossy? You can have the wet-look without going glossy by choosing the right finish. There are finishes that maintain the “natural look” after application, but many people love the “wet-look” for their slate floors.

As slate tiles sometimes can naturally appear lacklustre, various sealing solutions have been designed to enhance the colour or create a glossy finish.

Two main sealing options exist for limestone tiles

• Deep Penetrating Impregnating Sealer

(Transparent Finish/Colour Enhancing Finish)

• Topical Sealer

(Gloss/Satin/Matte Finish)

A penetrating impregnating transparent sealer enters the pores of your slate and once cured, will not change the look of the stone. A penetrating colour enhancing sealer however is designed to enhance and enrich the natural look of your stone surfaces.

A deep penetrating impregnating sealer protects slate and grout from water and oil based stains by chemically reacting with the surface pores using nano-technology creating a breathable protective invisible barrier. An impregnating sealer protects the slate surface and grout from absorbing stains while also resulting in cleaning and maintenance becoming much easier. Australia's Deepshield™ range of impregnating water based sealer's offer long term benefits lasting for up to 10 years while Deepshield™ Gold, based on the latest fluoro-bond technology will last for up to 15 years. Deepshield™ forms a bond with your surfaces that is stronger than any conventional mechanical or hydrogen bonding film forming sealers.

Tile Cleaners® are the experts at applying all types of sealer and will ensure your slate looks its absolute best. Albany's Tile Cleaners® experienced technicians can apply a topical sealer when especially required to create a high gloss, satin sheen or matte finish to your surfaces. Topical sealer is also helpful in situations where your old solvent based sealer can not be completely removed or when required to hide certain types of damage. Topical sealer's have a life expectancy of around 3 years.

We provide specialised cleaning and sealing solutions for slate tiles

Our equipment is ideal for both domestic and commercial premises, leaving your slate tiles spotless and hygienic

To schedule your appointment or to obtain a free estimate, call 1300 771 201 today or use our online enquiry form

We cover all Albany suburbs

It is very important to ensure that tiles achieve their cleanest possible condition prior to being sealed. This will protect the appearance of the tile and importantly ensure that there won't be any dirt, stains or other debris caught under the layer of sealant.

To provide the best possible protection from oil and water-based stains; to maintain the look and slip resistance of your slate and to prevent damaging moisture from being trapped within the stone, it is recommended to seal your slate with a high quality, invisible, fully breathable impregnating sealer.

Our Slate Floor Restoration service will bring back your slate tiles & grout to its best possible condition, and protect them for years to come

Once the final coat of penetrating slate tile sealant has been applied, allow to cure for at least 24 hours before walking on the surfaces. The longer the curing time, the better protection you will have, and the longer the finish will last.

It is important to ensure the correct water based sealer is applied to your slate tiles which will also depend on whether they are indoors or outdoors as most sealer's will not last long outside due to being designed for internal use. If your slate is outdoors, it is important to use a water based sealer that is specifically designed for outdoor slate.

You should always ensure that the tiles themselves are completely clean, before you attempt to seal the tile. This will protect the appearance of the slate, and help ensure that there won't be any dirt or other debris caught under the layer of sealant.

We provide specialised sealing solutions for Slate tiles.

To schedule your appointment or to obtain a free estimate, please Call 1300 771 201 or use our online enquiry form.

We cover all Albany suburbs

There are two types of impregnating clear sealer, water based sealer & solvent based. In the past solvent based sealers were more widely used as they would absorb deeper into the slate and grout and also lasted longer. Today however, thanks to new technological advancements, it is recommended only to use water based sealers, that last much longer and cause less potential damage to health and property.

Solvent based products are more difficult to apply and can create major problems when applied incorrectly as they are very hard to remove. Tile Cleaners® recommend our clients apply a long lasting water based sealer to their slate tiles and grout. Topical sealer's (glossy plastic coating over the top of the slate) are still used on slate, but these older style sealers can trap moisture in the stone and make the surface slippery when wet. When a topical sealer wears in higher traffic areas, the entire surface usually needs to be stripped and re-sealed.

It is very important to ensure that tiles achieve their cleanest possible condition prior to being sealed. This will protect the appearance of the tile, and importantly ensure that there won't be any dirt, stains or other debris caught under the layer of sealant.

To provide the best possible protection from oil and water-based stains; to maintain the look and slip resistance of your slate and to prevent damaging moisture from being trapped within the stone, it is recommended to seal your slate with a high quality, invisible, fully breathable impregnating sealer.

Our slate floor sealing service will protect your slate tiles and keep them looking fresh and new

It is highly recommended. Unlike glazed ceramic or porcelain tile, natural slate and other stone absorbs liquid easily. Because they do, if you use a grout on unsealed slate or stone the tile can be stained and the cement in the grout can bond with the surface of the slate. Slate with lots of grooves and ridges can be even more difficult because the grout will fill the grooves as well.

It is very important to pre-seal slate and other stone several times before grouting. Use a high quality sealant and choose a level of gloss to match your taste, being sure to test the sealant on a leftover piece of your stone before applying it to ensure you like the way it looks.

When a few drops of water sprinkled on any tile (including stone or slate) bead up instead of soaking in, the tile is sealed enough for grouting. Apply the grout according to manufacturers directions, being sure to remove as much grout haze as possible.

Only after the grout haze is gone and the grout is cured should you re-seal the tile and the grout together. Again, follow the sealant instructions carefully and enjoy!

After you grout the tiles (preferably with latex grout because it increases flex strength, reduces efflorescence, and has great bond strength), let it dry, ideally for a week before cleaning the tiles. You want to wash the tiles thoroughly, several times, to remove all remnants of excess grout so that it won't become a permanent part of your slate floor. When the tiles are dry after cleaning, you can apply two more coats of a penetrating sealant. This step is to add further protection to the slate, but also to the grout and grout-tile interface.

To seal or not to seal? Go for it with a deep penetrating, water-based slate tile sealer like Australia's Deepshield™ and enjoy your beautiful slate flooring for years.

Slate shower tile adds a touch of elegance to your bathroom. Ironically, the water that slate is designed to come into contact with can cause damage if it is not adequately protected.

When you decorate your shower with slate, you want to be sure to seal the porous material with a protective coating that will keep the water out while maintaining its attractive earthen appearance. A stone enhancer will darken the slate but not seal it. To protect it from water, make sure to apply a sealer.

Sealing your slate shower tile will take a little while, but our experienced & professional team can usually have it done in a half-day.

If you are not happy with the colour of the stone and are opting to use a stone enhancer, at Tile Cleaners® we have a new impregnating penetrating sealer with an added colour enhancer. The enhancing sealer will protect the slate stone, and will also bring out a darker, richer finish in the tile.

We provide specialised cleaning, stripping & sealing solutions for slate floor surfaces

Our equipment is ideal for both residential and commercial cleaning and sealing, leaving your floors spotless and hygienic

We cover all Albany suburbs