A1: The solvent and water only serve as “carriers” to help transfer the actual “sealer” into the porous stone, tile or grout. It is the quality of the polymer used in the sealer that dictates the quality, lifespan and performance. Water based sealers like Aqua-Seal Gold+ incorporate the latest C6 Fluoroploymer technology which outperform conventional solvent based sealers.
A2: A sealer is designed to create stain resistance. The objective is to create reaction time, where a stain can be held at surface level where it can be easily cleaned within a reasonable period of time before it is able to be absorbed into the porous surface.
A3: A simple test is to put water droplets directly onto the sealed surface at various locations after the sealer has been allowed to dry. Allow the droplets to remain for 5-10 minutes, then blot dry with absorbent towel. If surface has darkened, it should return to original color with 2-3 minutes. If it stays darkened for a longer period of time, the need for an additional application of sealer is indicated.
A4: This is not normally recommended due to the heavy moisture, chemical exposure and heavy wear issues associated with constant use. Penetrating-type sealers are normally recommended here for stone, grout and even concrete surfaces.
A5: Coating sealers can be used but the reservations must be listed. These Synthetic type finishes can be used in interior areas only and most are not good in wet areas. It must be noted that they should be reserved for textured surfaces only, and that these synthetic finishes will normally increase the maintenance requirements and require periodic reapplication.
A6: It is a good idea to seal grout, with the exception of 100% epoxy grout, which will not accept a sealer. Regular cement grout, even polymer-modified grout is porous and subject to staining if not properly sealed.
A7: If you do not know the previous sealer, identify if it left a shinny surface. Put water droplets in various spots to determine current porosity. If there is no shine or coating and water penetrates, a penetrating sealer should work fine, but always perform a small test area, with a 24 hour cure time to determine desired results. If a coating was used, the coating should be stripped if it is in a distressed condition before re-sealing with another coating sealer. It is always a good idea to contact the technical hotline of the “sealer manufacturer” if there are any questions!