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How to: Clean | Seal | Restore
Stone Look & Regular Porcelain Tile
Sealing - Cleaning - Problem Solving - Protection - Care
Glazed tile refers to any material that has a "FIRED" glaze on its face. Stone Look tile (looks like slate, marble, limestone, etc.) is available in glazed ceramic, porcelain, mosaic, and concrete types. After reviewing this page, see the page for the appropriate material type (i.e. porcelain tile, concrete tile).
This increasingly popular type of tile has a textured and colored finish that looks exactly like slate or stone. These tiles have different installation and maintenance requirements then smoother finishes. |
There is no need for confusion or problems brought about by misidentification of a surface type, yet it happens all too often. If you would like to see why this is the case and how to properly identify a surfacing material .....
Click here
If you are concerned about doing it yourself - consider that the satisfaction of a project is directly related to your knowledge of what needs to be done and how. Who actually does the work is less important. We estimate that 25% of the usage of Aldon products is by "do it yourself" homeowners and we know they are happy because we hear from them.
| MATERIAL DESCRIPTION - With Identifying Characteristics
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- The more texture provided by these time, the more they trap dust and dirt. The answer to that is discussed below.
- The tile may not need to be sealed, but the grout does.
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ADVANTAGES TO THIS MATERIAL
- Great variety of looks - natural stone, wooden planks, etc.
- The durability and cleaning ability of tile.
- Dense, tough surface
- The stone look tends to not show dirt and therefore is considered to be desirable in areas of a higher level of abuse.
- Colors and designs are almost any natural stone.
- Texture provides traction
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CONSIDERATIONS (All Are Preventable!)
(Click links for Aldon's solutions to these issues!)
- See "Tile Installation" below regarding grout being trapped in the tile texture and how to prevent it.
- Do not use a sealer as a grout barrier
(pre-seal). Prevent grout smears, surface scratching and keep grout residue out of surface texture by coating with Aldon "Grout Easy" before grouting. "Grout Easy" is a water soluble coating that comes off easily while grout is being cleaned up with water and a sponge.
- Efflorescence (subsurface originating white powdery stains) can occur in the grout. However, it is
easily cleaned.
- Grout colors can "fade". The appearance of fading is actually from light efflorescence and
can be stopped by sealing with the appropriate Aldon sealer.
- The textured face is an automatic dirt trapping mechanism. See Aldon Tile Cover for a way to greatly improve cleaning.
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Tile Installation:
The textured face will tend to trap the wet grout and make for a more difficult grout cleanup. It is standard practice in the industry to clean off any remaining hazy residue by one of the following methods:
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Buffing with cloth or some abrasive material. This very difficult, inefficient, and is not very effective.
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Cleaning with vinegar. This is a very weak acid and does not work well for the heavier grout deposits in the deeper part of the tile texture. It also has a tendency to leave an opalescent film.
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By far, the preferred method is to prevent the grout from sticking to the tile surface in the first place. Keep grout residue out of any surface texture characteristics by coating with Aldon
 Grout Easy before grouting. "Grout Easy" is a water soluble coating that comes off easily during the normal grout clean up with water and a sponge. "Grout Easy" has enough body to fill the textured face of the tile so that the grout is held above those areas.
( Add to job list or order )
Following are recommendations for products you may need (in sequence of use ) for whichever of the categories applies to you. Please review each and mark your printed
worksheet accordingly.
Layed, But Not Grouted
- Grout Easy
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 Efflorescence Treatment
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 Grout Residue
Remover
(should not be needed after using Grout Easy)
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Grouted, But Not Sealed
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Grout Residue
Remover
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Efflorescence Treatment
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.............Sealer ( see below )
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 Lifeguard
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Care ...........
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Sealer Has Been Applied
Important! - First -
Click here!
 Premium Stripper- ...........Cleaners ?
- ...........Sealer ( see below )
- Lifeguard
- Care ..........
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Regarding sealing - a sealer is not required under most conditions for stonelook tile of porcelain or glazed type. Sealing is required for concrete tile. Sealing is required for the grout. There are also some other reasons a sealer might be desired on the tile as described below.
An Aldon sealer does far more than just bead water and look pretty! To see what that is
click here.
Your results may vary somewhat from these pictures due to variations in computer display and the surface materials themselves. Nevertheless, you will be able to see the differences well enough to make good choices.
Different areas of the same piece are used as much as possible to minimize raw material variations.
Of all the sealers Aldon manufactures, the ones shown are recommended as best suited to this surface type.
(Important: If your project has had any sealer applied in the past, it must be evaluated differently. To see why,
Click here!)
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"Same Day Sealer"
Water Based - Penetrating Type
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When sealing only the grout joints, this is the easiest sealer to use for what could be an otherwise tedious job.
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One Application on the grout is all that should be needed.
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No change to color
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No gloss
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Because it is water base and clear, it is the easiest sealer to wipe off the tile face. That makes the job easier than a sealer requiring mineral spirits for cleaning.
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"S-B-S Sealer"
Solvent Based - Penetrating Type
( Add to job list or order )
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* Note: "Lifeguard" will add another level of gloss to any of the above sealed surfaces.
It also prevents traffic wear to the sealers finish. ( Add to job list or order )
For a coating of little or no gloss or appearance change to the tile, but an improvement to cleaning ability with reduced drag on the mop - see"Tile Cover". This is a thin, renewable coating over the entire floor of tile and grout.  ( Add to job list or order )
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