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Aqua Mix - Frequenty Asked Questions Sealers Q: Does a sealer render a stone, tile, or grout stain-proof? A: No, sealers are designed to provide stain resistance. Performance is best described in “reaction time”. Premium sealers provide longer reaction time than economical sealers. Reaction time is the time that a sealer will repel a liquid contaminant before the contaminant starts to penetrate the surface and create a sub-surface stain. Q: How can I tell if my unglazed tile, stone, or grout is adequately sealed? A: A simple test is to sprinkle water droplets in various spots. Allow the droplets to remain for 10 minutes or so, then blot with an absorbent towel. If the surface has slightly darkened, it should return to previous state within 2-3 minutes. If it stays dark longer or if water quickly absorbs into surface, additional sealer application is needed. Q: Can porcelain tile be sealed, and if so, what kind of sealer is recommended? A: Only unglazed porcelain can be sealed, and only with a penetrating-type sealer. Based on the extremely low surface porosity of an unglazed porcelain, Aqua Mix “UltraSolv™” is recommended for highest performance. Aqua Mix “High-Gloss Sealer” can be used on a rough-textured porcelain surface (interiors only) when a gloss finish is required on a matte surface. Q: If my tile is not shiny does this indicate that the tile should be sealed for stain protection? A: Most likely the tile has a matte-finish glaze. Even though there is no surface reflectivity, this glaze renders the tile impervious, and it will not accept a sealer. Should the tile be unglazed, it should show the same color on the surface, sides, and back. If in doubt, ask the supplier if the tile is glazed or unglazed. Q: Does all grout need to be sealed? A: With the exception of 100% solid epoxy grout, all grout is porous and subject to contaminant staining. A sealer will provide much needed stain-resistance, creating “reaction time” to effectively clean up liquid contaminants before they penetrate. Q: If I have a matte-glazed ceramic and want the tile to have a high-sheen finish, are there practical options available? A: Yes, but only if the tile has a rough-textured finish, and only on interior areas. Aqua Mix “High-Gloss Sealer” is recommended for this. The downside is that this is a sacrificial coating, subject to traffic wear, so it needs to be re-applied periodically. Q: If my tile/stone/grout has been previously sealed and I do not know the name of the sealer that was used, can I use any sealer to re-seal? A: First, identify if the sealer left a surface shine or not. If there is no shine/coating and water penetrates, Aqua Mix penetrating-type sealers should work fine as long as they are allowed to penetrate. If a previous coating-type sealer was used, the coating should be stripped if it is in a distressed condition. (Refer to Aqua Mix “Problem Solver #8). If the sealer is bonded well and in good condition, Aqua Mix “Floor Shine and Hardener” can be used as a topical coating (interior only) over the existing coating sealer. Q: Can penetrating-type sealers be used on all porous stone and tile surfaces? A: Yes, as long as there is at least minimal porosity and absorption, they can be used. All Aqua Mix penetrating-type sealers are OK for both interior and exterior applications. Q: Some stone, such as polished marble is sensitive to acidic contaminants. Will a penetrating-type sealer protect these stones from acids? A: No. Penetrating or “impregnator” type sealers are designed to protect below the surface, so the actual surface is not left with a protective coating and is still susceptible to acid etching. Coating sealers unfortunately do not bond effectively to smooth, polished surfaces, and are not recommended for this reason. Q: If my stone has a polished (shinny) finish, does it still need to be sealed? A: Most marble, granite, travertine, limestone, quartzite, and even some slates and sandstone are available in a polished finish. All of these polished materials are still porous, subject to staining, and should be sealed with a penetrating-type sealer. Q: If I have a porous stone or tile, do I need to use different sealers for the tile/stone and grout? A: No, when sealing porous stone and tile, it is always recommended that the entire installation (including grout) be sealed at the same time using the sealer chosen for the stone or tile. In the case of glazed tile (the glaze which is fired glass acts as the sealer), only the grout should be sealed, using Aqua Mix “Grout Sealer” or a penetrating-type sealer. Q: Can I use coating (topical) type sealers on all porous stone and tile surfaces? A: No. Generally speaking, coating-type sealers are limited to very high-porosity tiles and stones such as terracotta, sandstone and slate, or to surfaces that have very rough-textured surfaces. Q: I want to use a stone that is sensitive to freezing. The stone will be used exterior. Will a good sealer protect the stone from the effects of freeze-thaw conditions? A: No. Sealers are not designed to render freeze-sensitive stone freeze-thaw stable. Even though a sealer may help in this regard by helping to keep water from entering from the surface, it must be remembered that moisture can enter from below or from other areas. It must also be noted that sealers are not “water-proofers”, they merely help to resist and reduce water infiltration from the sealed surface. Q: How long will my sealer last? A: This can vary from one year to 15 years or even longer. Premium penetrating-type sealers will normally provide the longest life, whereas coating-type sealers, must be re-applied much more frequently. Other key factors that influence useful sealer life are traffic conditions, exterior versus interior environments, cleaners used and maintenance procedures. Q: Do sealers last as long under exterior conditions? A: No, generally about half the life can be expected should the same sealer be used in an interior environment. This is due to nature’s elements such as sun (UV), rain, various contaminants (some abrasive), and temperature extremes, causing pronounced contraction and expansion. Q: Which type of sealer is better: solvent-based or water-based? A: The fact is that, in general, neither is better. It should be understood that neither the solvent nor the water reflects the quality of the sealer. Rather, it is the polymer that is left in place. The solvent simply “flashes” off as the sealer is applied, leaving the polymer or sealing component in place. In the case of a water based sealer, the water evaporates, leaving the polymer in place. Therefore, it is the quality of the polymer that determines sealer performance. It should be noted that on extremely dense, low-porosity surfaces such as unglazed porcelain or polished marble, a solvent will penetrate the surface a little easier than water, so solvents may be easier to use. On the other hand, water, not penetrating as quickly as traditional (oil-based) solvent, will actually work better on more porous tile and stone as there is no benefit in penetrating deeply, as the best benefit can be achieved by keeping the polymer just below the surface where it can provide maximum protection. Q: I am installing porous stone/tile. Do I need to pre-seal prior to grouting? A: Not necessarily. You should always do a test to determine whether a porous tile or stone can be grouted and easily cleaned, showing no staining from grout pigment. In general, the only very porous tiles such as terracotta, or stones where a highly contrasting grout color are used, need to be pre-sealed. If the need to pre-seal is determined it is almost always recommended that an application of the sealer that is chosen for the finished installation, be used to pre-seal a few hours before grouting. (Refer to Aqua Mix C&M instructions for (pre-grouting sealing)). Q: How long will my sealer last? A: This will vary depending on area of installation (interior or exterior, floor, countertop or wall), type of sealer (coating or penetrating), premium or economical, and type of tile, stone, or grout. In respect to Aqua Mix sealers, the worst scenario would be a year before reapplication, when an economical sealer is used on an exposed exterior installation, to 15 years on an interior wall installation when a premium penetrating sealer such as Aqua Mix “Sealer’s Choice™ Gold” is used and the installation is maintained with a neutral pH cleaner such as Aqua Mix “Concentrated Stone & Tile Cleaner”. It should be noted that both acidic and base (high pH degreasers) should be used only when needed, as they will reduce the lifespan of sealers. Q: I used an Aqua Mix penetrating-type sealer (“Sealer’s Choice™ Gold”, “Penetrating Sealer”, “UltraSolv™”, “ProSolv™”, or “Grout Sealer”). Now there is a dull residue on my tile. What caused this problem and how do I fix it? A: All penetrating-type sealers are designed to penetrate into porous tile and grout. In the case of getting the sealer on a glazed surface where there is no porosity or on a very dense, low-porosity surface, the sealer will leave a dull residue if not wiped dry within a few minutes of application. The best remedy to remove this residue is to use Aqua Mix “NanoScrub™”, following Aqua Mix Technical Bulletin #8. Q: I used Aqua Mix “Enrich ‘N’ Seal™” to highlight and darken my slate. It is now shiny in spots and has an oily, tacky feel on the surface. What happened and how do I correct this problem? A: The product directions state that whatever sealer does not penetrate into the porous slate must be completely removed from the surface within 5 minutes of applications. Here, the sealer was allowed to dry on the surface or was not completely removed using cotton towels. All Aqua Mix and other penetrating-type sealers must be removed from surface before they are allowed to dry! The best way to remedy this problem is to use Aqua Mix “NanoScrub”, following Aqua Mix Technical Bulletin # 8. Q: The grout color that I selected dried much lighter than the sample I selected. Is there any recourse short of replacing the grout? A: Yes, Aqua Mix offers two options: 1) If the grout has a consistent color, but is not dark enough, you can use “Enrich ‘N’ Seal™” (premium) or “Stone Enhancer”(economical) to darken and seal the grout. 2) If the grout has inconsistent (uneven) color, or it is decided that a complete change of color is desired, Aqua Mix “Grout Colorant” can be used to create a uniform color and seal the grout. Refer to Aqua Mix Technical Bulletin # 4 & 5. Q: If my grout has been previously sealed, can I still use Aqua Mix “Grout Colorant” to recolor? A: Possibly. It is critical that the colorant achieve a good bond to a clean, dry grout joint. If the grout has been previously sealed with one of A qua Mix’s penetrating-type sealers, it is possible to still gain a good surface bond as long as the joint is clean and dry. Aqua Mix “Heavy-Duty Tile & Grout Cleaner” or Aqua Mix “Grout Deep Clean” is recommended for prep cleaning. Coating-type sealers need to be removed using Aqua Mix “Sealer & Coating Remover” prior to testing with Aqua Mix “Grout Colorant”. Q: Do all sealers contain VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds)? If so, is this a concern, especially in food preparation or serving areas? A: Sealer’s vary from “0, to low (under 100 grams per liter) to high (some have over 800 grams per liter). Water-based sealers such as Aqua Mix “Sealer’s Choce Gold, and Tile Lab “SurfaceGard Sealer” are very low in VOC’s. Usually solvent-based sealers contain medium to high VOC’s. The key concern when using a high VOC sealer is to provide ample ventilation when applying and through the initial several-hour cure. It is important not to leave foods out and directly exposed while these high VOC sealers are being applied or during their initial cure. Once the sealers have cured, there is no concern as the solvent component of the sealer has escaped into the atmosphere and there is no further reaction taking place. The sealer remaining is no longer water soluble, so ongoing washing will not reactivate the sealer. Cleaners Q: What should I use for routine cleaning on stone, tile and grout? A: It is always advisable to use a biodegradable neutral pH cleaner such as Aqua Mix “ Concentrated Stone and Tile Cleaner”. A quart of concentrate, when diluted with water can yield up to 32 gallons of cleaning solution. Neutral pH cleaners are excellent cleaners that will not adversely affect tile, stone, grout or existing sealers. Q: There are many household cleaners on the market. What do I need to be careful of when selecting a cleaner for my stone, tile or grout? A: Many of the cleaners marketed for hard surfaces contain acid. Acid cleans by chemically attacking minerals. Thus, acidic cleaners can be very damaging to cement grout joints, and harm stones with calcium content such as marble, limestone and travertine. Acids also do a poor job of degreasing. Q: Is it ever appropriate to use an acidic cleaner to clan my tile, stone or grout? A: Yes, but consider acidic cleaners only for resolving a problem, and never use as a routine, ongoing cleaner. Acids work by “attacking” minerals. Remember that acid-sensitive stone such as marble, limestone and travertine, in addition to some metallic tile glazes will be adversely affected even by light acidic cleaners. Light acids such as Aqua Mix “Sulfamic Acid Crystals” or “Phosphoric Acid Substitute” is recommended for removing cement grout haze, efflorescence, rust spots and mineral deposit on acid resistant stone and tile. It is also recommended to remove efflorescence on cement grout joints. When using an acidic cleaner, always test first, pre-wet area to be cleaned with water, and rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove all acid residue. Q: Are there any simple “rules of thumb” for cleaning tile, stone and grout surfaces? A: Yes. Always use neutral pH cleaners for routine cleaning. If the tile or stone has a rough-textured surface it is a good idea to periodically use a soft scrub brush to agitate and release any contaminants from the lower extremities prior to rinsing. One of the biggest mistakes commonly made in using cleaners is that cleaners are never allowed ample time to dwell on the surface. Cleaners should always be given a proper dwell time (read directions) to perform effectively. Q: If a liquid contaminant is spilled on my tile, stone, and/or grout, what procedure should I use for removal? A: Don’t make the mistake of spreading the contaminant. The first step is to blot the liquid contaminant using an absorbent paper or cotton towel. Once all standing liquid has been blotted, a quick test can be done to see if a wetted towel can remove complete (indicating that there was no penetrating into the tile, stone or grout) or if additional cleaners/methods will be needed. These can range from using a strong degreaser such as Aqua Mix “Heavy Duty Tile & Grout Cleaner” to using “Poultice Stain Remover” to extract a deep-set stain. Stone Restoration Q: My polished marble has a dull spot where I spilled some juice. What caused this and how can I restore the shine? A: Marble is a calcium-based stone and is acid sensitive as are limestone and travertine. The dulling was caused by acid (contained in many drinks and cleaners) coming in contact with the stone surface. Aqua Mix “Renue™” is designed to easily re-polish small areas. (See Aqua Mix Technical Bulletin # 18.) Q: My polished marble floor has lost its’ luster, is showing wear in some areas and even shows some light surface scratching. Is there a product from Aqua Mix to restore the shine? A: Yes, Aqua Mix “Reviver™” is designed for this purpose. (See Aqua Mix Technical Bulletin # 17 ) for detailed instructions. Q: Can I take a limestone, marble or travertine floor and create an even, unpolished finish without harming the stone? A: Yes. Aqua Mix “Knockdown” will remove the polished finish or the sometimes uneven high-low finish encountered on many limestone or travertine surfaces, creating an even, honed (flat-no-sheen) finish. Maintenance - "Do" List
Maintenance - "Do Not" List
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