Harry,

Lately I've had many requests to seal grout.Usually I'd advise the customer to buy a bottle of "grout sealer" and brush it on 3 days after the grout is installed.

The few times that I've sealed the grout myself,I used an impregnator for stone.It is a penetrating sealer and invisible.Some products sold as "grout sealer" tend to darken the grout or leave a sheen on it.Therefore I reasoned that an invisible impregnator would be more forgiving to use.

Is the impregnator a good grout sealer?What do you recommend as a sealer?

Really not looking forward to return to completed jobs(3 days later)to dabble in the art of grout "painting".But lately people have expected this of me.Hope this does not continue.


Thanks.

Hi Ron
I use aquamix sealer..I like it, because,as you said, it's invisible...and it does work quite well. A half hour after you put it on, water won't soak into the joints(though 2 coats is better). I have this grout applicator that I got at Home Depot that works really well(much better than a brush) and it's 5 times as fast. It's $10.00 for this litlle plastic bottle with a brush on the end.

Brian :rolleyes:

Bri,

Always wondered if that little bottle thing would work.Think I'll try it.

I've heard good things about Aqua-mix from our American friends,didn't know it was available here.

Thanks,Ron.

Ron,

You should know by now that everything we make in this country gets shipped to Canada sooner or later. I mean, you have Home Depot, don't you?

Hi Folks!
I could deny being a patron of Home Depot ... but I've been incriminated by the infamous bucket photo. :rolleyes:

Ron ... I hardly ever put sealer on for a customer (once or twice every 5 years), not because I don't want to. Well actually, I don't want to .... but mostly because they have the convenience of spending more time to do a better job, plus the fact they won't have to pay an extra charge for a return trip 6 or 7 days later.

:p Hey Ron
If you can't find Aquamix anywhere(hey you're in T.O..you've got everything there), then put on the fake beard and ball cap and glasses and sneak into Home Depot and buy the TileLab sealer they have...it's good stuff too.

Brian

Bri,

Yeah,but Tilelab's stuff is water based.The impregnator that I use is solvent based.Dynaseal's Super Impregnator.I like it.Want to try Aqua-mix's product for sealing tiles.Dynaseal's matte and gloss sealers are too "mind-altering" (from the fumes) to use in people's homes when they are occupying the house.

After completing a bathroom,I was asked to seal the floor grout and apply a bead of silicone at tub.I says to the lady "I'll have to remember to bring the Super Impregnator",on my way out.She says"Oh,and don't forget the caulk!"...........sorry Harry,couldn't resist. Did happen though.

Hey Ron
I don't have a problem with water based sealers...Hell..most epoxy's are water based these days...which is good, because as you said, the odour is an issue, but water based products let the surface "breath". The Aquamix penetrating sealer is water based also..has no odour, and lasts five years..even on porcelain. So I think it's good stuff. Give it a try.

BRIan :p

Bri,

O.K. I'm looking for the beard and glasses.Then I'll go to the dreaded Home Depot(which I swore to boycott)and buy some of that Tilelab sealer.

I'll go to da 24 hr one at the 23rd hour so there won't be too many witnesses.

Super Impregnator eh?
I know what ya mean Ron .... wording is rather delicate when referring to certain things.

Hey! .... when you guys gonna send some photos of your tile work to have put on the Photo Gallery ?