Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really have to seal my floor?
(Thinking that if you don’t seal, the result will be more character)
Sealing stone and tile preserves the natural beauty of the stone. In addition, research has proven that sealers
minimize the risk of mold and bacteria by over 50%. Sealing also allows you to clean the surface by more than 3
times with less effort. Cleaning studies show mild soap and water cleaning a sealed surface better than a non-
sealed surface with more aggressive cleaners. Sealing is essential for those who want to preserve their floors
natural beauty and desire to spend less time and money cleaning and maintaining their stone.
With Travertine, sealers can help these stones maintain there filler (Travertine is known to pit over time. This is
a result of the stone losing their fillers.)
Slate floors simply will not look good if they are not sealed. Depending on traffic, Slate will begin to darken and
blend towards black in a short time.
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What type of sealer should I use?
One sealer does not fit all stones and situations. Contact a qualified stone expert about your stone. Sealers are
known to range in price from $20 per gal to $250 per gal. Stone and tile in a home or business is an investment,
your sealer is protecting your investment. Be careful to get the right sealer to match your needs.
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How many coats of sealer?
In most cases one coat is enough. Due to various stone types and porosities, two or more coats/ applications are
needed. However, the second coat will have minimal penetration, thus the need to ensure the first coat is worked
deeply into the stone. TIP: The cleanliness of the stone or tile will also effect the ability of your sealer to penetrate
deep into the stone. On new tile, construction debris and grout film must be removed before sealing.
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How often do I seal?
Over time, sealers can begin to breakdown due to extensive wear, sunlight, chemicals used in general cleaning.
If your sealer was applied without properly cleaning, then your sealer may breakdown even sooner. Under ideal
conditions, your stone or tile will only need to be resealed every 5-10 years (depending on sealer used). We
recommend applying a coat once every two years to five years depending on your stone or tiles wear and use.
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Which type of natural stone is more important to seal, or is there a difference?
Travertine, saltillo and slate are the most important tiles to seal.
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Are there any areas not good for natural stone to be installed (such as a shower or outside patios?)
We have seen Travertine and limestone have problems around swimming pools. The pool chemicals breakdown
the stone’s makeup and tend to have pits and discolor. With the use of Exterior Sealers, we have seen these stone
hold up even in these environments. In these extreme situations, we recommend sealing more often. Most
marble seems to perform well in showers but not as a countertop in the kitchen or bathroom. We do not
recommend polished stone in high traffic areas.
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What are enhancer sealers?
Enhancers are used to give floors a richer, deeper look. However, we have seen enhancer sealers damage floors
more often than not. Therefore, we do not recommend the use of enhancers. Through our deep cleaning process,
we are able to achieve a richer, deeper looking floor naturally. A properly prepared floor will bring out the colors
of the floor.
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Can you turn a floor a different shade?
Yes, your stone may be altered to take on darker shades of colors. Oil-based topcoat sealers have been used for
years to give stone a more rustic or country style.
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Do I use acid or bleach to clean my floors?
No, acids and bleach should never be used on a floor. These chemicals breakdown the sealer’s and stone’s
structural makeup. Like clothes, these chemicals will clean, disinfect and breakdown the clothes’ fibers. In time,
your floor will begin to get dirtier faster.
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How do I maintain the floor?
We recommend a non detergent neutral cleaner located at your local tile store. My favorite has been StoneTech
Revitalizer for spot and spill cleaning of stone. StoneTech Klenzall is a great cleaner for monthly cleaning of
stone. At our online store, we will have StoneTech products delivered to you.
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Why do some have bad experiences and some have good experience when there floor is installed?
The answer is preparation. Preparing the floor to be sealed seems to often to cause problems. We see this
almost every day. Very few floors get sealed properly. A newly installed floor must be cleaned well. Removing
the grout haze is first step.
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“We are confident that you will be a satisfied customer”
Do I really have to seal my floor?