Care & Maintenance - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which is better, a solvent (oil) based sealer or a water-based sealer?
A: It is important to note that the respective solvent and water only serve as "carriers" to help transfer the actual sealer into or onto the stone, porous tile or grout. It is the quality of the polymer used in the sealer that dictates the quality, lifespan and performance.

Q: How can I tell if my unglazed tile, stone or grout is adequately sealed?
A: 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, and then blot dry with an absorbent towel. If the surface has darkened, it should return to its original colour with 2-3 minutes. If it stays darkened for a longer period of time, the need for an additional application of sealer is indicated.

Q: Can I use a topical (coating-type) sealer on my kitchen countertop?
A: This is not normally recommended due to the heavy moisture, chemical exposure and heavy wear issues associated with constant use. Penetrating-type sealers such as Aqua Mix Sealers Choice Gold are normally recommended here for stone, grout and even concrete surfaces.

Q: Does all grout need to be sealed?
A: It is a good idea to seal grout with Aqua Mix Grout Sealer and Aqua Mix Grout Colourant, 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.

Q: If my floor has been previously sealed, and I do not know the sealer that was used, can I use just any sealer to re-seal?
A: 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 such as Aqua Mix Sealers Choice Gold 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 Aqua Mix Seal & Finish Low Sheen. Should you have further questions then Contact Us for job specific advice?

Q: If my stone has a polished (shiny) finish, does it still need to be sealed?
A: Most marble, granite, travertine, quartzite, limestone, and even slates and sandstone are available in a polished finish. These polished stones are still porous, subject to staining, and should be sealed with a penetrating-type sealer such as Aqua Mix Sealers Choice Gold.

Q: Can I use coating-type sealers on all porous tile and stone?
A: A good rule of thumb is that with dense, smooth or polished surfaces, only penetrating-type sealers such as Aqua Mix Sealers Choice Gold should be used. Coating-type sealers such as Aqua Mix Seal & Finish Low Sheen are usually only appropriate on high porosity or med-high porosity textured surfaces. Most coating-type sealers and finishes are recommended for interior areas only.

Q: My tile has a dull, matte finish with no shine. Does it need to be sealed?
A: Most likely not! Most of the glazed ceramics available today have matte, no-shine finishes, yet they are still glazed and will not accept a sealer. In these cases, only the grout should be considered for sealing with Aqua Mix Grout Sealer and Aqua Mix Grout Colourant.

Q: What provides the best maintenance for polished stone or shiny ceramic tile in a shower, bath or Jacuzzi area?
A: The polished stone and grout should be sealed with a penetrating-type sealer such as Aqua Mix Sealers Choice Gold. The installation should then be maintained by using a squeegee or absorbent towel to polish dry any surface moisture that accumulates on a regular basis. This will help eliminate the build-up of hard water deposits. Clean regularly with a neutral ph cleaner such as Aqua Mix Concentrated Stone and Tile Cleaner.

Q: Can a penetrating-type sealer protect an acid -sensitive stone such as marble from acid etching?
A: No, a penetrating sealer does not coat the surface, so the surface is still subject to acid etching.

Q: My grout colour did not dry to an even colour and is faded or blotchy. Is there anything I can do to change or even the colour?
A: Yes, Aqua Mix Grout Colourant is available to seal and restore uneven grout.

Q: I am trying to darken the colour of my slate. Will the colour enhancing sealers also give the surface a nice shiny finish?
A: No! Colour enhancers such as Aqua Mix Enrich ‘N' Seal are designed to darken and bring out the colours in a natural stone, but do not provide a shine. They are designed to be applied just like penetrating-type sealers. When applied, product that does not penetrate into the porous stone or grout must be completely removed from the surface within a few minutes after application. If a shiny surface is created, this would be an indication of misapplication

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: 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 unglazed porcelain, Aqua Mix UltraSolv™ is recommended for highest performance.

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: 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.

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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 0.95 mL of concentrate, when diluted with water can yield up to 121 litres of cleaning solution. Neutral pH cleaners are excellent cleaners that will not adversely affect tile, stone, grout or existing sealers.

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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. Refer to Aqua Mix Technical Bulletin # 18.

Q: My polished marble floor has lost its lustre, 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. Refer to Aqua Mix Technical Bulletin # 17.

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.

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• Always use "neutral pH" cleaners for routine cleaning of tile, stone and grout.
• Keep walking surfaces clean and dry to reduce possibility of "slip-fall" accidents.
• Read label direction completely before using product.
• Test products on small area to determine desired results.
• Never mix different products unless approved by manufacturer.
• Utilize alkaline (high pH) cleaners periodically for neglected areas subject to food-contaminant soiling, and on textured surfaces.
• Utilize a scrub brush periodically in place of a sponge or mop on textured surfaces that tend to hold onto dirt and other contaminants.
• Use mild acidic cleaners only when problems exist such as cured grout residue or mineral deposits. Even the safer-type acids manufactured by Aqua Mix should not be used on acid-sensitive surfaces such as polished marble.

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• Use strong acid cleaners such as hydrochloric (Muriatic) as it can seriously damage acid-sensitive stone, tile and grout. Even the fumes can cause human and collateral damage.
• Mix different products together unless specifically OK'd by manufacturer.
• Forget to do a small test area to determine desired results.
• Use products without first reading front and back labels.

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