A complete guide to sealing tiles

In this quick guide, we talk you through what sealing tiles means and most importantly, how to seal tiles.

Sealing your tiles is an important step, not only when laying your tiles but also as ongoing maintenance, depending on the type of tile chosen and where it is situated in your home.

Sealing your tiles is done by using the appropriate type of tile sealant and applying it to the surface of the tile as directed by the manufacturer.

The environment your tiles are used in and how you clean them can have a great effect on the wear and tear of their surface finish, such as using abrasive cleaners, and some materials are more porous and therefore need regularly protecting to avoid staining.

Very rarely. More often than not porcelain tiles are nano-sealed during the manufacturing process and therefore don’t require additional sealant during the installation process or as part of ongoing care. However, there are some circumstances where this technique might not have been applied so it’s always best to check before purchasing your porcelain tiles.

Another instance where sealer may be required is when you’re using a very dark grout with a light tile, sometimes a layer of sealant is required to avoid the grout colour bleeding into the tile however this is rare for porcelain tiles and more common for ceramic tiles.

If you do need to seal your tiles as part of your ongoing tile maintenance, it’s more common for it to affect floor tiles simply because of the type of wear and tear and high foot traffic they are put through, compared to wall tiles.

As with porcelain tiles, it’s best to check when purchasing what upkeep is required but we’d recommend deep cleaning and reapplying a surface sealant every 2 years or so (depending on use and level of foot traffic) for floor tiles that have previously been nano-sealed, this will ensure the surface of the tile remains protected to avoid staining and marking over time.

If you have porous tiles, like natural stone, then you will need to repeat sealing every 6-12 months depending on the use and the type of stone.

Firstly, ensure your tiles and grout are clean and leave them to dry

You will need a paintbrush or a fleece pad to apply your sealer in an even layer across the tile’s surface. You can also soak the grout lines but we’d always recommend a specialist grout sealer for your grout joints.

Allow the first coat to absorb into the tile and then wipe away any excess with a clean cloth, stick to the manufacturer’s guidance on when you can apply your second coat. Repeat the process another two times if you’re sealing a high traffic area, for low traffic areas only a second coat might be needed.

After the required time has passed, you can test if the tiles are dry and efficiently sealed by dropping a bead of water on the tile, if it soaks into the tile then you’ll need to apply another coat. It’s always best to avoid touching the tiles for 24 hours after the final coat to allow it to fully cure.

So, which sealants should you use for which tile?

The Fila Natural Look Stainproof Sealer is suitable for unpolished and polished natural stone, terrazzo and polished porcelain.

It is designed to protect against the absorption of water and stains, impregnating below the tile’s surface to give long lasting protection. Available in both a 500ml and 1 litre bottle, this product is long lasting and provides renewable protection. It does not leave any film residue and does not alter the tile’s appearance or colour.

The solution penetrates deeply, waterproofs, protects and makes cleaning easy. It is certified as suitable for use on food contact surfaces and has extremely low VOC emissions.

The Fila Colour Intensifier enhances the colour of natural stone and also provides stain and waterproofing protection. It provides protection against staining on all types of unpolished natural stone both inside and outside the home.

The product forms a film on the surface of the stone that enhances the look of the stone and dries to a sheen.

You can use Colour Intensifier on the following materials:

- Tumbled, antiqued and brushed finishes

- Marble

- Granite

- Travertine

- Limestone

- Slate

- Unpolished stone and terracotta

The level of sealing required, and which product is best recommended, is dependent on the chosen tile and the area in which you intend to use it.

For specific information, check out the tile’s product page for specific tile care information, alternatively please speak to our customer services team or seek the guidance of our in store specialists.

For more guidance on maintaining and cleaning your tiles, check our tile maintenance guides.