POLISHED PORCELAIN FLOOR TILES

transit boy · Post by **transit boy** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:49 pm

why to you have to seal the above tiles ,just asking because in b&q they tell you to seal before fitting including edges and all cut edges surley if you did this when you come to grout you would have problem with grout not adhering. thank you transit boy

manchestertiling · Post by **manchestertiling** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:02 pm

The grout will be fine, sealing is to stop staining & anything penetrating the tile.

Seal before & after laying before grouting.

transit boy · Post by **transit boy** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:42 pm

manchestertiling thank you for your reply i am a bit confused can you tell me why also ordinary porcelain dont need ceiling once again thank you transit boy

manchestertiling · Post by **manchestertiling** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:10 am

From my experience transitboy, usually porcelain itself needs no sealer, water ingression stands at about 0.05% which is hardly anything, but the polishing process of the tile opens up micropores which themselves, especially on floors fill with dirt & water & discolour or stain the tile.

An impregnator sealer will fill the micropores up first preventing this. My advice is always to try a test piece first and that will prove beyond any doubt if they need sealing.

I noticed when B&Q first had their £6 a box cheapo porcelains there was no sealing advice on then, now there is.

Use a dry wipe marker, water, red wine, ketchup etc leave for 10 mins & wipe off to see if it leaves a mark, if it does then seal.

transit boy · Post by **transit boy** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:40 pm

manchestertiling thank you for your help transit boy

manchestertiling · Post by **manchestertiling** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:57 pm

Your welcome tb

Let us know how your stain test goes, may be able to help with advice to which sealant to use if needed

m3 fitter · Post by **m3 fitter** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:36 pm

lithofin fz sealer is the most suitable for non vitreous porc's, to stop stain ingress, especially from coloured grouts and traffic

transit boy · Post by **transit boy** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 4:47 pm

manchestertiling put ketchup (without the sausages),teabag these did not stain it. The dry board marker was the only one that left a stain.
One other question, I was told bt someone in B&Q that some have a protective film over them. whats best to clean that off. thank you transit boy.

Man of Kent · Post by **Man of Kent** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:52 pm

Sorry to tell you this but the B & Q tiles are not very good quality. Theres a reason why they are so cheap !! --- they stain easily (even most seals smear over the tile )
I have had more than a dozen people come into our place over the past year about problems with sealing and staining.
These tiles are mostly from China. The porosity is higher than average. Often they have been mildly waxed to protect in transit. This needs to be washed off with mild cleaning liquid -- ie fairy liquid. The tiles then have to be sealed with (to stand a chance) a dedicated Pol Poec sealer such as LTP mpg polporc sealer. Keep strictly to the instructions.
The main problem is, that even the best sealer will not be so effective on a sub-standard tile - sorry to be the bearer of bad news

manchestertiling · Post by **manchestertiling** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 12:24 am

Man of Kent wrote:Sorry to tell you this but the B & Q tiles are not very good quality. Theres a reason why they are so cheap !! --- they stain easily (even most seals smear over the tile )
I have had more than a dozen people come into our place over the past year about problems with sealing and staining.
These tiles are mostly from China. The porosity is higher than average. Often they have been mildly waxed to protect in transit. This needs to be washed off with mild cleaning liquid -- ie fairy liquid. The tiles then have to be sealed with (to stand a chance) a dedicated Pol Poec sealer such as LTP mpg polporc sealer. Keep strictly to the instructions.
The main problem is, that even the best sealer will not be so effective on a sub-standard tile - sorry to be the bearer of bad news

Couldn't put it better myself MOK

Good advice & true about bnq, if something is cheap there is a good reason! Most decent porcelain tiles will be bnq's price x 4.

A good tiler though will make bnq porcys look expensive ones

m3 fitter · Post by **m3 fitter** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:35 am

the protective wax can easily be removed with white spirit and a mutton rag

transit boy · Post by **transit boy** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:00 pm

Thanks for your replies, there might have been a misunderstanding.
The tiles I am laying are Wickes own.
They got in touch with the manufacturers and were advise to tell me to clean it off with talcum powder...... never heard of this!!!
I tried it and it never worked, also tried washing up liquid with no avail.
I am a little worried as I normally only do ceramic and porcelain and not the polished.
I also usually keep clear of natural stone, so this is the first job where I will have to seal.
Sorry to ask so many questions
Transit boy

transit boy · Post by **transit boy** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:29 pm

thank you all the guys took time to reply especially MTC job done.thanks again transit boy

manchestertiling · Post by **manchestertiling** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:54 pm

Hows it look transit boy? Nice

transit boy · Post by **transit boy** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:01 pm

MTC got a few more days on the kitchen job and i will take some pictures and try to work out our to post them on here. thanks again transit boy

POLISHED PORCELAIN FLOOR TILES

POLISHED PORCELAIN FLOOR TILES

sealing etc

Re: sealing etc