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How to Correctly Seal Slate Floor Tiles

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Image-of-a-sealed-slate-floor-after-being-cleaned

How to Install

When tiling slate floor tiles or slate wall cladding, you should use tile adhesive.

  • Place at least 5mm thick glue on the floor using a tiling trowel.
  • Add a thin layer of tile adhesive on the back of the tile.
  • Twist the tile into the adhesive to rid it of trapped air
  • Tap with a white rubber mallet (black rubber could leave a mark on porous tiles that won’t come off).

How to Grout

  1. If you don’t use traditional tile grout, it is best to use a 50/50 mix of clean yellow plaster sand and cement.
  2. Don’t add bonding liquids to the grout if it can’t be cleaned immediately and correctly.
  3. Only grout small areas at a time.
  4. Clean up any extra grout on the tile surface before the grout has dried.
  5. To clean slate tiles after grouting, add Stoneshield Grout-Lift™ to the water, followed by Stoneshield Deep-clean™ to neutralise the surface and ensure sealers continue working properly.

​​Why It’s Important to Seal

Sealers protect surfaces from stains as well as general wear and tear.  It is important to seal slate tiles as:

  • Sealing makes the tile or stone less porous, which makes it less likely that stains will stay.
  • Sealing keeps acids from penetrating and damaging slate tiles.
  • Sealing strengthens the surface, making it more resistant to wear and tear and better able to protect itself.
  • Sealing natural stone, terracotta, etc., often makes the finish look better.

To correctly seal slate, using the correct products and following usage instructions to a T are equally important to successfully seal slate wall cladding or flooring.

In our experience, the following products are most likely to deliver long lasting and professional looking results when sealing slate tiling:

Image-of-a-5-litre-can-of-Stoneshield-Quarri-Seal-an-oil-and-water-repellent-sealer-The-label-describes-it-as-a-penetrating-surface-sealer-with-a-"wet-look"-finish-and-colour-enhancing-properties-It-is-intended-for-medium-to-high-porosity-surfaces-like-natural-stone-terracotta-slate-sandstone-limestone-concrete-floors-and-tiles-The-can-has-a-black-red-and-silver-design

Stoneshield Quarri-Seal®: A high-quality, solvent-based resin sealer that doesn’t turn yellow and gives surfaces a satin finish, better stain resistance, and better protection. A sealer that deeply penetrates and gives a ‘wet look’ finish. Use on concrete, cement screeds, natural slate, and other natural stones both indoors and outdoors. 

Image-of-a-5-litre-can-of-Stoneshield-Quarri-Seal-Matt-an-oil-and-water-repellent-sealer-The-label-describes-it-as-a-penetrating-surface-sealer-with-a-"wet-look"-finish-and-colour-enhancing-properties-It-is-intended-for-medium-to-high-porosity-surfaces-like-natural-stone-terracotta-slate-sandstone-limestone-concrete-floors-and-tiles-The-can-has-a-black-red-and-silver-design

Stoneshield Quarri-Seal Matt®: Non-gloss, non-yellowing, solvent-based resin sealer that has great stain resistance and protects interior and exterior surfaces. The sealer provides a matt, semi ‘wet-look’ finish. Suitable for concrete, cement screeds, natural slate, and other natural stones. 

Two-cans-of-Stoneshield-Premium-Plus-The-larger-can-(Part-A)-is-red-and-black-with-gold-trim-and-features-the-Stoneshield-logo-The-label-describes-it-as-a-premium-quality-non-yellowing-high-solids-polyurethane-twin-pack-sealer-for-interior-use-offering-high-gloss-and-stain-protection-A-smaller-white-can-also-labeled-Premium-Plus-is-stacked-on-top

Stoneshield Premium Plus™: A high-quality, solvent-based, two-part polyurethane resin sealer that doesn’t turn yellow and has a high-gloss finish, great stain resistance, and protects the surface. A sealer that goes deep into the surface and gives it a ‘wet look’. Use inside and outside on concrete, cement screeds, natural slate, and other similar natural stones.

A-black-5-liter-plastic-container-of-Stoneshield-Colour-Enhancer-sealer-The-label-features-bold-white-and-orange-text-on-a-black-background-highlighting-its-function-as-a-water-rain-and-stain-repellent-penetrating-sealer-with-invisible-protection-It-offers-a-no-sheen-natural-look-with-color-enhancing-properties-Suitable-for-unpolished-flamed-and-honed-natural-stone-marble-granite-travertine-limestone-quartzite-clay-face-bricks-stone-cladding-concrete-brick-and-stone-paving-The-product-is-water-based-and-covers-up-to-50-square-meters

Stoneshield Colour-Enhancer™: A water-based penetrating sealer designed to protect against rain, moisture, general airborne dirt, pollution, mould, and mildew. It has no sheen, no surface film, and allows water vapour to pass through. Use both inside and outside for natural slate, concrete, cement screeds, and other types of natural stone (also available in solvent-based).

Image-of-a-5-litre-black-plastic-container-of-Stoneshield-Wall-Cladding-Sealer-with-a-red-and-black-label-The-label-indicates-it-is-a-water-based-penetrating-sealer-for-clay-cement-stone-and-masonry-surfaces-providing-invisible-protection-with-no-sheen-or-color-change

Stoneshield Wall Cladding Sealer™: A water-based penetrating sealer with a natural look, no sheen, and no surface film. It is made to protect against rain, moisture, general airborne dirt, pollution, mould, and mildew. It can be used both inside and outside on concrete, bricks, slate, and other types of natural stone.

Always read instructions on how to use sealing products and ensure that the selected product is fit for purpose.  All the products you need for slate sealing success (and more) can be purchased online or in-store. 

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