I LOVE my slate floors!!! I installed them myself both in my bathroom and kitchen!! I also installed heating cable underneath. They have lasted over 10 years and going strong.
I have a large entry way (so lots of traffic) and use TILELab gloss sealer and finish about once every year or year and a half. Easy to use and looks great with a wet look finish.
Danny - Good question,I have been laying tile for about 18 years and there are times when it's good to seal the stone first before you lay it. But I have installed slate many times and never sealed it before laying it. You can seal it before grouting but I haven't done that either. If it is rough with deep crevices you have to really clean it good and get all the grout off the slate before sealing it. If you want to keep the natural dry look of the slate just seal the crap out of it after grout is cured and floor is complete. If you want to darken it up and give it a little sheen then seal and enhance it.
Don’t you need to apply a grout release to the tile surface so that the grout does not adhere to the rest of the tiles? I would be concerned that the sealant would be impacted by that.
I have a few questions...Does the sealer need to be wiped off after 15 minutes? If I seal more than once, how long do need to wait between applications? Thank you!
I enjoyed the video. I thought it would end up being shiny and bringing out the color in the slate, but it ended up dull like it was in the beginning. Is there a product like the one you used, but it makes the colors more vibrant. I recently bought the house and some of the tiles are higher and some are not flat due to the stone. Thank you in advance.
I tried colour enhancing slate sealer on a left over tile and even two coats, it hardly made any difference. It dries exactly the same without getting darker or more colourful. The slate tile just soaks it up. Big disappointment!
Slate is a huge pain to install and maintain. I only did it to match the kitchen. It’s impossible to have a level floor as the tiles have so much variation between them and variation in the tile themselves.
Others may disagree, but I never stripped the old sealer. I resealed because the old sealer was pretty much gone. The slate is porous so the sealer I used didn't sit on top like a normal finish or polish. Once it dried, the slate looked the same or maybe a slim shade darker.
@@thegreenworkbench Thank you for answering. Im going crazy...Im an older woman trying to fix my mothers porch. She passed away and I moved into it. I sealed it im pretty sure with the wrong sealer..turned white hazy. It's never been sealed again..and it's scaling on some tiles. Im hoping to strip it off and reseal and be good and keep sealing once a year or less. I love your finish of the slate..so shiny. Looked into the Dupont sealer and only Lowes carry it. Thank you so very much.
Both of the bathrooms in our home have slate tile floors. They were installed like crap, and I don’t believe they’ve ever been sealed. The grout is garbage. It’s a nightmare. I would give anything to have even linoleum.
There are different products that will add shine to your stone if you want it, but slate is not a naturally shiny material. A sealer soaks into the pores of the stone, whereas a varnish or polish would sit more on top.
nice job!! Looks great. I have same exact flooring in my kitchen. I been cleaning it but it dosent shine. I think the flooring is soaking up the water. So forsure going to try that out.
@Noophe That makes sense. The inner layer hasn't been exposed to the air and elements so will be a different color. But that's one of the beauties of slate, right?? 😀
At what point is it best sealing? , of course you seal when all layed and grouted but ive read that you seal prior to grouting as grout is easier to come off ..so do you have to seal twice ? brfore & after grouting ? , also do u have so sort out all thickness of tiles first and start with thickest first and then build up thinner type with adhesive??
No on the polyurethane. There are sealers designed to give you a high shine or wet look. Search using those terms and you should be able to find something.
Hi, maybe you can help me. About a month ago a Contractor applied a wet sealer on my outdoor slate. It’s raining now and slate surface has has milky white blotches. What’s the cause of that and how do I fix this. Your help would greatly be appreciated.
Chris Montoya Designs Have you found a solution? I’d say to dry it out, gently with a heat gun if the sun won’t do it. Then sand with emory cloth. Then clean. Then apply new sealer.
I no longer have the bottle in front of me, but there are products specific to marble, so just make sure you check that your sealant is rated for marble.
Slate is porous so the sealer should be absorbed into the stone, meaning there shouldn't be a layer that would peel. I don't know what product was used on your slate, but it's possible it needs to be removed. I can't suggest what to do specifically without seeing it or knowing more.
Hi, enjoyed your video about the slate tile. I have a dining table with slate tile inlays up the middle (approx 20 tiles that are 5x5" in size. Can I use this same method to seal them or should I use something else since this table is holding food/drink? Thank you!
I've just watched your video. I have a slate floor, put in 6 years ago or so. Ive never done anything with it at all. Recently I see there are patchs of darker areas on it, not exactly wet. I'm worried there is dampness underneath. If I drop water on them, it does pool on top, so is it sealed? Should I reseal it with appropriate sealant? Thankyou for your advice.
vickie shelbourne Sorry for the delay in responding. If it hasn't been sealed for six years, I would first get a slate cleaner and clean it very well, and then seal it. Even if parts of it are still sealed from the install, it definitely could use a refresh.
hi, I'm just paying a carpenter to install a beautiful natural slave tiles on my bathroom floor, but i have a question , before installing the tiles to the floor ,does he needs to apply the sealer to the tiles and also before the grout ? thanks
We have a massive 3,000 sq ft job that is natural 18"x18" yellow slate. It needs to be cleaned but not really stripped, the home owner keeps it very, very nice. She wants a shinny wet look to the slate. Any recommendations for a cleaning agent and a sealant?? I have looked into 511 and it seems great, but does not leave a wet sheen.
My slate fireplace hasn't been sealed in YEARS. I have water rings all over and don't know how to remove them. I read on-line to use a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide but it did not work. Any way to remove the staining before I seal it?
If it is slate, then sand it with a sandpaper, hoover it and then rub oil onto it. Any kind of cooking oil. It will also enhance the colour of the stone.
Take the warning labels on sealant products very seriously. Aldon SBS sealer containing Dichloromethane (Methylene Chloride) has made me really sick. It was used by the previous owners [or their contractor] of my townhouse to seal concrete with improper ventilation. It seems likely that flooring was placed over it before the sealant could properly cure.
Debra Presley it is a nightmare floor. Our house is like s nightmare I didn’t foresee until we began living in it though. Slate tile in both baths, white ceramic grouted tile counters in the kitchen, and black linoleum slats in the rest of the main level. The tiles seem like they were laid without a level base, and rock in spots which is awful for their integrity. They flake, and chip, and stain. The grout was a mess. It looks like they just squirted that premixed crap in the cracks, and did not use a grout release on the actual tiles. And they just grouted the tiles that they cracked. The kitchen counters look gross no matter how many times a day I clean them. You cannot just brush crumbs off of an unlevel surface like this, and everything stains the white grout 😩 Then the linoleum...it looks beautiful for the 5 minutes after it is cleaned. Then every foot print, dust particle, and animal hair it immediately apparent with in 6 minutes. Hindsight is 20/20. I wish I was handy, or rich. I would tear up all of the surfaces in the house.
There are so many nice floor tiles available these days, most bathroom tiles should be a breeze to take care of, its a shame really, all that work and the customer isn't happy is the worst thing for a tradesman to have for his product.
We bought our home two years ago and it has a blue slate entryway approx. 12'x5', it's original and is in many of the homes in the neighborhood. It's over 50 years old and it's still in perfect condition as is the slate tile in the other homes. We don't do anything but mop. I think if the floor is installed properly it'll last for more than a lifetime.
I LOVE my slate floors!!! I installed them myself both in my bathroom and kitchen!! I also installed heating cable underneath. They have lasted over 10 years and going strong.
You are a woman doing these all by yourself, wow! You should make a tutorial teach us how.
Nice! Planning to do the same in my remote cabin :)
THANK YOU SO MUCH very helpful for a clueless person like me!
I have a large entry way (so lots of traffic) and use TILELab gloss sealer and finish about once every year or year and a half. Easy to use and looks great with a wet look finish.
How u use it
Thank you so much. I will try it myself!
Danny - Good question,I have been laying tile for about 18 years and there are times when it's good to seal the stone first before you lay it. But I have installed slate many times and never sealed it before laying it. You can seal it before grouting but I haven't done that either. If it is rough with deep crevices you have to really clean it good and get all the grout off the slate before sealing it. If you want to keep the natural dry look of the slate just seal the crap out of it after grout is cured and floor is complete. If you want to darken it up and give it a little sheen then seal and enhance it.
Don’t you need to apply a grout release to the tile surface so that the grout does not adhere to the rest of the tiles? I would be concerned that the sealant would be impacted by that.
I have a few questions...Does the sealer need to be wiped off after 15 minutes? If I seal more than once, how long do need to wait between applications? Thank you!
I enjoyed the video. I thought it would end up being shiny and bringing out the color in the slate, but it ended up dull like it was in the beginning. Is there a product like the one you used, but it makes the colors more vibrant. I recently bought the house and some of the tiles are higher and some are not flat due to the stone. Thank you in advance.
Shouldn't you put the seal before you start?
What type of sealer can be use inswimming pool for slate tiles
I tried colour enhancing slate sealer on a left over tile and even two coats, it hardly made any difference. It dries exactly the same without getting darker or more colourful. The slate tile just soaks it up. Big disappointment!
I have Vermont slate in my kitchen will this work to restore and protect?
Yes, it should.
Slate is a huge pain to install and maintain. I only did it to match the kitchen. It’s impossible to have a level floor as the tiles have so much variation between them and variation in the tile themselves.
I think the same thing about my slate bathroom flooring. I hate it. I can scrub it and it still looks dirty.
No it’s not a pain. Slate is remotely soft so easy to cut and once PROPERLY sealed it’s hardy as can be.
Do I have to strio sealer off every time I re seal on slate? What is the best sealer that won't haze up and look dull?
Others may disagree, but I never stripped the old sealer. I resealed because the old sealer was pretty much gone. The slate is porous so the sealer I used didn't sit on top like a normal finish or polish. Once it dried, the slate looked the same or maybe a slim shade darker.
@@thegreenworkbench Thank you for answering. Im going crazy...Im an older woman trying to fix my mothers porch. She passed away and I moved into it. I sealed it im pretty sure with the wrong sealer..turned white hazy. It's never been sealed again..and it's scaling on some tiles. Im hoping to strip it off and reseal and be good and keep sealing once a year or less. I love your finish of the slate..so shiny. Looked into the Dupont sealer and only Lowes carry it. Thank you so very much.
Both of the bathrooms in our home have slate tile floors. They were installed like crap, and I don’t believe they’ve ever been sealed. The grout is garbage. It’s a nightmare. I would give anything to have even linoleum.
Tina Bean give the floor a good cleaning, repair the grout and re-seal. You will love your floor!
How do you deep clean the slate before sealing?
Is this also good for slate that you’ve painted on and hang outside?
You'll want to read the bottle to see if it works for exterior applications.
Why isn't it shiny? I thought when you'd seal the tiles the sealer would bring but the shine.
There are different products that will add shine to your stone if you want it, but slate is not a naturally shiny material. A sealer soaks into the pores of the stone, whereas a varnish or polish would sit more on top.
nice job!! Looks great. I have same exact flooring in my kitchen. I been cleaning it but it dosent shine. I think the flooring is soaking up the water. So forsure going to try that out.
what do you do if the top later of the slate peels off? can you just peel off the top layer and reseal again?
Just reseal anywhere it peels off
@@thegreenworkbench hmm I did that but now the colour of the tile is much lighter in colour, nice and sealed tho
@Noophe That makes sense. The inner layer hasn't been exposed to the air and elements so will be a different color. But that's one of the beauties of slate, right?? 😀
@@thegreenworkbench I wasn't sure if you had to polish it first then seal as it was quite chalky
At what point is it best sealing? , of course you seal when all layed and grouted but ive read that you seal prior to grouting as grout is easier to come off ..so do you have to seal twice ? brfore & after grouting ? , also do u have so sort out all thickness of tiles first and start with thickest first and then build up thinner type with adhesive??
I want my slate to have a high-shine on it. Do you suggest Polyurethane or what?
No on the polyurethane. There are sealers designed to give you a high shine or wet look. Search using those terms and you should be able to find something.
Hi is it suitable for marble flooring? Would this protect from other damage besides water, thank you.
Check the product details to ensure it covers marble. Since marble is porous and can stain, you want to get something specifically made for marble.
Is it safe for a stone tile table? or is it toxic?
I used it on my counter, but I'd recommend reading the label.
Thank you for the swift response! What should I look for when I go to Home Depot?@@thegreenworkbench
@amirghonim3501 There are specific products that say stone countertops in the label or description. These will be safe.
Thank you, sir!@@thegreenworkbench
Hi, maybe you can help me. About a month ago a Contractor applied a wet sealer on my outdoor slate. It’s raining now and slate surface has has milky white blotches. What’s the cause of that and how do I fix this. Your help would greatly be appreciated.
Chris Montoya Designs Have you found a solution? I’d say to dry it out, gently with a heat gun if the sun won’t do it. Then sand with emory cloth. Then clean. Then apply new sealer.
can we use it for marble inside floors
I no longer have the bottle in front of me, but there are products specific to marble, so just make sure you check that your sealant is rated for marble.
what should i do？
as my slate tile sealer come off？the seal just start peel off
Slate is porous so the sealer should be absorbed into the stone, meaning there shouldn't be a layer that would peel. I don't know what product was used on your slate, but it's possible it needs to be removed. I can't suggest what to do specifically without seeing it or knowing more.
Hi, enjoyed your video about the slate tile. I have a dining table with slate tile inlays up the middle (approx 20 tiles that are 5x5" in size. Can I use this same method to seal them or should I use something else since this table is holding food/drink? Thank you!
I'd check the label, but it should be ok.
I've just watched your video. I have a slate floor, put in 6 years ago or so. Ive never done anything with it at all. Recently I see there are patchs of darker areas on it, not exactly wet. I'm worried there is dampness underneath. If I drop water on them, it does pool on top, so is it sealed? Should I reseal it with appropriate sealant? Thankyou for your advice.
vickie shelbourne Sorry for the delay in responding. If it hasn't been sealed for six years, I would first get a slate cleaner and clean it very well, and then seal it. Even if parts of it are still sealed from the install, it definitely could use a refresh.
Hi i need your help
i need to seal lava stone, for Cook in it.
how can i do it?
i will apreciate your help.
I'm curious about 511 also. it's application is 3 years, seems too good to be true if you're advising ever 6 months.
hi, I'm just paying a carpenter to install a beautiful natural slave tiles on my bathroom floor, but i have a question , before installing the tiles to the floor ,does he needs to apply the sealer to the tiles and also before the grout ? thanks
danny garcia Good question. No, the sealer is applied last, when everything else is done and cured.
thank you very much i was kind of worried about when to apply the sealer...
Is there any reason this would not work on bare concrete?
There are specific sealing products just for concrete and I would recommend using one of them. But as far as application, the same principles apply.
anyone knows how to remove old sealer? my slate tiles have white patches all over. :-(
Wow that is alot of sealer!
He says to apply every 6 months too 😅
Does this work on vertical surfaces?
Yes it does!
We have a massive 3,000 sq ft job that is natural 18"x18" yellow slate. It needs to be cleaned but not really stripped, the home owner keeps it very, very nice. She wants a shinny wet look to the slate. Any recommendations for a cleaning agent and a sealant?? I have looked into 511 and it seems great, but does not leave a wet sheen.
511 sucks takes too long to dry
My slate fireplace hasn't been sealed in YEARS. I have water rings all over and don't know how to remove them. I read on-line to use a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide but it did not work. Any way to remove the staining before I seal it?
Try using mayonnaise, really!
If it is slate, then sand it with a sandpaper, hoover it and then rub oil onto it. Any kind of cooking oil. It will also enhance the colour of the stone.
@@lillahamvas9700 oil sounds like a great, safe, cheap idea !!!
do you ever us 511?
Dave Blake No, I never have.
Thank you.
Take the warning labels on sealant products very seriously. Aldon SBS sealer containing Dichloromethane (Methylene Chloride) has made me really sick. It was used by the previous owners [or their contractor] of my townhouse to seal concrete with improper ventilation. It seems likely that flooring was placed over it before the sealant could properly cure.
I bet his counter top is sticky as shit now too
Really good information! #StoneConceptCalgary
Stone Concept Calgary
Good
Pasteles de tema paris
Don't put slate in your home...you will be sorry, too much work!
Alice Moore p
Debra Presley it is a nightmare floor. Our house is like s nightmare I didn’t foresee until we began living in it though. Slate tile in both baths, white ceramic grouted tile counters in the kitchen, and black linoleum slats in the rest of the main level. The tiles seem like they were laid without a level base, and rock in spots which is awful for their integrity. They flake, and chip, and stain. The grout was a mess. It looks like they just squirted that premixed crap in the cracks, and did not use a grout release on the actual tiles. And they just grouted the tiles that they cracked. The kitchen counters look gross no matter how many times a day I clean them. You cannot just brush crumbs off of an unlevel surface like this, and everything stains the white grout 😩 Then the linoleum...it looks beautiful for the 5 minutes after it is cleaned. Then every foot print, dust particle, and animal hair it immediately apparent with in 6 minutes. Hindsight is 20/20. I wish I was handy, or rich. I would tear up all of the surfaces in the house.
There are so many nice floor tiles available these days, most bathroom tiles should be a breeze to take care of, its a shame really, all that work and the customer isn't happy is the worst thing for a tradesman to have for his product.
We bought our home two years ago and it has a blue slate entryway approx. 12'x5', it's original and is in many of the homes in the neighborhood. It's over 50 years old and it's still in perfect condition as is the slate tile in the other homes. We don't do anything but mop. I think if the floor is installed properly it'll last for more than a lifetime.
Tina Bean You can learn how to demo it and then install tile properly.
do not do what this guy did, the white spots are sealer that was left to dry, no bueno
How impractical- every 6 months! Can't wait for mine to all be ripped up!
The first 30 seconds of a 3'32" video, almost 10% of the entire content, contains nothing...
Other than a sweet 12 bar blues jam.😂😉 I've since changed the intro on my videos to make them much shorter!
Your intro is too long
Thank you