Covering an outside structure with porcelain tile adds visual appeal to a house, but when the tiles stain or show signs of deterioration, the look suffers. Protecting the tile is necessary to maintain its attractiveness. Applying a sealer helps guard against punishing situations. Sealers form a shell over the face of unglazed ceramic tile and grout lines to protect them from foot traffic wear, weather erosion, scuffing, spills and stains.
You Will Need:
Broom
Dish soap
Bucket
Mop or scrub brush
Grout-sealing bottle
Exterior-grade impregnating grout-sealer
Disposable plastic container
Gloves
Kneepads
Artist’s paintbrush
Rag
Lamb’s wool applicator or 3/8-inch paint roller
Broom handle
Painter’s tray
Exterior-grade impregnating tile-sealer
Wool buffing pad
Floor buffer
Glazed Ceramic Tile
Sweep debris and dirt off the tiled porch with a stiff broom.
Mix 1-gallon warm water and 1-teaspoon dish soap in a bucket. Dip a mop or stiff nylon scrub brush into the bucket. Wash and scrub the porcelain tiles and grout lines. Let the tiles and grout lines dry.
Fill a grout-sealing bottle with an exterior-grade impregnating grout-sealer or pour the grout sealer into a small, disposable plastic container. Grout-sealing bottles have a wheel-topped applicator that allows a constant stream of sealer to run through the wheel.
Put on gloves and kneepads.
Place the applicator wheel on a grout line beginning at the edge of the porch. Roll the wheel over the grout line following it to the opposite side of the porch or dip an artist’s paintbrush into the sealer and brush a coat onto the grout line. Apply sealer line by line from one edge of the porch to the opposite edge. Move to the grout lines that intersect the first set of lines and apply a coat of sealer using the same application method. Wipe up excess sealer with a damp rag if it spills onto the porcelain tile.
Unglazed Ceramic Tile
Sweep dust and debris off the tile with a stiff broom. Mop the tiles with a mixture of 1-gallon warm water and 1-teaspoon dish soap. Let the tiles dry.
Attach a lamb’s wool applicator or 3/8-inch nap paint roller to a threaded broom handle.
Pour an exterior-grade impregnating tile-sealer into a painting tray.
Dip the lamb’s wool applicator or roller into the sealer. Wipe off excess impregnating sealer on the edge of the painter’s tray.
Place the roller or applicator on the tile beginning in a corner of the porch at the point farthest from the stairs. Move the applicator or roller back and forth over the tile, reapplying sealer as necessary, until sealer covers all tiles and grout lines. Let the impregnating sealer dry for six to eight hours. Follow the sealer manufacturer’s cleaning directions and clean the painter’s tray, lamb’s wool applicator or paint roller with the appropriate cleaner.
Pour impregnating sealer into the painter’s tray and apply a second coat of sealer using the same methods as the first coat. Let the sealer dry for four to six hours.
Install a wool buffing-pad on a floor buffer. Move the floor buffer about the porch before the second coat of impregnating sealer dries fully to buff the surface and smooth drips or pooling marks.
It is not necessary to apply sealer to glazed ceramic tiles only the grout lines.
Avoid walking on the tiles for 24 hours after sealing.
Some impregnating sealers may darken the color of the tile or grout.
