Hi Guys. Just need a bit of advice re: Sealing marble Tiles. Some tilers i know favour
pre-grouting and some favour post-grouting.

I've always sealed after grouting, and haven't had any problems with the grout staining the unsealed marble. Just the standard white and sand coloured marble variety. I heard green marble maybe more moisture sensitive.

I have tried sealing before grouting on a couple of occassions and have had to come back and patch up a number of spots were the grout has caught a bit of seal on the edges and have come off. I'm currently doing a job where the builder has insisted on a seal before grouting.

Look forward to your help.....thanks guys

what color are you laying green or sand and what type of sealer might just help put us in the groove thanks

I usually seal afterwards Ttek, that way the grout gets sealed as well. I know guys who prefer to do it before to.... it's just a preference thing I think... never had a problem with the grout staining the tile, I have never layed green marble though so can't offer advice here other than I've heard it's very problematic in many ways. What is the builders reasoning & why does he think he can dictate to you how to do your job?

Hi Jay, It's a sand coloured marble...... I'm using the Aquamix penetrating sealer.

Notch, Ive never had a problem with grout staining marble or porcelain for that matter - when sealing post grouting. For more porous tiles like Terracotta or slate i'd preseal for sure.........no chance of grout coming off the joints due to much bigger joints i suppose. The builders not too bad, his only reason being his previous tilers have done it that way, so he'd prefer it be done that way. Doesn't bother me, other than having to repatch grout.....its not a big deal........just thought i'd get you guys feedback on what works best...and if theres a method to presealing that ensures good grout adhesion.

I've known guys who will seal tiles before they are even laid, seems like a lot of time consuming & double handling trouble to me. I guess you could give it a spray seal before grouting followed by a 2nd proper coat with roller or lambs wool applicator after?

Any of you guys use that Sure Seal stuff?

Tiled my mother in laws alfresco about six month's ago and sealed with that . Grout still looks new.

if you are in doubt lay then give it one coat of sealer then grout then re seal it may help with the grouting

yes supreme have used sure seal for a few years now seems to work but not sure if cleaning chemicals will break it down in time is always my concern

if you seal before grouting it will be hard to keep it out of the joints and the edges of the tiles, then you will not have a good bond of the grout to the tile in these places. Most polished marble will not stain with grout anyway, assuming you are not going with a black grout on a thassos white or some other heavily contrasting colour combination. If you use sanded grout (mistake) on most marbles/travertine/limestone you run a risk of etching and scratching the polished finish.

I have this polished porcelain job now where the tiles are unsealed, they fail under a many test, red wine, cant get it out. Even my fingerprints tend to leave a temp mark on them as i handle them...

Still laying now, but concerned when It comes to grouting whether to seal first? I dont want to create a bad adhesion when grouting, but dont want the grout pigment to stain them either...these are coffee coloured 400 x 400 Polished Porcelain, I have 1.5mm grout lines, really schmick and tight and level. Trying to talk customer into the same colour grout as tiles, to avoid issues, just hoping the grout pigment itself wont stain the tiles in the process....having said that, i get a lot of porcelain jobs and have never had a problem with this and never seal first...