Question:
I’ve recently re-done all the tiles on my kitchen floor.  I want to make sure that all my hard work lasts as long as possible, so I’m concerned with keeping the floor as nice as possible for as long as possible.  I’ve looked into putting a sealant on the floor.   How do you seal new ceramic tile floors? Do you seal only the grout or the whole tile and grout?

Answer:
First of all, congrats on finishing your new kitchen tile floor!   I’m sure that it was a lot of hard work, but now you can sit back and admire your new floor for years to come.   You are right to be concerned about keeping the floor as nice as possible.  However, I have good news for you!  It isn’t necessary to seal the surface of a tile floor, just the grout.

Here’s how you do it: first off, make sure the tile and grout are clean and dry.  The caulking and sealing products will not stick to soap scum very well. After the grout is completely dry (wait about three to five days), seal the grout with a silicone grout sealer. These products are available at your tile supplier. The grout needs to be sealed, as it can and will absorb water. Remember, grout is nothing more than fine cement. The sealers also help to keep the tile grout clean. Reseal the grout every six months, after thoroughly cleaning the grout.

[ Image by MrVJTod ]