Yes, your natural stone shower should always be sealed! To keep your shower in great shape – and keep mold and mildew at bay – we recommend having your shower sealed at least once a year. Instead of a topical sealant that may flake off or discolor the stone, choose a penetrating sealant.
Over time, the water can weaken the stone, which can lead to fissures or cracks in the tile. Eventually, the water can penetrate to the subfloor, and once it does that, it can spread to other parts of your home. Water can trap bacteria in the tile, and it can contribute to the growth of mold and mildew in the subfloor.
Stone should be sealed when used in bathrooms that receive daily use. “We recommend a penetrating sealer once a year,” says Tabbah. “It helps repel water so it beads up instead of soaking in and turning the stone darker.”
You can use just about any type of natural stone in showers! While slate tile is a popular choice, we also love the luxurious appearance of bright white marble and the earthy, soothing vibe of granite.
Clean stone weekly.
Cleaning your stone shower once a week can help reduce grime, water deposits, and mildew build-up. Use stone-safe products, rather than vinegar or ammonia. Such products are too harsh on stone; their acids break down sealants and discolor surfaces.
Best for Natural Stone: Aqua Mix Sealer's Choice Gold
Since this sealer is water-based and penetrating, it's appropriate in most scenarios, including bathrooms and shower surrounds. It will maintain the look of porous stone without changing its look or finish.
When cleaning natural stones like marble, limestone, and onyx, you can't reach for your regular cleaners like white vinegar, lemon juice, bleach, or abrasive cleansers. These cleaners are too acidic for natural stone and can damage or etch the stone (although some can help remove rust from concrete).
Authentic NATURE STONE® Brand Flooring is a porous product allowing dampness/moisture to breathe through and is not intended as a waterproofing product. Authentic NATURE STONE® Brand Flooring will not redirect water to run off.
Clean EEZ Stone & Grout Sealer
That's why the Clean-Eez sealer which works on both stone and grout is the best option for sealing your shower. You can apply it using a brush by hand or with a long pole. It does need to cure for five minutes, after which you'll have to wipe up any extra sealer.
Naturally-occurring salts found in soil, water, sand, gravel and cement are dissolved by rain and groundwater. This moisture is drawn to the surface of the stone where it evaporates, leaving the salts behind as a white haze. Although unattractive, the process is completely natural and in no way damages the stone.
Because these stones have a high porosity, it's important to seal them about every six months and clean them with solutions specially designed for natural stone. This upkeep is essential to making sure your floors and countertops remain beautiful and functional for decades to come.
Wet grout is a perfect place for dangerous mould and mildew to breed. As tile grout is usually made up of a mixture of sand, cement and water it is naturally porous and absorbent. Due to this, you need an effective shower grout sealer that will penetrate and protect the grout, stopping mould and mildew forming.
Natural stone tiles, especially light colored ones, should be sealed prior to and after installation with a product that is best for the stone type. Concrete tiles should be sealed prior to and after installation. Saltillo tiles, unless they come already sealed, should be sealed prior to and after installation.
A – On average, a stone sealer will last between 3-5 years before it will need to be reapplied. The quality of the sealer used and the porosity of the stone will all have an effect on just how long your sealer will last.
Once you finish your application, keep family members, pets, & yourself out of the area while it cures. Sealer takes 24–72 hours to fully cure, but you can resume normal use after just 6–8 hours. Put a reminder in your phone or planner to reseal your surfaces again next year.
Natural stone, as beautiful and tough as it may be, is also somewhat fragile. While it defies the barriers of time and is extraordinarily durable, it requires a certain level of TLC to ensure it retains its original splendour.
Clean stone surfaces with warm water and a mild soap such as a clear Dawn Liquid Soap. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble or limestone. Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft cloth. Change the rinse water frequently.
If you have natural stone tiles anywhere in your house, avoid cleaning them with vinegar, lemon, or ammonia. The acidity in the products etches and dulls the stone, says Elena Ledoux, owner of Superb Maids in Las Vegas, Nevada. To repair, it will require a very expensive re-polishing process.
Natural stone for bathroom countertops, floors, and walls is a viable option, thanks to modern sealers that reduce stone's susceptibility to water damage and staining. Natural stone may be a good choice for homeowners who want to seriously upgrade their homes with this exclusive, expensive building material.
We recommend purchasing a neutral PH stone cleaner and apply a few drops to the stone. If you cannot find a stone cleaner with this kind of PH level, then a mild dishwashing detergent will work. Mix it with warm water to get the best results. Clean your stone before applying seal to maximize results.
Oil-based: Oil-based sealers last longer, but they have a strong smell and may leave a sticky residue behind. Penetrating: Penetrating sealer seeps into the granite's pores to protect it from the inside out. Water-based: This type of sealer evaporates faster than other granite sealers and doesn't have a strong odor.