How to seal interior natural stone floors

How to seal interior natural stone floors

This article explains how to seal a natural stone floor with one of the three main Floorseal products you could use.

There are other Floorseal products which you find useful, but the products discussed are suitable for most projects.

The sealer you ultimately select will be decided by the following factors.

• Whether you wish to retain a totally unaltered appearance?
• Do you wish to colour enhance the surface?
• Is a sheen required or not?
• The type of stone and its age i.e a newly laid floor or a historic older installation.
• Do you need to dustproof the surface (a very minor issue with floors)

This information is not exhaustive so feel free to ask for advice! You can click directly through to the product pages highlighted in blue.

1. Sealing with Floorseal Natural Stone Sealer Breathe

This product is an invisible breathable impregnating sealer which does not form a film, lacquer, or skin. It can be applied to any porous natural stone, clay-based tile, concrete, or porous pointing material. Natural Stone Sealer Breathe is water-based, low odour, and dries rapidly. Apply twice, approximately 40 minutes to an hour apart.

This impregnating sealer can be applied to any new, or older, existing porous natural stone slab or paver.

Natural Stone Sealer Breathe is fully breathable, so suitable for any situation where moisture vapour transmission is required. Such as an old floor which has no damp proof membrane fitted (DPM). Or any application where you do not wish to alter the appearance of the surface.

As Natural Stone Sealer Breathe is an impregnator, it will not alter the appearance of natural stone. For that reason, the sealer must be described as ‘matt finish’. This product could also be described as having ‘no finish’ as the sealing polymers become meshed into the pores of the stone.

This sub-surface sealer is not a surface sealant so will not create a sheen. Therefore, it is the most natural way to seal any natural stone.

The characteristics of this sealer:-

• Water-based.
• Low odour.
• Solvent & VOCs free.
• Rapid drying.
• A natural unaltered matt finish.
• Fully breathable.
• Suitable for newly laid surfaces where moisture vapour transfer is still occurring.
• Does not alter surface colour or sheen.
• Suitable for listed buildings or older surfaces where no damp proof membrane (DPM) has been fitted.

The types of stone this sealer is best suited for are:-

• Indian sandstone.
• York sandstone.
• Any sandstone where an unaltered appearance is paramount.
• Kandla grey sandstone and monotone plain grey sandstones which cannot be colour enhanced.
• Slate where a totally unaltered finish is required.
• Honed limestone.
• Honed travertine.
• Honed marble.
• Concretes.
• Honed porous granite.
• Porous brick.
• Natural stone where altering appearance is not required.
• Natural stone where breathability is required.

Apply this product twice, approximately an hour apart removing any excess after each application.

This sealer can also be used to pre-seal natural stone before laying. Or after the stone has been fixed but prior to grouting.

2. Sealing with Floorseal Natural Stone Colour Enhancer

This breathable colour enhancing impregnator can be applied to any porous natural stone, clay-based tile, or paver. The sealer can also be applied to any porous pointing or jointing material.

It is water-based, low odour, and dries rapidly. Apply twice, approximately 40 minutes, to an hour apart.

Natural Stone Colour Enhancer is like Natural Stone Sealer Breathe. It is still a fully breathable matt finish sealer, but it also slightly deepens colour.

The effect of Natural Stone Colour Enhancer is a little like very slightly dampening the surface with water. But, without creating any sheen or visible lacquer/coating – the product does not form a surface film.

This natural stone sealer does not create a surface sheen or shine leaving the stone with a natural matt colour enhanced finish. The sealer is embedded into the pores of the stone rather than drying on the surface.

Therefore, a natural way to seal any porous stone and enhance its natural colour.

The characteristics of this product are:-

• Water-based.
• Low odour.
• Solvent & VOCs free.
• Rapid drying.
• A subtle colour enhanced natural matt finish.
• Fully breathable.
• Suitable for newly laid surfaces where moisture vapour transfer is still occurring.
• Does not create a sheen.
• Suitable for listed buildings or older surfaces where no damp proof membrane (DPM) is fitted.

The types of stone this sealer is best suited for are natural stone which can be colour enhanced:-

• Colourful Indian sandstones
• Colourful York sandstone (not plain Yorkshire greys).
• Any sandstone with natural earthy colour i.e reds or natural veining.
• Slate – where slight colour enhancement is desirable.
• Pale limestone with veining.
•  *Grey or black limestone.
• Natural stone where breathability is required.
• Clay-based materials i.e. porous brick.

Apply Natural Stone Colour Enhancer twice, approximately an hour apart removing any excess after each application.

We would not recommend using this product as a pre-sealer. Please contact us if you wish to pre-seal before pointing/grouting and are thinking of using a colour enhancer.

*To seal and fully colour enhance faded black or grey limestones please use Floorseal Black Limestone Restorer. This sealer will deepen the colour of black or grey limestone to its maximum depth of colour.

3. Sealing with Stone & Tile Sealer Satin

Stone Sealer & Tile Sealer Satin is a topical sealer, it dries on the surface to create a subtle satin finish. As a by-product, it will deepen the colour of certain surfaces.

This satin finish sealer is water-based, low odour, and dries rapidly. Apply the first coat, followed by a 2nd coat approximately 60 minutes later. You can build the sealer up in further coats to increase the level of sheen.

Apply in thin coats with a microfibre flat mop or cloth, this ensures no puddling or pooling can occur. It is possible to use rollers and paint pads, but we have found microfibre systems (cloths or flat mops) produce the best finish.

The characteristics of this sealer are:-

• Water-based.
• Low odour.
• Solvent & VOCs free.
• Rapid drying.
• A topical sealer with a subtle satin sheen.
• Semi-breathable.

The types of material this sealer is best suited for are very porous surfaces:-

• Sandstone.
• Slates, including Indian & Chinese.
• York stone.
• Clay-based materials i.e tiles & bricks.
• Porous stone or tile that requires dustproofing.
• Surfaces that appear dusty and chalky.

Apply Stone & Tile Sealer Satin in two to three thin coats, and add further coats for a slightly higher sheen.

We do not recommend using this sealer in wet areas like bathrooms/shower cubicles.

In conclusion

We have three sealing options for achieving the correct interior natural stone treatment, depending on the finish you want and your stone type:

Natural Stone Sealer Breathe – A breathable sealer that resists water & oil-based staining. It does not change the appearance of the surface it is applied to. Once sealed, the surface still retains an unaltered natural finish. It is to be applied twice with all excess product removed after each application. Suitable for new or older surfaces (possibly in listed buildings) which may not have a damp-proof membrane (DPM).

Natural Stone Colour Enhancer – A breathable sealer which resists water & oil-based staining. Like Natural Stone Sealer Breathe but deepens colour to create a subtle colour enhanced natural finish. This product should be applied twice with all excess product removed after each application. Suitable for new or older surfaces (possibly in a listed building) which may not have a damp-proof membrane (DPM).

Stone & Tile Sealer Satin – A topical sealer which creates a sheen and may slightly deepen colours. This product should be applied twice and can be applied in further coats to increase sheen. Often used on sandstone, slate or brick flooring but can be used on a stone surface that is dusty or chalky.

Further information

Please Click Here to view all of our products & accessories for cleaning and sealing natural stone floors. This link includes all of our handy ‘how to’ guides for cleaning & sealing interior or exterior natural stone floors.

Please note there are other products which can be used on your interior floors which may also be suitable. We also supply sample sizes of our sealing products, these are available to purchase from the individual product pages.

The information contained within this article is not exhaustive. If you need further information please contact Floorseal on (01484) 861461 or email us Info@floorseal.co.uk our web address is www.floorseal.co.uk.