There really isn’t much general information that can be applied to sealing grout and tile. Rather choosing the right sealer is based heavily on what kind of tile and grout you are going to seal. The first thing you need to understand is that sealing grout and sealing tile are two different things. With a ceramic tile, they are often glazed and fired with a protective coating that doesn’t need to be sealed. Granite tiles are not manufactured, they are carved out of pieces of solid rock. Whether or not granite tiles need sealing depends on the type of Granite.

It may seem unreal that a piece of stone can be stained or etched away by a basic cleaning product. What you have to understand is that all those beautiful veigning patterns in your new granite tiles are actually microscopic bits of different elements. Different elements dissolve in each other. Coppers and other metals dissolve in acids. Salts break down in water. Gold dissolves and becomes solute in mercury. You’re probably not going to be pouring mercury on your floor its true. Still with the thousands of mineral compositions that make up virtually every type of granite theres bound to be degredation in your tiles when exposed to harsh cleaners and even the acids in your food. A coat of sealer provides a layer of protection between the exposed surface and the tile.

If you opt for epoxy based grout, theres a pretty good chance it doesn’t require any sealing. If it does the grout manufacturer will reccomend a specific sealing product. Cement based grouts will all require sealant and there are two basic types of sealer that can be applied. Membrane sealers don’t soak into the grout, but rather they coat the top of it and prevent moisture and microscopic particles from getting in. Membrane forming sealers are often combined with colorant to adjust the color of the grout lines while sealing. You should not use membrane sealers in showers and bathtubs. They are meant to keep water out, but under that much stress water will eventually get under them. In turn, when the water does eventually get in the membrane will keep it there allowing rampant mold growth and preventing the grout from ever fully drying out.

The other option for a cement based grout sealer is called a penetrating sealer. Usually a penetrating sealer is a product containing latex or another filler material dissolved in mineral spirits or an alternate evaporating chemical. The sealer is applied to the grout and allowed to soak in. When the carrier liquid dissolves it leaves the filler material embedded in the pores of the grout. The the latex sediment remains in the pores blocking water and particles from getting down into the grout. Whether you opt for a membrane or penetrating sealer you will have to reseal the grout every one to two years as it wears away. That is even more reason to pay for a more expensive epoxy based grout in the first place.

Ideally you should speak with the business who supplies your granite tiles and get a reccomendation on exactly what sealers to use for the type of granite you have. You should avoid getting the grout sealer on the tile as some types may stain the granite. There really is no simple product to reccomend here because there are just too many different varieties of tile for one product to work for everyone. Take the time to talk to a supplier and follow the product specifications carefully.