How to dip seal natural stone

June 19th, 2024 | Stone & Tile

All How To How to dip seal natural stone

Dip sealing natural stone is an important process to protect all six sides of the stone and prevent water ingress.

What are the benefits of dip sealing natural stone?

Retains Newness
Formula specifically designed to provide premium protection against staining and water absorption during fabrication, transport and installation.
Protects
Enables easier removal of grout smear, helps prevent “framing” caused by grout moisture ingress and helps prevent construction and installation stains.
Vapour permeable
Won’t trap moisture. Does not hinder the natural passage of water vapour.
Protects and adds value to your product.
Prevents installation defects
Significantly inhibits tile warping and other installation defects.

Products

Preseal is formulated to dramatically inhibit the ingress of moisture into construction and fine stone, masonry and cement products during the installation process. Latest technology incorporated in this product ensures that the adhesive bond strength is not compromised whilst helping prevent tile warp and other installation defects.

Formulated to provide premium protection to construction and fine stone, masonry and cement products during fabrication, transportation and installation.

Marble, Limestone,
Travertine
Sandstone, Granite, Basalt & Bluestone
Cement & Clay pavers
Terracotta, Saltillo, Quarry

Equipment

Flat-bottom plastic dipping tray or masonry tub
Rubber squeegee
White absorbent towels or cloth
Plastic sheeting
Pallets and wooden shims
PPE

The Process

Clean and Dry the Material
Ensure the stone or tile to be sealed is completely clean and dry. Allow the substrate to dry for a few days in the sun, or use a moisture meter to measure the percentage of water. Ensure it is sufficiently dry before proceeding.
Setup the Dipping Tray
Fill a flat-bottom plastic dipping tray or masonry tub with Preseal. The tray should be large enough to comfortably fit the stone with at least 2cm clearance between the stone and the sides of the tray. Fill the tray to a level that allows the stone to be fully submerged.
Dip the Stone
Submerge the stone or tile in the sealer and let it dwell for 10-15 seconds. For extremely dense materials like some granites, you may need to increase the dwell time to ensure proper penetration. For porous materials such as limestones and cement, you may need to increase the dwell time to 20-30 seconds.
Remove and Clean Excess Sealer
Carefully remove the stone from the tray. Use a rubber squeegee to clean the excess sealer off the surface. After 5-10 minutes, dry buff any remaining excess sealer on the surface with white rags. Excess sealer should not be allowed to dry on the surface.
Allow The Stone to Dry and Cure
Place the stone on plastic sheeting, then on a pallet, If stacking the stone, use wooden shims between pieces to ensure airflow and drying. Avoid using plastic or man-made items as they may stain the material.
Allow the stone to air dry for a minimum of 4 hours before stacking. Ensure all sealed stone is kept dry for at least 24 hours before exposure to water. If the stone is to be installed, do not do so for at least 24 hours to allow proper curing. Achieves a full cure in 24-48 hours.

FURTHER NOTES

Compatible Adhesive
Laticrete 254 Platinum and Laticrete 335 are good options. The most critical feature of the adhesive, is that it must be polymer fortified.
Removing Excess Sealer
Using absorbent toweling or applicator, wipe off any sealer remaining on the surface after 10 minutes of the last application. However, if there is excess sealer left on the surface once the stone has cured, moisten the towel with Methylated Spirits to remove residue.
Washing Equipment
As Preseal is water-based, all equipment used can be easily washed out with water and soap.
Before Application
Read and understand the SDS before use.
Always pre-test in an inconspicuous location for substrate sensitivity to chemicals.
Application to Large Stones
Where tiles are too large to practically dip seal, it is equally effective to apply the sealer to the back and sides of the stone using a spray or roller application.

Where To Buy

PreSeal – Find a stockist

Additional Resources

Download Guide

Stone Handbook

Actichem Brochure

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