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All Factory Sealed Surface Types
Cleaning - Problem Solving - Protection - Care
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| This page is for all surfacing materials that are sealed either by the factory or the seller before you receive it. The tile edge picture is a factory sealed Mexican tile, but there are other surface types that are also sealed by the manufacturer. |
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There is no need for confusion or problems brought about by misidentification of a surface type, yet it happens all too often. If you would like to see why this is the case and how to properly identify a surfacing material .....
Click here
If you are concerned about doing it yourself - consider that the satisfaction of a project is directly related to your knowledge of what needs to be done and how. Who actually does the work is less important. We estimate that 25% of the usage of Aldon products is by "do it yourself" homeowners and we know they are happy because we hear from them.
MATERIAL DESCRIPTION - With Identifying Characteristics
- Unfortunately, there are too many factories that choose a sealer for the wrong reason (price), apply it incorrectly (thinly), or for marketing reasons (try to make it worth more money. What looked wonderful when first installed can be a problem when some time passes.
- The grout needs to me sealed - see below.
- If a color was applied to the tile before sealing, or in the sealer, it is a more complex repair problem if the sealer peels.
- If the factory sealer is peeling - see
- The factory sealer can be protected from traffic wear - see below.
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INSTALLATION:
Some suppliers of brick, stone and pavers will apply a sealer to their products to act as a barrier against grout sticking to the surface. This is to act as a "grout release" agent. Or they might seal it just to create a value added product. Check the manufacturer's specifications, especially with rough textured, light colored brick.
A sealer used this way does help considerably in cleaning up their product, however, not as well as if Aldon
 Grout Easy had been used. "Grout Easy" will not only keep the grout from sticking, it is thick enough to provide temporary "filling" of a rough texture, thereby keeping the grout out.
Here is an extremely important question:
How good is this factory applied seal job?
Unfortunately, too many factories select a sealer for it's price and not for it's long term benefits. If it is not a good quality sealer and not applied properly for it's type, it could start to peel or flake. Then, you will have to strip and re-seal properly. With Mexican tile and other soft body materials, a "paint on coating" application does not strengthen the soft body and the surface can deteriorate from foot traffic.
Here is a tip to help evaluate the material and sealer. Break off a small section of tile corner so you can see if the sealer has penetrated or is just a coating. Lightly scratch the sealer with a coin to see how easily it peels off. A strong, penetrated sealer will not scratch off easily or at all.
When a sealer is protected with Aldon
 Lifeguard it will last a long time. But, "Lifeguard" is bonded to the sealer and the sealer is bonded to the tile. If the sealer peels off, the "Lifeguard" will come with it.
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PROTECTION:
The major problem now is that this factory sealed product falls squarely within the category of pre-sealing with all the risks involved with that process.
The problem you now have to deal with, is that the material is already sealed (probably with something unknown and/or unavailable to you), and the grout/mortar now needs to be sealed. as you don't want the new sealer to dissolve or otherwise hurt the factory sealer, how do you use a sealer compatible with the one the factory used? Use Aldon
 Same Day Sealer because it will not attack any other sealer known to us.
Following are recommendations for products you may need (in sequence of use ) for whichever of the categories applies to you. Please review each and mark your printed
worksheet accordingly.
Layed, But Not Grouted
- Grout Easy
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 Efflorescence Treatment
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 Grout Residue
Remover
(should not be needed after using Grout Easy)
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Grouted, But Not Sealed
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Grout Residue
Remover
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Efflorescence Treatment
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.............Sealer ( see below )
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Lifeguard
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Care ...........
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Sealer Has Been Applied
Important! - First -
Click here!
 Premium Stripper- ...........Cleaners ?
- ...........Sealer ( see below )
- Lifeguard
- Care ..........
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An Aldon sealer does far more than just bead water and look pretty! To see what that is
click here.
Your results may vary somewhat from these pictures due to variations in computer display and the surface materials themselves. Nevertheless, you will be able to see the differences well enough to make good choices.
Different areas of the same piece are used as much as possible to minimize raw material variations.
Of all the sealers Aldon manufactures, the ones shown are recommended as best suited to this surface type.
(Important: If your project has had any sealer applied in the past, it must be evaluated differently. To see why,
Click here!)
"Same Day Sealer"
Water Based - Penetrating Type
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Recommended for the easiest application process when sealing only the grout.
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One Application
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No change to color
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No gloss
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Yellow arrow is unsealed portion. Note absorption.
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Red arrow is sealed portion. Note water drop.
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This is a piece of slate to show you a before and after using Same Day Sealer. The effect on grout would be the same. |
If removing the factory sealer and replacing with an Aldon sealer -
Click here!
Then, to choose the sealer - see 
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* Note: will add another level of gloss to any of the above sealed surfaces.
It also prevents traffic wear to the sealers finish.
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