Please do a quick review of all these issues. If one applies to your situation, you will be very happy that you did.

Tile are already sealed by the distributor?

Some distributors sell these tile as "factory sealed" or "pre-sealed". This puts the tile in a different catagory. Please return to the directory and see the page for "Factory Sealed" surfaces.
Caution:

Tile already treated (sealed?) with tung oil, linseed oil, wax, etc. create special risks before resealing. A sealer used after this can reliquify old, dried out oils and create a blotchy result. Thorough testing and time for evaluation must be used.

Limepops?

A high percentage of the batches of Mexican Tile are subject to "lime pops". Lime pops are where you see a small crater in the tile surface with a white spot at the bottom.

Limepops are inhibited, and are usually completely stopped, by sealing with one of our "solvent based - penetrating" type sealers. These sealers penetrate into the lime pocket, densify it, and keep out water.

Oil used as a sealer?

Do not seal with an oil (linseed oil, motor oil, etc) and wax technique that was popular years ago. Oils were used as a "filler" that saturated the pore structure of the tile and supported a subsequently applied film of wax. Wax is high maintenance and requires frequent reapplications and buffing. The oil was used for its color enhancing properties, but our solvent based sealers will enhance the color also. Once linseed oil has been used and you change your mind, you may have real problems. If you try to reseal with a solvent base sealer it may reliquify the old, dried out oil and cause patchy discoloration. If you try to reseal with a water base sealer, it may not properly penetrate and/or bond. Once oil is in the tile body, you have a high risk situation.

Super Saltillo with lower and variable absorption chacteristics than normal?

"Super Saltillo" tile have rounded edges and regular Saltillo have square edges.

Some tile sold under the name "Super Saltillo" have some unique characteristics. One particular brand was made by casting in square forms lined with oil soaked newspaper. The newspaper creates the rounded edge. The oil soaking of the paper acts as a release agent to keep the newspaper from sticking to the tile face. These tile can sometimes be identified by the appearance of newspaper print very lightly in the background. It is too light to appear in a picture here.

Caution: what is of concern is that the oil in the surface creates a much lower and highly variable absorption condition for a sealer. Therefore, do not use a sealer with very high solids like Aldon Mexiglaze . Test either Porous Stone Sealer or S-B-S Sealer and evaluate the finish before proceeding.

Soaking the tile before setting?

A common, although problem creating, installation technique is to soak the tile in water prior to setting. This is to keep the setting bed moisture from being absorbed into the tile body too fast and to retard the grout from sticking to the tile face. This soaking usually creates a high degree of efflorescence (which means extra cleaning) and promotes undesirable lime pops.

A better technique to enhance the setting bond, is to brush water on the bottom of the tile only. This acts to slow down the tile drawing water from the setting material too fast. Then, before grouting - use Aldon Grout Easy on the tile face as the grout release.

"Grout Easy":

• Is not a sealer.
• Keeps the grout from sticking to the tile face far more effectively than pre-sealing or soaking.
• Does not have any of the problems associated with pre-sealing or soaking.
• Has been used by homeowners and commercial contrators since 1984.

 Grout Easy