Austin Cream 2 outdoors - how to seal it

I just a Texas limestone patio installed (stone from local Hill country quarry called Austin Cream 2" slab; white or light color) how long should I wait to have it sealed (grout cure time) and which sealer should I use? How often should I seal it? Will Thompson's Water seal work as a sealer?

 

Dear Laurence:

When it comes to natural stone installed outdoors, there are only two types of stones: stones that are appropriate to be installed outdoors, and stone that are not.

If it is appropriate, you will have no problem (providing that you will never seal it, because if you, then all bets are off even with the best stone). If it is not appropriate, you could seal that stone to the core with all the sealers available on the market and then some, but you will only make matters worse.

So, now answering your specific questions, and hoping that your stone is indeed appropriate to be installed outdoors and that it was installed properly,

 

“ how long should I wait to have it sealed ”

 

A couple of hundred years or more.

 

“ and which sealer should I use? ”

 

The very same that the ancient Romans and Egyptians used!

 

“ How often should I seal it? ”

 

Once you have the sealer applied after 200 years or so from now, I would say every 150 years thereafter!... :-)

 

“ Will Thompson's Water seal work as a sealer? ”

 

You know, you almost got me for a minute!... Good joke! J

 

Do you realize that the only thing you've been concerned about in your entire post is the sealing of your stone?

You were not concerned to find out if your stone was right for the application, or if it was installed right. Nope: none of that “useless” stuff. Only the sealing thing is important!!

For what nobody knows (oh, yeah, I almost forgot: to “protect” the stone and see the water beads… WOW! Lookie there: the water beads!!!... At least for a few days…), but the word sealer has the kind of magic that nobody wants to give up.

 

May I ask you now to please read and e-sign our Statement of Purpose at: http://www.marblecleaning.org/purpose.htm?

Ciao and good luck,

Mauri z io Bertoli

 

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