I used Tilelab Penetrating Sealer Grout & Tile Sealer on slate shower walls and shower floor(on new house.) I applied it using a new mop per the directions and then wiped it off after 10 minutes. There are obvious drip marks on the slate. I have cleaned it with Dawn soap and water, but you can still see where the product stained the slate. Should I clean the entire area again and use the same product? (The house is now 7 months old.) I'd like to put a glossy finish on it so that it will clean up easier too. Is there anything you recommend? Thanks.

 

Dear Pam:

The very reason why I'm so glad that my products are not available in the Big Box stores is that there seem to be nobody intelligent enough to advice users of stone on what to do and what not to do, and what to apply and what not to apply. And I wouldn't want to read a post like this where instead of having used a product of the competition, the inquirer could have used mine instead.

 

Okay, let me explain you a few things that will probably amaze you:

 

1.     By saying slate you're saying very little – if anything at all. There are many different (and I do mean different) kinds of slate that span from dense and acceptable rocks, to slate that will actually fall apart under running water or turn into mud, and everything in between. So which slate do you have? And, please don't tell me some fancy name: I need to know the mineralogy, stress point, degree of metamorphism, etc. of the stone to be able to tell if what you have is any good.

2.     No stone should ever be sealed when installed in a wet environment. (Now, do you see what I mean when I said that I'm glad that my products are not in Big Box store?)

 

All that duly said, your question is:

 

“ Is there anything you recommend? ”

 

Well, it's a bit too late for what I really recommend, which is not to use slate in shower stall. Now, the only recommendation that I can give you is to go back to the good folks who sold that stone to you and recommended all the sealing and stuff, and have them solve your problem, because, as sure as death and taxes, I personally have not the faintest clue.

 

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 zio Bertoli

 

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