Natural stone floor tiles are very beautiful floor tiles that will add both design and style to the home as well as offering fantastic functionality. Many of the natural stone floor tiles are ideal for both bathrooms and kitchens and some natural stone varieties are incredibly durable making them ideal for very busy floor areas such as the kitchen.

There are certain installation and preparation procedures that need to be followed and all good tile stores will be able to advice on this as they may differ depending on the tile you are working with. Home owners will almost certainly be advised to have their natural stone floor tiles sealed as they are porous which means they will absorb water and substances and if they are not sealed they will almost certainly become stained and damaged which conventional cleaning will not restore. Sealing natural stone floor tiles will form a protective barrier on the floor tile and any substance spilt will simply sit on the top until it is wiped clean.

Natural stone floor tiles are very often sealed before they are grouted and then again when the grout has been applied, this ensures the tiles and the grout are fully sealed and prepared. Once the floor tiles have been successfully sealed they will last for approximately 2-3 years but home owners are advised to ensure they don’t let the time lapse which would result in the floor tiles becoming damaged because they were not protected.

There are different types of sealant and the one you need will largely depend on the type of floor tile you are working with and again all good tile stores will be able to advise on the best one. In general there are different types of sealant, there are penetrate sealants which will penetrate into the floor tile ensuring any holes are filled and the floor tile is completely sealed. Other sealants include a top coating which covers the surface of the tile; these particular sealants come in many different varieties and are available in matte, glossy and many others. In this instance you may want to give some thought to the type you choose as this will change the appearance of the end result.

There are other floor tile materials that need sealing especially in busy areas of the home such as the kitchen area which have high traffic levels. Once floor tiles are sealed they are fully protected and home owners can have peace of mind that their floor tiles will not become damaged over time and will retain their pristine appearance.