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I need some advise please. I made this tea tray, but I’m not sure what sealant to use. I was planning on adding a layer of resin to give a perfectly smooth surface and to seal, but the tray is too heavy already - a layer of resin would just make it heavier. The tray will be used regularly, so the grout must be protected against hot water, spills, sugar and coffee grains which might stain. Any ideas on what I can use?
I used some mosiac sealer they sell at HL and put the bowling ball outside, it has been outside for a year and nothing has happened to the grout, I hose it off all the time too. I did use something like 4 coats though.
I have used Thompson's on some of my tile grout. However, I read something recently that said it takes several months for grout (like all concrete products) to cure, and that it's best not to seal until after that time. Otherwise, according to this source, it's possible to have the remaining moisture evaporate through some other means than out the grout joints. I am seeing issues with the tile & grout that were sealed shortly after installation by my contractor, so I'll be waiting longer on future installations.
Don't know if that's as much of an issue with mosaic or not, especially since the grout joints are typically smaller and thinner than with tile projects.
Wow, Imapigeon, Is that true, about DON'T seal a grout right away?? Wow, i never knew this...Is there any way to know when the grout IS ready to seal? New here, hope you see this..? =)
tigerlily, when my "inside" contractor did the tile for my floors, he waited a full month before sealing. I haven't seen problems with the inside floors. The "outside" contractor sealed within a couple of days of grouting. I think the month is a safe rule of thumb, and the one I'll be using on future projects.
I use polyurethane on all my projects, inside and outside, and have never had a problem, and I put in on about a week after I've grouted. I had this birdhouse hanging in this tree for about 2 years now, and as you can see, it still looks as good as it did the day I made it. There's a snake living in it, LOL, not a bird, I think he climbed in to eat the eggs a bird had laid, but I wasn't about to get any closer to see. And I'm not sure what kind of snake it is, all I could see was his face sticking out. I know this post is a little late from the original, but that is a beautiful tray Verfkwas!! Nice work, and I like the black grout!!! Jami
