How can I seal ceramic tiles that have holes & pits for texture?
by
Claudia
+10
Every hole gathers everything, food, bugs, greasy stuff, gross stuff u can't wipe out. I have to get a toothpick to dig krap out of them. The holes get bigger and grout dissolved. I'm sure it's unsanitary. I can't afford to get a new counter. How can I seal these holes?
Why don’t you just fill the holes with a different grout and seal them. No muss clean up and the seal can be dull so the finish won’t be seen easily.
I Agree with Judith, I would regrout the entire countertop, that will fill in all the little grooves.
You could do an epoxy resin pour over the counter top. Not sure of cost though.
This looks like travertine marble tiles. To get the grout to stick, first degrease then and then etch them with white vinegar.
Rinse & dry well.
then use a non-sanded polymer acrylic modified grout.
after it’s dry & all haze is gone, let cure 24 hours & seal it 2 full coats with a permeating non yellowing grout sealer.
it should be re-sealed once a year with a marble sealer, if they really are travertine.
Why would anyone use those tiles for a counter top? The epoxy pour Robyn suggested sounds like your best bet - AFTER you regrout the tiles. Either that, or replace the tiles.
This is for application over laminate but would work over tile
https://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/countertops/diy-concrete-countertops-over-existing-formica-3183370
https://www.hometalk.com/diy/bathroom/vanities/diy-concrete-countertop-28896411
https://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/kitchen-dining-furniture/changing-up-an-orange-formica-countertop-with-concrete-18147786
http://www.creativelylivingblog.com/2016/03/concrete-countertop-overlay.html
DIY Concrete Countertops Over Existing Formica
DIY Concrete Countertop!
Changing up an Orange Formica Countertop With Concrete
You might also consider Bondo. It is used to fix dents in cars. I have used it on laminate countertops that have been burned by a tenant. It is pretty easy to use. You just have to be patient and build up coats until all the holes are filled. It sands beautifully smooth. Then you will need to prime and paint. Of course, you have to be careful with painted counter tops but you could coat them with non-yellowing sealer and use good cutting boards for you chopping and cutting. This will give you a very smooth countertop.
hELLO,
tHEY TILES SHOULD ALREADY BE SEALED, BUT IF YOU HAVE PAINTED THEM THEN POUR THE SEALER OVER THE TILES AND SPREAD IT OUT. iT WILL NATURALLY GO INTO THE CRACKS ETC.
To really clean them get the small hand held version of a spin brush! Gets in all nooks and crevices
Also, my entire backsplash and walls are a cream colored tumbled marble. Mine are much lighter than this, but it’s possible that’s what these are because this IS exactly what tumbled marble looks like. Very pricey but not good for counters.
Hello, I feel your pain, what if you were add some melamine countertop over the tiles? Or you could put a layer of cement over the entire counter to smooth it out and get rid of the holes and grout lines altogether
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FctBnRl3DQQ
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/concrete-overlayment-tile-countertops-61719.html