Even tiles that have a pre existing sealer can eventually have that layer wear down over time.
Do i need to seal ceramic tile in a shower.
Sealing is done to strengthen tile or grout s defenses against dirt spills and erosion of grout but not all tile needs to be sealed.
If you do get sealer on the tiles don t worry about it.
Most people find it easier to just do a few feet at the same time both to wipe as well as avoid the need to wipe.
If it doesn t only seal the grout.
Shower grout is just a mixture of sand cement and water.
When to seal tiles.
However tile flooring has many issues that need to be addressed to keep the tile shower area clean healthy and sealed.
There are some exceptions to this so check with your manufacturer to be sure.
Don t do half the job to save some money then try to seal the grout hoping to keep water out.
So it is naturally porous and absorbent.
Failure to do this can lead to the grout chipping and coming off over a short amount of time.
How to seal the grout in a shower.
You want to avoid getting the sealer on the tiles so it s better to go slowly.
Use latex based products to seal both grout and tile.
You need to make sure you go all the way and waterproof properly.
Lay your tile properly.
Unsealed tiles such as clay and natural stone must be sealed.
Additionally you typically need to seal marble to prevent staining and you are very unlikely to stain the marble tiles in your shower with just regular bath products.
Shower tiles should be sealed every one to two years depending on how often the shower is used.
With some grouts that can be even worse with it needing sealer.
The best way to prevent this is to seal your new grout and repeat as needed every year or so for wall and floor tiles that don t get much moisture and more often for grout in the shower or on.
Having proper sealer also ensures the tile grout is easier to clean.
If the tile soaks up the sealant seal the entire shower.
Epoxy grout is a tough water resistant material that doesn t require sealer but it s not right for every tile application.
Left unsealed it can soak up dirt and mildew like a sponge.
Some tiles are too thick to absorb the sealant so check a small area first.
If your tile is ceramic or porcelain it probably won t need to be sealed.