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• Sealing your tile can help keep it protected from scratches and cracks and make it look more vibrant. Applying a tile sealer is also really easy to do. Choose a solvent-based sealer for ceramic and porcelain tile or a water-based sealer for natural stone tile.

• The naturally porous stone tiles greatly benefit from being sealed by a water-based tile sealer. The larger pores absorb the sealer more easily and are better protected and enhanced by it. The natural pores of the stone tiles more readily absorb the water-based tile sealer.

• If you can drop a small amount of water on your stone or tiles and watch it absorb into the surface, it is porous. To identify if you have porous tiles or stone, drop a small amount of water on the surface. If it is porous, water marks and darkening are visible after the floor is wet, leaving areas patchy and discoloured until they dry out.

Porous tiles will absorb spills and stain fairly easily. Sealing your tiles will protect the surface of the tiles, prevent tiles and improve their longevity and appearance. How do you seal tiles?

Use a soapy dishwater solution in a bucket with a sponge, then rinse well with clean water. Allow the tile to become completely dry after this process. This may take several days as the porous tile absorbs water and needs to dry thoroughly. Pour some acrylic tile sealer into a container.

If you can drop a small amount of water on your stone or tiles and watch it absorb into the surface, it is porous. To identify if you have porous tiles or stone, drop a small amount of water on the surface. If it is porous, water marks and darkening are visible after the floor is wet, leaving areas patchy and discoloured until they dry out.

Natural stone tiles such as slate, marble, granite and travertine are porous and need to be sealed. Porcelain and ceramic tiles are not porous so do not require sealing. If you’re not sure whether your tiles are porous or not apply a wet sponge to one tile and press down for a few seconds.