The NATCO standard grout testing procedure tests the sealers durability as well as the sealers ability to protect the grout from becoming stained.
NATCO standards for testing grout sealers.
We use variety of Alkaline and Acidic based contaminates that commonly stain grout. It is important for a good grout sealer to be durable and also prevent stains from appearing on the grout surface. A quality grout sealer must be able to withstand heated water used to clean the tile and grout surface. Also a quality grout sealer must not break down with normal pH neutral tile and grout cleaning products.
Our testing procedure starts by sealing the grout samples the same way for each different grout sealer. All grout samples were soaked in the grout sealant for 10 minutes and then taken out to dry. The sealed grout samples were allowed to dry for seven days to allow the sealant to totally cure on the grout samples.
To test the durability of the grout sealers the sealed grout samples are soaked the in a pH neutral cleaning solution for five minutes and then placed them in boiling water for 2 minutes. We repeated this sequence five times with each sealed grout sample.
The grout samples were allowed to dry for 24 hours and then various common grout staining contaminates were placed on the sealed grout samples.
Grout Sealer Review Introduction Stonetech Impregnator Pro Review