I was watching news last night when they reported on a grout sealant called “Stand and Seal” that used to be sold at Home Depot unless reports of severe respiratory distress caused it to be pulled quietly from the shelves. I thought i remembered a bit of discussion on the topic here in the last year, but i can’t find the thread…?
It isn’t just that the manufacturers knew the product was bad, but they tried to sell it after they knew, then got too many reports of customers ending up in ERs, then tried to cover their tracks as they retreated. The victims in the TV interview certainly seemed believeable – unlike the toilet-seat guy!
Anyway, here’s a link to the story. I haven’t used this stuff, but i thought if anyone here had and suffered from it, you might use the information.
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I was at HD a week or so ago and there was a demonstration going on and the guy was showing people how easy it was to spray their grout with that stuff. I was standing at a flooring display behind him with my GF and I muttered to her "meke sure to open a window cause that stuff will kill you". He heard me and acknowleged to everyone to be sure to have good ventillation.
The problem, as I understand it, was that the oder was not pungent enough to alert people to potential danger.
A week or so ago?!?!?! The product was recalled and production ceased (as i understand the story) in August!
Home Depot seems to have a hard time hitting any of the high notes, anymore.
I think they pulled all the product and then rereleased it with more stringent warnings and reformulated.
Methinks i'll stick to the paintbrush method all the same. <G>
We use it. Does a great job and is fast to put down. We all used to smoke so figure the damage is already done lol. Open a window, put on the respirator, odor is gone in 10 minutes. Although I suggested we use it on one job and my brother alertly asked me "what about the 2 african grey parrots?". We brushed that one. DanT
Hi, Dan. Like all those guys on forest fires who put down their pulaskis and light up, eh? I've never used the stuff, but it seems like you'd get sealant all over your tile which would be a dirt-collector. Is it a harder-drying product than the silicon stuff i've painted on?
splinter-
ever tried the little roller bottles with the wheel?
No, i've never seen that. Is it a generic bottle you fill with the fluid or is it a specific brand of sealer that has such an applicator? Good timing as i'm laying slate in the solarium this week...please let me know!
No, no real residue on the tile. That was a big thing for us also. But we tested it on a floor I put in my office and it shows no ill effects while the grout reacts as though it is sealed really well. Guess I could have paid more attention in chemistry. DanT
Thanks for the info.
Yep, generic bottle at the bigboxes you fill with the sealer, turn upside down and let it roll, baby, roll.
Faster than a brush.
I'm going into 'civilization' tomorrow, so i'll drop into Lowe's and/or HD to find one. Very cool...thanks.
SG,
I did my slate floors not too long ago and I wanted the grout to be as close in color to the slate (as opposed to contrasting). The process is to do the grout lines with Mira-Shine first, which will maintain a wet look to the grout lines (which brought the color closer to the tiles in my case) and then a Miracle 511 Porous Plus (Natural Penetrating Sealer) which gives a matte finish to the tiles themselves. Unfortunately, I did the reverse, so I have to go back and roughen up my grout joints and re-apply the wet look product. I don't think Miracle products are carried at HD, but rather at masonry supply houses and tile stores. It is very pricey though; a gallon was $80.
I'm matching a woodstove surround i did about three years ago from which i have the sealants left over...if they are still good. If not, i'll look for your product, though i haven't seen or heard of it out here in the boonies...and we've got only one masonry store that sells to the public. I got blank looks when i asked for Advantech at the lumberyard, too. HD and Lowe's raised the bar considerably when they moved in. :(