Tile sealing question for new install

[MillCreek]

The subcontractor is now installing tile in the new house. There is tile on the floor of the laundry room, main bath and master bath.  There is tile on both bath vanity cabinets with a tile backsplash.  There is a 6x7 foot walk-in shower that is tiled on the walls and floor.  The main bath soaking tub has a tile surround.

For $ 400 extra, the contractor has offered to seal all tile and grout surfaces with two coats of a commercial sealer.  Sealer is not considered part of the install, but instead is considered maintenance, and is the responsibility of the owner.

If we do not use him to do this, he recommends the 5.11 sealer from Home Depot, but points out that it requires four coats to provide the same protection as the two coats of the commercial product that he uses.

What does the Collective think about $ 400 to do this?  There is a surprising amount of tile square footage, and he says by using this product, we won't have to seal again for several years and it will help the stain-resistance of the grout.

[Kingcreek]

I did our own tile in our our small bath (floor and tub surround) and kitchen floor. when we did our master bath I was happy to have the installer do it. and it looks better after 5 years than my job did after 1 or 2 years.
I don't think $400 sounds out of line for that.

[Sawdust]

I've done a lot of tile work in my houses, and I've used that 5.11 sealer.

It works well, and you only need two coats.

However, it is tedious work, and spending the $400 might be a good idea if there is an appreciable amount of surface area (as you indicate).

Either way, seal it. Stained grout sucks.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Sealing tile is not hard or difficult.  It takes some time, but that's it.

You can buy the same sealer your contractor buys.  Just go to the same supplier he buys from.

The real question is which is worth more to you, your time or $400?

[KD5NRH]

Concrete, stainless steel, floor drains and a power washer.  Problem solved.   

[Ben]

Having just gone through major grout cleaning on the condo I just sold, get the sealer, and at your salary, for $400, let somebody else do it.

Concrete, stainless steel, floor drains and a power washer.  Problem solved.   grin

You joke, but I'm not far off of that idea. After having just done the major spiffing up for the condo sale, I'm now in the process of working on stuff like grout cleaning in the kitchen at the folks, where my mom got pretty messy towards the end, and my dad doesn't seem to care about wiping up counter spills. This despite the fact that as kids, we were yelled at if we dropped even one crumb off our plates onto any surgical room clean surface of the house. 

Anyway, it's got me to thinking that my retirement place is going to have simple to clean smooth surfaces everywhere.

[makattak]

Having just gone through major grout cleaning on the condo I just sold, get the sealer, and at your salary, for $400, let somebody else do it.

You joke, but I'm not far off of that idea. After having just done the major spiffing up for the condo sale, I'm now in the process of working on stuff like grout cleaning in the kitchen at the folks, where my mom got pretty messy towards the end, and my dad doesn't seem to care about wiping up counter spills. This despite the fact that as kids, we were yelled at if we dropped even one crumb off our plates onto any surgical room clean surface of the house. 

Anyway, it's got me to thinking that my retirement place is going to have simple to clean smooth surfaces everywhere.

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/38447/title/Next-Generation--Bactericidal-Surface/

[RocketMan]

Concrete, stainless steel, floor drains and a power washer.  Problem solved.   

What kind of problem are you talking about, hmmm?      

[vaskidmark]

What kind of problem are you talking about, hmmm?      

He may be referring to the comments about the green velvet flocked wallpaper in the bathroom.

stay safe.