So the question is still - why seal the interior of a shower? An impregnating sealer will not protect against etch marks. Typically soap and shampoo do not stain. More importantly, if there is a bad install and the perceived problem isn't fixed by sealing, the home owner blames me. This in fact just happened to me. After working on rehoning, polishing and sealing a badly etched shower interior that the owner told me in the beginning was poorly installed, they now claim that within 2 days of our finishing the work, the veining is deteriorating. There are clearly underlying issues, yet I said I would give them their money back if they sign a liability waiver. This has happened more than once with recurring mold issues, hydrostatic pressure issues etc not addressed and our being blamed for problems created by someone else's short cuts. At this point, I think I need to get my customers to sign a liability waiver before any shower work. Shower work is hard enough without these extra headaches.________________________________________From the desk ofBaird StandishManaging PartnerFacility Specialists, LLC15 West Highland Ave. Suite EPhiladelphia, PA 19118Phone: 215-732-7505Fax: 215-546-9160Yes- I cant count how many times folks actually believe all they need is to have their shower stall sealed.On Thu, Mar 5, 2015 at 8:31 AM, Scott Wilson (via sccpartners list) <nobody@simplelists.com> wrote:
This email was sent from aol.com which does not allow forwarding of emails via email lists. Therefore the sender's email address (polishedrock210@aol.com) has been replaced with a dummy one. Yes Stu, I agree on the substandard installs,In this area of Florida , they don't even line the pans, no vinyl, no lead, no roll down waterproofing, they recess a slab on an outside wall ,for a step down shower,and throw marble right on top, these are upscale 2-3 million dollar homes ,with "upscale contractors" (what a joke)All have issues,people freak when their shower pan is 5 grand plus fix.All the issues could be eliminated with 40$ in vinyl, and2$ of weep stringsEver the plumbers here ask "what are weep strings"?Moisture is ALWAYS the issue, all the damage is unnecessary , with a little knowledge and a proper pan installBest RegardsScott Wilson
Sent from my iPadHere is a shitty install, contractor says their is no moisture.<image1.JPG>
Sent from my iPhoneYeahMaurizio had his opinions on sealing.To long to state them here.He believed that the proper stone should be specified to the installation.Most shower stall failures we see are shitty installations,bad pan construction and poorly specified stone.MB summed it up by explaining the list of performances of an impregnating sealer." to temporarily inhibit the intrusion of staining agents into the stone''End of performances'
Sent from my iPhoneIn many cases sealing exteriors will make the stone dirtier as it allows water to puddle for a long time adding to the possibility of soils being tracked thru the area, and the breeding if mold due to the prolonged prescence of moisture. There is SO much ignorance and it is difficult when you are bidding against several companies and you are the only one who is saying something else, people are sheep these days.... Fred do you have anything published we could use? Maurizio has a good one I have on my blog and refer people to sometimes.
Sent from my iPhoneThere is a big difference between showers and exterior stone..First showers have water in amounts that far exceed rainfall amounts anywhere in the world. A standard shower will typical produce over 8700 inches of rain in one year. Secondly there are not the type of temperature differences that occur in the exterior. Due to all this water it needs to be sealed to keep the water out. This off course assumes the installtion is correct. These reason do not apply to steam showers.On Wed, Mar 4, 2015 at 1:34 PM, Baird Standish <bairdstandish@gmail.com> wrote:So why should showers be sealed. Doesn't the sealer promote hydrostatic pressure which could lead to problems?On Wed, Mar 4, 2015 at 1:19 PM, Fred Hueston <fhueston@gmail.com> wrote:Showers are another story and should be sealed.On Wed, Mar 4, 2015 at 1:15 PM, Baird Standish <bairdstandish@gmail.com> wrote:Fred, what do you think of sealing the insight of a shower?________________________________________From the desk ofBaird StandishManaging PartnerFacility Specialists, LLC15 West Highland Ave. Suite EPhiladelphia, PA 19118Phone: 215-732-7505Fax: 215-546-9160Over the years I have been asked over and over again should exterior natural stone be sealed, and my answer has almost always been, NO. There are several reasons for not sealing exterior stone not to mention all the failures I have seen that can be traced back to sealers.
The following are my reasons for not sealing exterior stone:
1. Internal Moisture- I don't care how dry you think the stone is there is always internal moisture within the stone. This moisture can become trapped in a sealed stone and cause it to flake and spall. Now some of you are saying but I am using a stone impregnator this is vapor permeable(it can breathe). The key word in that sentence is vapor. Impregnators which are vapor permeable will allow vapor to escape, not liquid water. Due to the fact an exterior environment will go though not only temperature fluctuations but also humidity fluctuations causing vapor to condense into a liquid. This liquid will attempt to escape the stones pores and hence will cause pressure and the stone will flake or spall.
2. Freeze Thaw - In locations where the temperature drops below 32 degree Fahrenheit the liquid described above will freeze. The frozen water will expand causing the stone to again spall or flake.
3. Soluble salt migration - Most exterior stone is set on some type of substrate. This substrate can be a slab, directly on the ground, sand, brick or concrete wall etc. These substrates contain soluble salts which will penetrate into the back of the stone carrying these salts in a liquid form. This liquid will than migrate to the surface. If the stone is sealed than it will become trapped and the stone will flake or spall.
4. improper application- I have seen numerous failures where the sealer was not applied correctly. Leaving sealer on the surface, applying the sealer while the stone is still wet, applying the sealer to soiled stone, etc. are all improper applications.
I am using the word sealer above which is referring to stone impregnators or penetrating sealers.--Frederick M. Hueston
www.stoneforensics.comoffice 321 514 6845See my specialty products at www.godrfred.comVisit list archives, subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription preferences: http://stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com/sccpartners Start a new conversation (thread): sccpartners@stoneandtilepros.simplelists.comVisit list archives, subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription preferences: http://stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com/sccpartners Start a new conversation (thread): sccpartners@stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com--Frederick M. Hueston
www.stoneforensics.comoffice 321 514 6845See my specialty products at www.godrfred.comVisit list archives, subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription preferences: http://stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com/sccpartners Start a new conversation (thread): sccpartners@stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com
Visit list archives, subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription preferences: http://stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com/sccpartners Start a new conversation (thread): sccpartners@stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com--Frederick M. Hueston
www.stoneforensics.comoffice 321 514 6845See my specialty products at www.godrfred.comVisit list archives, subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription preferences: http://stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com/sccpartners Start a new conversation (thread): sccpartners@stoneandtilepros.simplelists.comVisit list archives, subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription preferences: http://stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com/sccpartners Start a new conversation (thread): sccpartners@stoneandtilepros.simplelists.comVisit list archives, subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription preferences: http://stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com/sccpartners Start a new conversation (thread): sccpartners@stoneandtilepros.simplelists.comVisit list archives, subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription preferences: http://stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com/sccpartners Start a new conversation (thread): sccpartners@stoneandtilepros.simplelists.comVisit list archives, subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription preferences: http://stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com/sccpartners Start a new conversation (thread): sccpartners@stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com
--"EVERYTHING MATTERS"Visit list archives, subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription preferences: http://stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com/sccpartners Start a new conversation (thread): sccpartners@stoneandtilepros.simplelists.comVisit list archives, subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription preferences: http://stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com/sccpartners Start a new conversation (thread): sccpartners@stoneandtilepros.simplelists.com