Congratulations on your purchase of Q-Seal Certified Stone. Q-Seal Certified Stone is as easy to install as ceramic tile – it never needs to be sealed or resealed, makes grout clean-up easier, and there are no harmful chemicals to deal with.

Overview
The top surface of each tile is protected by Q-Seal, a permanent protective sealer that is water, stain and chemical resistant, and features an anti-microbial ingredient that is proven to inhibit the growth of stain and odor-causing mold. Q-Seal is baked into the stone, not painted on like ordinary sealers, so Q-Seal Certified Stone will never need re-sealing.

Applications

• RESIDENTIAL: Q-Seal Certified Stone can be installed on all interior walls, floors and counters, including wet areas such as backsplashes, countertops, bathrooms, shower enclosures and steam rooms.
• LIGHT COMMERCIAL: Q-Seal is recommended for light commercial applications.¹
• SLIP RESISTANCE: Q-Seal may improve the slip resistance of stone in both dry and wet applications.²
• DO NOT use Q-Seal for exterior applications.

Installation
Follow generally accepted practices for the installation of natural stone. The following instructions are specific to Q-Seal Certified Stone.

Grout

• Grout Release: Grout release is not necessary. Q-Seal makes clean-up simple and easy (including epoxy grouts), and protects against grout and mortar staining.
• Grout Hole Fill-In: Q-Seal will allow grout to fill-in holes on the tile surface. For tiles with a high concentration of holes to be filled-in, we recommend a stain-resistant grout so that the entire tile surface is protected.
• Grout Sealer: Stone or grout sealer will not damage or compromise Q-Seal. Sealer inadvertently applied can simply be wiped off with a soft cloth. Sealer that is allowed to dry can be carefully removed using rubbing alcohol and a soft rag or sponge. Rinse area clean with water and a sponge.
• Stain Resistant Grout: Use of a stain-resistant grout will ensure that the entire installation is protected.
• DO NOT use scouring pads, steel wool, sandpaper, or other abrasive implements to remove grout haze or for cleaning. Damage to Q-Seal may result.
• It is NOT recommended to use Q-Seal Certified Stone in an un-grouted installation as stains can penetrate through the exposed edges of the stone.

Fabrication

• Fabricating the surface of the tile (ex: bullnose, chipping) could remove Q-Seal in that area. We recommend applying a penetrating, enhancing sealer on the machined edge.

Stain Resistance
Q-Seal’s stain resistance is superior to other sealers, but it is not stain-proof. Q-Seal protects the tile surface by delaying the penetration of spills, allowing you a reasonable time to clean-up without adverse affects. Independent testing confirms that most food and beverage spills will not leave a permanent stain if cleaned up within 4 hours of contact. However, mustard should be wiped up soon after contact.³

Cleaning
Q-Seal is chemical resistant, so special stone cleaners are not necessary.⁴

• Use a non-abrasive liquid cleaner for everyday use. Always rinse area with water to remove remaining cleaning solution.
• For stubborn stains, soak the area for 10 minutes using a non-abrasive liquid cleaner that contains bleach. Clean area with a wet sponge and then rinse the area with water to remove remaining solutions. Repeat if necessary. Poultice-type cleaning methods can also be used for more difficult stains.
• DO NOT use liquid or powdered abrasive cleaners.
• DO NOT clean with scouring pads, steel wool, or other abrasive implements.
• DO NOT use commercial power cleaning equipment.
• WARNING: Drain and oven cleaners contain caustic chemicals that may damage Q-Seal. In the event of a spill, clean and rinse any affected areas soon after contact.

Abrasion Resistance
Q-Seal is abrasion resistant, but care must still be taken to prevent surface scratching. In addition to cautions on the use of abrasive cleaners and implements:

• DO NOT use the tile as a cutting surface. Use a cutting board to protect the tile.
• DO use felt floor protectors on legs of chairs, sofas, tables and other easily moved furniture.

Forever Limited Warranty
Q-Seal will never need resealing for as long as you own your home. Please contact your dealer or visit www.q-seal.com for complete warranty information.

Footnotes: Tile Council of North America (TCNA) Testing
¹ASTM C1027: Class 4 abrasion resistance rating, suggesting fitness for all residential and many commercial applications. However, we recommend residential and light commercial use only. For light commercial applications, see usage guidelines in our product performance section at www.q-seal.com.

²ASTM C1028: The average static coefficient of friction (COF) for the tiles tested averaged 0.77 dry and 0.82 wet.

³CTIOA T-72: Staining agents had no visual affect after the maximum 4-hour test time, except yellow mustard which showed a “light stain”. Note: Follow cleaning instructions for “stubborn” stains if staining occurs.

⁴ASTM C650: Chemical substances had no visual affect after 24 hours for all chemicals tested except potassium hydroxide (KOH). KOH is a caustic chemical that may be found in heavy-duty drain and oven cleaners. Note: To prevent damage, clean and rinse any affected areas soon after contact.