Interior saltillo and flagstone is usually sealed with a water-based acrylic or urethane that partly soaks into the bare tile and bonds to it. Three things shorten the life of that seal.
Water and moisture
Saltillo and flagstone are very porous. Even when sealed, water gets in around the edges, through scratches in the seal, and up through the slab from rain, pool water or irrigation.
- Don’t over-mop. Lots of water gets into or under the tile, and the only way out is through the seal, which breaks it down.
- Heavy mopping also darkens tile and grout, because each time the water evaporates it leaves minerals and dirt behind.
- Put a leak-proof tray under potted plants, don’t spill when watering, and don’t over-water pots.
Dirt and dust
Dust is part of daily life in Arizona. Clean traffic areas daily with a soft broom, a 3-foot dust mop, or a wand vacuum instead of water. A sealed floor makes this easy, because dirt doesn’t stick. Grit under shoes acts like sandpaper on the gloss and eventually wears the seal away. A good dust-mop pass takes about three minutes.
For spills, use water only, no chemicals, which dull the finish. Wring the mop as dry as possible, keep it for this floor only, and rinse it with a hose after each use.
Sunlight
UV damages most seals. Use doors and window coverings to keep strong sun off the tile.
Restorative maintenance
Plan on a professional cleaning and light reseal every two to four years. On that schedule the floor is mechanically scrubbed and resealed, not stripped. If water, sun and dirt have badly damaged the finish, the seal may need to be removed in those areas, which costs two to three times as much. Maintenance pays for itself.
