Has anyone tried using Stone Sealer (Aqua Mix, etc) inside a toilet?

I first searched this forum but didn't see anything like this here so I thought I'd give it a shot. We are redoing our master bath and using natural stone for the floor (mocha onyx) and shower (beige travertine). Naturally this requires stone sealer for everything. A single coat is "ok" but after the second coat ... wow ... water just beads up like anything - pretty darn cool I must say. Granted we are using an enhancing sealer because we want "that look". But Aqua Mix also does make sealers that are not also color enhancers.

So, I got to thinking, while researching toilets today. And I started to wonder - why not try a penetrating or stone sealer on a new porcelain toilet, to seal up all those microscopic pores, say 2 coats and see what happens. I can't imagine that a stone sealer could HURT porcelain, unless perhaps it was already specially treated like Toto CEFIONTECT.

Has anyone tried this? Terry - have you given this a shot? If not, would you mind doing so and seeing what happens? I'm guessing that you have more toilets around for experimenting then I do

Regards,

Jeff

I doubt that there are enough "microscopic pores" in a toilet to "grab" the sealer.

The sealer generally penetrates into the pores of the stone, which are likely to be larger than you'd have in a proper porcelain glaze. Some stones won't absorb any sealer and it is a waste of time and money to apply it (although the grout will). I'd expect the same result on a toilet...no effect, but I don't think it would hurt it.

hj said:

I doubt that there are enough "microscopic pores" in a toilet to "grab" the sealer.

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If that were the case, then wouldn't those same bowls should be pretty darn resistant to any "stickage" and staining from their normal function?

A microscopic image of the glaze would likely show it is very bumpy, but that has nothing to do with a hole or pore through it. Something like Sanaglos from Toto or Wondergloss from Duravit utilizes a different type of glaze that is much smoother, but it's still not perfectly smooth. I'd expect there are no holes through it, though.

A porcelain glazed piece doesn't absorb moisture. A natural stone can (depending on what it is).

Yeah I guess that makes sense - bumpy but no actual holes ... otherwise the water would slowly leak through, right? And that wouldn't be good

I had also emailed Aqua Mix to see what they think and here's what I got back:

"Thank you for contacting us. Although there is no hard in doing this… the sealer will NOT be able to seal the inside of a new porcelain bowl as the non-absorbent finish is designed to resist all liquids from absorbing, including our sealers."

Ah well ... nothing ventured, nothing gained ...

quote; If that were the case, then wouldn't those same bowls should be pretty darn resistant to any "stickage" and staining from their normal function?

Yes, and that is the DEFINITION of a toilet's glaze. Surface stains wipe off, but they do NOT penetrate the surface of the porcelain. China sinks are the same way.