Page 276 - Construction Waterproofing Handbook

SEALANTS 5.35

FIGURE 5.31 Aggregate exposed on joint sides. (Courtesy of Coastal
Construction Products)

Tiles
Quarry tile is manufactured with a patina finish, a result of firing tiles for smooth finishes.
This finish should be removed by grinding joint sides before sealant application. Sealants
should never be applied to grout in place of tile itself. Grout will eventually loosen and
cause failures.
If efflorescence has formed on the tile before the sealing of joints, it should be removed
chemically before applying sealants. Most manufacturers recommend primers when seal-
ing quarry tile joints.

PVC
Polyvinyl chloride material such as PVC piping does not provide an acceptable substrate
for sealant applications. It is necessary to mechanically abrade surfaces of PVC to be sealed.