How to re-seal slate floor with a different brand?

[Plodder]

I have a large area of slate tile flooring, sealed with Tasman slate sealer.  Tasman products are no longer available (gone out of business) and I would like to add another coat to my sealed floor. It's a fairly large and much used area (kitchen + hall + dining + bathroom) and I really don't want to strip the whole lot back, if I can avoid it, to allow me to use a different brand. Do I have a choice?

[EricL]

Hello @Plodder 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your slate floor.

I'm sorry to hear that your Tasman sealer is no longer available. The issue with using one brand with another is incompatibility. The formula for one floor sealer is not the same for the other, and when you place the other brand on top it will not adhere properly, and it will just peel off. The only way to recoat the slate floor is to strip the old sealer off. The Tasman manufacturer would have been able to tell you what stripper to use, but if they are out of business, I don't know who you can ask for this information.  

One option is to speak to a professional slate sealing specialist. They might be able to use a caustic solution or use a machine to mechanically strip the sealer off. I propose asking them for a quote just to give you an idea of the going rate in your area. 

I propose looking at Crommelin 4L Gloss DiamondCoat Slate And Stone Sealer or Feast Watson 1L Gloss Clear Slate And Pebble Sealer as your new floor sealer.

Let me tag our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know. 

Eric

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @Plodder 

Welcome to the Bunnings community Its a good place for these type of questions  

I just went googling "Tasman slate sealer" and found two places that may have it in stock, including Amazon that has discontinued stock store. It may be an easier way to try and source a can and pay the postage rather then strip everything back and start again.

Apart from that if you still have an old can listing the makeup of the sealer, then you could compare it against the one @EricL is recomending and see if there are any outstanding incompatabilities. Then test a small out of the way area over the existing coats you have.

Dave

[Plodder]

Thanks Eric - I was afraid that stripping the old coat might be the only solution.

Thanks again,

Plodder

[Plodder]

Thanks Dave-1,

I'll pursue the Amazon option first - definitely worth the postage over the stripping back more than half the flooring of the house.

If no luck the second option will still be worth the effort.

Plodder