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You don’t need to seal German smear; the mortar is already acting as a sealant for the bricks. You can seal the mortar, though, if you wish to further protect the area from stains, moisture, and dirt or make it easier to clean and maintain. Note that a sealant will make the mortar appear more glossy.

Sealing is essential to keep your flagstone looking new for as long as possible. If you don’t seal flagstone, the surface can wear and stain. It also helps protect the stone’s natural texture. Just make sure you choose a matte sealant to avoid making your stone slippery like a glossy sealant can.

To clean stone tiles, first sweep or vacuum to remove dirt particles. Use a mild, pH-neutral detergent and warm water to mop. Be careful not to use acidic cleaning solutions, such as vinegar and lemon juice, which can damage the surface.

A mason lays brick or stone together, sometimes with mortar in between the bricks and stones, and sometimes without mortar, also called a dry-stack or surface bonding. Examples of work masons do include:

• Brick, stone, or cement block houses and buildings

• Freestanding stone or brick walls

• Chimneys with wood-burning fireplaces

• Cement block basement or crawl space walls