Is It Necessary To Seal Granite

Why you need to seal granite countertops.

Is it necessary to seal granite.

Use this water test again before reapplying. Now use this chart to determine how often if at all you need to seal your granite countertop. Test whether the granite needs sealing. Check out the guide at the bottom of this article for how to seal granite or follow the manufacturer s instructions.

Apply a couple layers of sealer annually and wipe spills quickly. And one can of rock doctor granite stone sealer will handle around 100 square feet of countertop. Granite like many natural stones is porous. If you re not sure whether it s time to re seal your granite countertops you can perform a simple water test.

Get a good quality granite countertop cleaner a granite sealer that s designed to resist water and oil based stains and some clean rags. And if you re using a high quality alphatic resin granite sealer you don t need to keep re applying over the years. One of the most important steps to take is to seal the granite regularly. Natural stone is dense but is also naturally porous.

If left unsealed oils and liquids can penetrate into the pores and. Granite is among the most luxurious in demand countertop material available. At least once every five years a sealant should be applied to prevent staining from oils water and other liquids if your granite countertop is properly sealed liquids and oils will bead on top of it rather than seep into. Unsealed granite absorbs liquid spills which can cause staining.

Why sealing granite is important. If the water beads up then your seal is doing its job. Sealing granite countertops is as easy as spray on let sit and wipe off. However if unsealed acidic substances can easily deteriorate the stone over time.

If the water soaks into the granite it s time to reseal. Although you may find that many countertops do not require being sealed applying a sealer is common practice. It literally takes minutes. Before you can decide whether sealing the granite is the right step for your kitchen countertops or floor tiles it is essential that you understand how sealant works to protect the surface.

Because granite is a very hard natural stone material you may think it would withstand all types of wear and tear you impose on it. Use decorator s tape to divide your test granite in half and seal one half using the brand of sealant you plan to use on your countertop. If it beads up great. 1 x research source to test your surface leave a few drops of water or a wet paper towel on the granite for 10 to 15 minutes doing this in an inconspicuous area.

During your research you may have discovered that natural stone counters including granite must be resealed on occasion due to their naturally porous surface here s why it s necessary to seal granite countertops. Multiple layers of sealer needed but only redo every 3 5 years. Follow the cleaner s directions first making sure the granite is dry before you start sealing.