While it may look like solid rock, natural stone is a porous material. Spills can soak into these pores and leave marks and stains on your countertop. Penetrating sealers do not change the look of your stone, but simply add invisible protection. They are not a surface coating and do not protect against etching. Once applied to the stone, penetrating sealers fill up the pores, making it more difficult for other liquids, such as red wine, to penetrate the surface and cause staining.
However, even properly sealed stones are susceptible to staining. So be sure to wipe up spills quickly and to reseal counters as needed to maintain your stone’s natural beauty.
Here at Stone Center we routinely test new sealers as they come on the market to ensure that we are using the best product available. We utilize a penetrating silicone sealant to help protect the granite from staining. We will seal your project two times – once in the shop, and then once again after installation.
Resealing
While the sealant should last for many years of regular use, it will not make your stone impervious to staining. Sealer should be reapplied every 2-5 years, depending on how much you use your counters. To determine if re-sealing is necessary, we suggest this simple test: Place a wet sponge on the granite surface for 5-10 minutes. If the area under the sponge looks dark, we recommend the stone be resealed. Even countertops sealed with the so-called 15 and 30 year sealers should be checked with this test, as most, if not all, cannot live up to these claims – see our brochure for more information.
Resealing your countertops is a simple task that can be done by the homeowner in an afternoon. If you feel more comfortable having a professional do the work, please contact us and we’d be happy to come out and reseal your counters for you.
