Here s why sealing granite countertops can preserve the beauty of the material for many years to come.
Why does granite need to be sealed.
There are 2 ways to test a granite countertop or any stone countertop for absorbency and also determine if the stone is mixed with calcite or other minerals that are sensitive to acidic spills.
You need to see how absorbent your granite countertop is at the moment the more absorbent it is the more it needs to be sealed.
That means that different types of granite mined from different quarries will have slightly differing amounts of porousness.
In general granite countertops only need to be sealed about once a year or even every 18 months.
This is because sealing the granite can make maintaining the stone easier.
Sealing does not make the stone stain proof rather it makes the stone more stain resistant.
Granite countertop cracks occur from trauma.
Notice another comment from the same source.
Limestone and marble tables should also be sealed to provide some protection.
One of the other selling points of granite is that as a natural stone each piece is unique.
It could be that hairline cracks occurred during installation or from standing on the granite or from some impact.
Sealants block liquids from seeping into the granite.
Professionals agree that darker color granite will require less sealing than lighter slabs because dark granite is denser and less porous.
As mentioned earlier dark stone is often more dense and won t need sealing but lighter color granites are often more porous and will definitely need to be sealed.
The protection not only acts as a barrier to bad weather it s also designed to protect against stains and spills.
At least once every five years a sealant should be applied to prevent staining from oils water and other liquids.
The same statement though shows that even if a stone does not require sealing many owners choose to seal it nonetheless.
Well most granite kitchen countertops do need sealing to help prevent stains but sealing granite won t prevent cracks.
If your granite countertop is properly sealed liquids and oils will bead on top of it rather than seep into the stone.
Sealing the stone is designed to slow down or even halt the deterioration of the stone so that it looks newer for longer.
By its nature granite is moisture resistant however it s also porous.
Granite like many natural stones is porous.
Granite is a porous material which means the material will absorb liquids on its surface to some degree.
If you re going to place food or drinks on a granite table it s a good idea to seal it.