How to Seal Granite Countertops

Always test the absorbency of your granite before you apply a sealer. There are many varieties of granite, and a large percentage of them might be harmed by sealer.
 
Having said that … if your granite does absorb water or oil. Then penetrating sealer will make maintenance much easier.
 
There is no such thing as a safe, stain-proof sealer for granite. But a good sealer will give you the time you need to wipe up spills. Before they become absorbed.
 
Note that sealing has nothing to do with how shiny your countertops are. That is polishing.

STEP ONE

Test whether the granite countertop needs sealing.

Many granite countertops are better left unsealed. To test your surface, leave a few drops of water or a wet paper towel on the granite countertop for 10 to 15 minutes.

Watch to see if the water begins to soak into and darken the countertop. If the water remains beaded on the surface, the countertop is already stain-resistant. And does not need sealing.

If the water doesn’t soak in, don’t seal it. The sealer needs to soak into the stone to be effective, and if it can’t, you’ll end up with an ugly, hazy residue.

If the granite countertop will be exposed to petroleum-based products. Repeat the above test with a few drops of mineral oil. If the test area darkens, apply a sealer to the granite countertop.

STEP ONE

Do the lemon juice test

Apply a few drops of lemon juice onto the granite. Take a look at the granite underneath the drops. If dark spots are developing within the first minute, set down the sealer!

Your stone is very absorbent and shouldn’t be sealed, or in use at all. Contact us to discuss your options.

If it takes 4-5 minutes or more for the granite to darken under the lemon drops, go ahead and seal the granite. If the stone never darkens or takes half an hour or more, there’s no need to seal–your granite is stain-proof!

STEP THREE

Select a penetrating sealer for natural stone.

Only use products designed for natural stone, and specifically for granite. A penetrating sealer will soak into the countertop to slow stain absorption. Without causing the structural or aesthetic issues. caused by top sealers in this application.

These guidelines are enough to prevent harm to your countertop.

  • For best results, choose a carbon resin sealer. Look for one that mentions “fluorocarbon aliphatic resin” on the label. These can provide years of good protection but are also the most expensive.
  • Some sealant chemicals can be either water-based or solvent-based. Experts disagree on which is best. Both are adequate, but water-based sealer is easier to apply. And better for the environment.
  • Avoid silicone-based sealers or linseed-based sealers. They are the least durable and will need to be resealed every eight months or so. They can sometimes even cause color deterioration.
  • Other options use “siloxane” or “silane,” which tend to be a little worse at repelling oil.

CUSTOM COUNTERTOPS

Granite
Quartz
Marble
Quartzite