How to Seal Granite Countertops

Always check the permeability of your granite countertops before you apply a sealer. That said, if your granite absorbs water or oil quickly, a penetrating sealer can build maintenance abundant easier. There’s no such factor as a secure, stain-proof sealer for granite.

However, a decent sealer can provide you with the time you wish to sop up spills before they’re absorbed. Note that waterproofing has nothing to try to with however shiny your silver marble is; this can be caused by sprucing.

Test whether or not the granite wants waterproofing. Though you’ll notice that several granite countertops in Virginia don’t need to be sealed, applying a sealer is a common follow. To check your surface, leave many drops of water or a wet towel on the granite for ten to fifteen minutes, doing this in an not noticeable space. 

If the granite countertops will be exposed to the petroleum-based product, repeat the check with many oil drops. Seal if either bill darkens the granite.

If the water does not soak in, do not seal it anyway, “just in case.” The sealer has to soak into the stone to be effective, and if it cannot, it should build up and leave an excess residue.

Avoid ever putt juice on your granite countertops:

The “lemon juice test” is usually documented on net blogs, but, per the Natural Stone Institute, an acidic product like vinegar and juice will uninteresting or print your surface. granite countertops are susceptible to caustic or alkaline-based effects, and a product like juice and vinegar is capable of chemicals damaging your body and its underlying resins.

Select a penetrating sealer for natural stone:

Solely use a product designed for natural stone, and ideally for silver granite countertops specifically. A competent or “impregnating” sealer can soak into the tabletop to cut back absorption.

This works to effectively defend your surface from stains over a chronic amount of your time. These tips are enough to forestall damage to your tabletop. However, you’ll dive into the fine print if you are interested:

To certify you get the proper sealer, visit a stone provider in your space to examine what sealer they suggest for your explicit stone.

For best results, opt for granite countertops near me. Rummage around for one that mentions “fluorocarbon open-chain resin” on the label. These will give years of excellent protection. However, they also are the foremost high-ticket.

Read the directions on the label:

There are many sorts of sealers, and it is best to follow the precise demands. The strategy below provides a lot of detail than most brands can provide. However, continuously come with the label if the 2 sets of movements contradict one another.

Sealing the Granite tabletop:

Clean the granite countertops. Wipe off the granite with water and dish soap or a specialized stone cleaner like Tenax, then wipe with a dry towel or fabric, ideally lint-free. Use a degreasing product, then do a final clean with ethanol. Wait twenty-four hours to permit the silver marble and granite to dry thoroughly and come back to their original color before continued, or eight hours if a powerful breeze is processing across it

If what put the counters in or alternative construction comes ar happening within the same area. It is best to attend until they are finished. Dirt from construction will interfere with the sealer’s protection.

Wear gloves and ventilate the world:

Solvent-based sealers could manufacture unpleasant or harmful vapors throughout the application, thus open a window and placed on a try of gloves. Do not worry; the sealer won’t leave any toxic chemicals in your room.

Test during a little corner:

Opt for the granite’s unassertive corner, maybe wherever a microwave or alternative appliance is often set. Follow the steps below on a small space 1st, to create positive the sealer is compatible with the granite. If the sealer leaves a hazy residue or discolors the mitered edge granite, notice a particular product.

While the recommendation within the preparation section ought to forestall most of those issues, the intense selection found among granite surfaces makes it not possible to cut back the prospect to zero.

Apply the sealer equally:

Cowl the surface equally with the spray bottle or employing a perfect, sealer-dampened, lint-free fabric or brush if the sealer isn’t during a spray bottle. The complete body ought to be damp, however not soaked.

Let the sealer absorb into the stone:

Check your directions for the precise time, as exploit it for too long will cause discoloration. Typically, the sealer wants twenty minutes to soak into the stone. However, trust the label for this one.

Apply a second coat if necessary:

If the label directs you to feature a second coat, what can typically do this once the primary skin is nearly, however, not fully dry? Wipe this over the surface to make sure even application.

Wipe up the sealer:

Once you permit the sealer on for twenty minutes or as long because the label directs, sop up the remaining sealer with a clean rag. An excessive amount of sealer left on the counter will cause AN unattractive haze.

Leave the counter alone for forty-eight hours:

This can be another variety that depends on the actual product. However, the sealer can “cure” for a few lengths of your time before it’s useful. Some products cure once AN hour or 2. However, it’s still a decent plan to avoid laundry the counter for the primary forty-eight hours once applied.

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Consider future maintenance and resealing:

Several installers suggest resealing annually; but, oft this can be excess. Differing kinds of stones ought to be sealed at entirely different frequencies. The reseal requirement will be removed just by cleanup your surface with a product containing social Protectants, which increasingly lock to boost and maintain your surface’s protection.

Various conditions influence; however, typically, your surface has to be sealed. The original relevant conditions are color, porosity, quality of the sealer, and whether society has been used.

Conclusion:

Granite countertops are a permanent investment that wants some current maintenance to stay lovely. The schedule for resealing granite slabs depends on many factors.

Reapplying sealer at the right intervals can ensure that the granite remains freed from staining and alternative injury that might mar the surface. In recent years with the arrival of advanced natural stone sealers, granite upkeep has become abundant less hard-to-please.