Test whether the granite needs sealing.
Is my granite sealed.
Any help you can give would be appreciated.
I believe that sealing granite countertops has become a misunderstood practice and a misused marketing tactic the result of both ignorance in the countertop industry and maybe even malicious intent.
Take the time to determine if your granite needs to be resealed then order granite gold sealer an easy to apply spray and wipe granite sealer.
Should i seal my granite.
Whether or not your granite countertop needs sealing depends on the specific type of granite the type of granite and the color of the granite.
Marble especially the lighter colors are more porous and will benefit from sealing.
Additionally some lighter colored granite slabs may not need to be sealed either.
Tom silva the well known contractor from this old house reapplies an impregnator every 2 years to his granite countertops.
How do i know if i need to seal granite if i don t know the natural absorbency rate.
However if a disinfectant is desired reach for a bottle of 70 isopropyl alcohol.
Some stones need it.
Although you may find that many countertops do not require being sealed applying a sealer is common practice.
And i m not alone.
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.
Spray it onto the granite allow to sit for three to five minutes and then rinse with water and dry with a clean microfiber.
A well sealed granite countertop is relatively impervious to bacteria.
The care and maintenance of granite is critical to its long lasting use in your home which means it is important to choose the right materials for cleaning sealing and polishing.
Most granite is very dense and doesn t need as much sealer nor does it need to be reapplied often.
Granite sealer is over promoted and over applied.
That s why this is also known as a granite cleaner and sealer in the market.
So my concern is that if the granite countertop needed to be sealed more often than every few years that the previous owners did not do the required maintenance on it.
Hot water and dish soap should be adequate for daily sanitizing.
Just remember sealer does not protect against etching sealer will only protect from staining.
Certain granite such as black absolute shouldn t be sealed at all.
Most of the granite sealers are equally helpful for marble sealer limestone slate grout terrazzo tiles travertine sandstone and other porous stone surfaces.
In conclusion only a certain number of stones can be sealed and more importantly the performance of an impregnator is only limited to the reduction of the stones natural absorbency rate if it is even when polished above the 0 2 cut off point.
Personally i apply a fresh coat of impregnator sealer to my granite countertops every 2 to 3 years.
For example darker colored granite may not need sealing because it is highly dense and will not absorb stains or liquids.