Sealing your granite is one of the many things you just need to put up with if you want to own this type of countertop. When you think about it, it should come as no surprise that granite needs to be sealed. It is like any other organic material. Wood has its grain, and stone has its porosity.
Choosing the correct sealant
The deeper into the surface of the material the sealer penetrates, the better it will resist stains, keep out bacteria and clean up with just mild detergent and a wet wash cloth or a cleaning product designed for your type of natural stone countertop.
For this reason, look for products in the class known as impregnating stone sealers. They are chosen by professional contractors for sealing granite, marble, and slate countertops.
The top-rated product in this class is Tenax Hydrex Impregnating Stone Sealer. The sealant is used by pros and proven to keep out moisture, so the risk of mold and bacteria is eliminated. It also resists the penetration of oil, the liquid that most easily stains natural stone countertops.
Here are the qualities that make a good sealant:
- If you’re like many people, and would like to polish and seal your countertops, a simple sealant kit will do the trick. These are easy to use and comes with a handy manual to help you out.
- Usable on all stone surfaces
- Coverage of 160 – 180 square feet per quart
- Dries invisible w/o altering stone color
- Dries in 5 – 10 minutes
- The result is a surface that repels water-based liquids and oil
How to apply sealant
- First, clean your natural stone countertop with a mild kitchen cleaner. Allow the counters to dry before proceeding. When completely dry, use another clean, dry cloth to apply the sealer. A lint-free cloth is preferred.
- Wet the cloth with impregnating sealer, and wipe the sealer onto the surface of the counter. It’s just that simple. Make sure the entire surface including edges and backsplashes are wet but not soaked.Allow the first coat to dry for five to ten minutes, and apply a second coat.
- When the second coat is dry, your stone countertop sealing job is complete. The full repellent effect is achieved within 24 hours, so wait a day before preparing food on the countertop.
- When properly sealed with an impregnating product, the surface of your slate, granite or marble countertops will repel moisture and oil, virtually eliminating the risk of stains. However, it still makes sense to dry spills on the countertop and clean oil from them promptly.
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