How To Seal Natural Stone
How To Seal My Stone
Granite and marble are natural stones which means that they are more porous or absorptive than a man-made stone would be. Marble is the softest and most stain-prone of the options, but granite does need the occasional TLC. We recommend sealing your Granite at least annually, and your marble 3-6 times yearly. If you are unsure whether your countertop needs to be sealed, perform this test: apply a dime size water drop on your stone in all high-traffic areas, cover with a cup to prevent evaporation, and let it sit for 15 minutes. If your stone darkens, the water has soaked into the stone meaning it needs to be sealed again. If the water remains beaded up like droplets on a waxed car your seal is still good enough. Make sure to test in several areas to check for spot wear.
How to seal your countertops:
Take all items off countertops and clean well with water and dish soap making sure to wipe away soap residue. Allow it to dry completely before sealing.
Select a penetrating (or impregnating) sealer for natural stone. There are several on the market, so make sure you do your research and check reviews on at least two sites before purchasing.
Wear gloves for protection and ventilate the area well. If you have sensitive lungs or pre-existing health conditions, we recommend wearing a mask to avoid irritating sensitive linings. If the room is well-ventilated there should be no health concerns, but sealers do let off a strong smell which can affect those with bronchial or lung conditions.
Test in an unobtrusive corner of the stone or even the underside of your overhang edge. If the sealer leaves a hazy residue, find a different product.
Apply sealer evenly with a clean microfiber cloth. Dampen surface, but do not soak with sealer.
Follow the directions on the sealer. Read the label for the required time your sealer needs to soak into the stone.
After the sealer has soaked in, wipe the surface down with a clean rag.
Avoid the use of freshly sealed countertops for 24-48 hours to allow the sealer to harden thoroughly. Dividing your kitchen into two areas and sealing them separately may be a good idea.
TIP: Keep a small bottle of sealer available in the kitchen to often lightly seal highly trafficked/heavily used areas of countertop (i.e. around the stove, sink and eating area)
There are now cleaner-sealers on the market which are supposed to clean and seal all at once. We have no personal experience with how they work, but they are another option if you’re looking for easy ongoing maintenance.