If your granite countertop is properly sealed liquids and oils will bead on top of it rather than seep into the stone.
Why does granite need to be sealed.
At least once every five years a sealant should be applied to prevent staining from oils water and other liquids.
You should seal granite when needed and not based on some arbitrary schedule.
Some people seal their granite countertops once every six months to a year though stone can never be oversealed.
However how often you need to seal it will vary.
The best way to tell when you need to seal your stone is to test it.
Here s why sealing granite countertops can preserve the beauty of the material for many years to come.
It could be that hairline cracks occurred during installation or from standing on the granite or from some impact.
Well most granite kitchen countertops do need sealing to help prevent stains but sealing granite won t prevent cracks.
Granite is durable but stiff and brittle.
This is why sealant is so important and manufacturers of granite surfaces take an extraordinary amount of care to make sure sealant is done to near perfection.
By its nature granite is moisture resistant however it s also porous.
Most but not all granite countertops will need sealing upon installation and then resealed every 1 5 years depending on the color and porosity of the granite the quality of the sealer and proper sealant application.
Here s how to know for your granite.
Left unsealed granite as a natural stone in nature easily absorbs moisture and liquid.
Sealants block liquids from seeping into the granite.
You need to see how absorbent your granite countertop is at the moment the more absorbent it is the more it needs to be sealed.
As mentioned earlier dark stone is often more dense and won t need sealing but lighter color granites are often more porous and will definitely need to be sealed.
I will have to make sure i get some that won t need extra sealing.
Granite like many natural stones is porous.
Although most granite countertops don t need to be sealed it does help the stone resist dirt and spills which can cause etching and staining source.
Unfortuantely this tendency ultimately leads to the breakdown of the stone.
We are finally at a point that feels like we can afford it so we are going to pull the trigger.
Because granite is a natural stone and is generally penetrable within its porous surface sealants are an easy and effective way to protect granite countertops.
Granite is a porous material which means the material will absorb liquids on its surface to some degree.
There are 2 ways to test a granite countertop or any stone countertop for absorbency and also determine if the stone is mixed with calcite or other minerals that are sensitive to acidic spills.
Limestone and marble tables should also be sealed to provide some protection.
Professionals agree that darker color granite will require less sealing than lighter slabs because dark granite is denser and less porous.
If you re going to place food or drinks on a granite table it s a good idea to seal it.
