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Sealing Granite kitchen Countertops
Guide to Sealing Granite Countertops
By: Daniel Roshard
Sealing granite countertops is an annual practice to maintain and ensure the longevity of your granite kitchen counter top. One might argue that granite is a highly polished stone, but the fact of the matter is that it is still a porous material and those pores need to be kept sealed.
When sealing granite counter tops, the pores in the stone or the spaces between the crystals that make up the surface of the stone are filled with sealant with no trace of the sealant on the outer surface. This is different from sealing wooden floor or countertop
surfaces, where a protective coat is added to the outside. Sealing granite counter tops helps resist stains and keep its shine. Often moisture or various liquids seep into these pores and stain the surface. Sealing them prevents this seepage and staining. However, a sealant does not protect the stone from physical damage.
Natural stone like granite must be allowed to breathe as well. Of course stones do not breathe like we do, so what does the last statement mean? Granite is made up of many layers of crystals, and in order to maintain the integrity of the stone, these crystals need to interact with air and its components, particularly oxygen. Also, any water that has already seeped into the pores must be able to evaporate by moving through these spaces until it reaches the surface.
Research has shown that, the interaction between the crystals of granite and the millions of bacteria that reside in its pores is an important aspect of the stone structure. These bacteria play a vital role in maintaining the integrity of the stone. Taking the above factors into consideration, it is recommended that Acrylic type sealants or impregnators be avoided. These completely block the pores and can kill the residing bacteria or inhibit the movement of water vapor to the surface. This can lead to the granite counter top developing a crack if the underside becomes too wet. It also becomes very difficult to remove such sealants if applied in excess. As a result your granite countertop may end up looking dull or discolored.
It is best to use sealers are natural based products and made up of fatty acids such as soap, when sealing granite countertops. These can be applied at the time of normal cleaning process to top off the seal and clean at the same time. These fatty acids fill up the pores but are not as harsh or stubborn to remove as acrylic sealants. They provide another source of nutrients for the friendly bacteria and being semi hard do not restrict the evaporation of water.
Sealing granite countertops is a relatively easy job and no special skill or knowledge is required to apply the sealants. If you wish, you can always call a local granite shop to do this job, but either way, it is recommended to do it at least once a year.
Find out about Professional installation for your Granite countertops
Daniel Roshard is a interior designer working on interior and kitchen design, and currently studying garden design and integration of house appliances to the outdoors. Daniel writes Granite Countertops info and advice Tips.
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