Even though quartz has made a huge impact on the stone industry, granite is still #1 when it comes to our countertop sales and quartzite is gaining popularity quickly. With so much misinformation out there on natural stone maintenance, let’s take an honest look at what you should expect when choosing granite or quartzite for your home.
IS SEALING GRANITE OR QUARTZITE COUNTERTOPS NECESSARY?
Yes. Natural stone is porous. A good sealant will penetrate deep down into the stone and keep stains, as well as bacteria, out of the pores.
DO YOU RECOMMEND A CERTAIN BRAND OF SEALER?
Yes! Our fabrication team recommends Dupont Stonetech Professional Bulletproof Sealer. You can find it easily on Amazon for around $50 – $60 and it works great on polished, honed or textured natural stones.
HOW DO I SEAL NATURAL STONE COUNTERTOPS?
The short answer is clean the countertops, apply the sealant and allow it to penetrate the surface for 10 – 15 minutes, reapplying as necessary to keep the surface wet, then wipe it dry with clean absorbent towels. Wait 6 – 8 hours for the sealer to cure and then you’re good to go! Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying a sealer to your countertops.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I SEAL MY COUNTERTOPS?
You should seal your natural stone countertops at least once a year. Stone slabs come to us unsealed. We seal your countertops once during fabrication and then again at installation. We recommend that you repeat the process a week or two after installation just to make sure that the sealant has fully saturated the pores of the stone.
TIPS TO CARE FOR NATURAL STONE COUNTERTOPS:
Always wipe down the surface with a soft, damp cloth and a mild natural stone cleaner of your choice. There are lots of spray cleaners that are made specifically for daily use on natural stone, some even have a built in polishing component. Wipe up spills immediately to avoid staining. If your countertop does stain, make sure that you don’t seal over it. It’s not unusual for water to seep into the pores, creating a dark spot that is more noticeable on lighter colors. Water will dissipate and the dark spot will fade away fairly quickly, usually within hours. Dark spots made by oil or grease can usually be pulled out with a thick layer of paste made from baking soda and water. Cover it with a plastic bowl and let it set over night, then clean the paste the next morning. If the stain is stubborn, you may need a heavy-duty poultice to get the job done.
