11/8/2016 Granite Sealer Guide To Sealing Granite & Marble Countertops

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-sealer.html 1/15

Granite Sealer GuideSealing Granite Countertops, Marble & Travertine

Order SenGuard Marble & Granite Sealer for Permanent Stain Protection

The topic of granite sealers and sealing natural stone is full of controversy

and confusion. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that most people(including many fabricators and installers) do not understand...

How impregnating sealers workor when to appropriately apply

the product even though a verysimple test for sealing granitecountertops that you can easily

perform will tell you what to do.

Now, to be fair, manyrecommendations are knowingly

Home

Shop

Care & Cleaning

How To DIY

Sealing

Cleaning Granite

Cleaning Marble

Countertops

Granite

Marble

Other Stones

Silestone

Let's connect!   

Follow us:

HOME SHOP HOW TO DIY COMPARE COUNTERTOPS SITE MAP QUESTIONS BLOG TESTIMONIALS

73 Shares

37

34

2

11/8/2016 Granite Sealer Guide To Sealing Granite & Marble Countertops

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-sealer.html 2/15

made based on clientexpectations and peace of mindrather than a real need for

sealing granite countertops orother natural stone.

On this page, I will do my best to lay out the whole picture, reasons for or againstsealing granite and marble and why, so you can make an informed decision foryourself.

Granite Sealer Myth #1:

Marble and granite sealers "prevent" stains....

Well, sort of, but not exactly. Let me explain...

A sealer will only slow down the natural rate at which a stone absorbs a liquid.

Click Here For Our Recommended Cleaning Products

We've used many marble & granite countertop careproducts (Stone Tech, Miracle, SCI, Marble Life)... but 3

brands have proven better than the rest... quality & value!

Some stones are so dense (soapstone, many granites, some travertines, etc.) thatliquids just cannot penetrate... or stain... while others will stain if a spill isn't wipedup immediately.

So, a sealer does not provide an absolutely impenetrable shell (which is thecommon perception)... it simply gives you more time to clean up the mess before itstains and keeps the stain near the surface, so it can be more easily removed if astain does occur.

Quartz

Corian

Concrete

Soapstone

Laminate

Design & Installation

Edge Styles

Backsplash Ideas

Installation

Floor Tile

[?]Subscribe To This Site

FREE How To Tips! 

10 EssentialGranite & MarbleCleaningRemediesEvery Owner Ought to Know!

Name:

Email:

Sign Up!

We respect yourprivacy

Daltile® Official WebsiteFind Tiles to Define Your Space. Get YourExclusive Daltile Coupon! Go to daltile.com

Icynene® Spray FoamCould Save Up To 50% On Heating AndCooling! Find A Local Contractor. Go toicynene.com

Granite StepsThe most durable product for step buildingavailable. Go to meansprecast.com

Countertops in 1 WeekSealed for Life! Crafted by Artisans Go toremarbleandgranite.com

Countertop Specialty

73 Shares

37

34

2

11/8/2016 Granite Sealer Guide To Sealing Granite & Marble Countertops

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-sealer.html 3/15

Now next-generation sealers like

SenGuard Permanent Bond Sealerrepresent a big jump forward withchemical properties that formpermanent bonds with the stoneand actually repel liquids to makestains nearly impossible.

Theoretically, if say a leaky bottle ofoil is left on the surface for days itcould still absorb enough to stainsince sealers work by dramaticallyreducing absorption and not by

forming impenetrable shells.

However, under "normal" circumstances most liquids and oils will evaporatebefore staining when a top sealer has been properly applied.

Interesting: Polishing stone also helps to decrease the absorbency rate, but this is

not the main reason to do it.

Polishing brings out the color in a stone. However, a polish can wear o�, so it's notrecommended for �oors unless you don't mind the extra work and expense tokeep it looking good like you see in hotels and corporate o�ce lobbies.

Myth #2:

A granite sealer is what makes the surface shiny....

Completely and totally false. The shine or "polish" on the surface of any stone iscreated by intense friction using diamond abrasives. It's a mechanical process andnot a chemical one.

Chemicals however, particularly acids (like liquor, vinegar, co�ee, sodas) candamage or essentially remove the polish on certain calcite-based stones likemarble, travertine and limestone. Follow On

73 Shares

37

34

2

11/8/2016 Granite Sealer Guide To Sealing Granite & Marble Countertops

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-sealer.html 4/15

It's a reaction between the calcium carbonate and theacid. It's called "etching" and it's the primary reasonsuch stones are not recommended for kitchencountertops.

When choosing a stone you should always perform theLemon Juice Test on a sample of the exact stone priorto purchase and/or installation to see if it etches.

The "stains" that result are the clear or lighter colored"water spots" or "glass rings" that are commonlyreported with such stones.

But they are not "stains." Nothing is absorbed into the

stone.

It is physical damage to the surface of the stone.Luckily, most cases of etching are mild to moderateand can be repaired using a special marble polishingetch remover.

However, if severe enough your only option is to call ina professional to re-polish the surface. And that's theanswer to....

Myth #3:

Sealers protect against glass rings, water stains and

etch marks....

Not true.

Sealing has absolutely nothing to do with etching and will not prevent it at all.Etching is physical damage to the stone. Expecting a stone sealer to provide this

protection is like expecting a car wax to prevent a key scratching your car's paint. 

Follow On

73 Shares

37

34

2

11/8/2016 Granite Sealer Guide To Sealing Granite & Marble Countertops

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-sealer.html 5/15

Only using coasters, trivets, place mats and completely avoiding contact with theacidic and alkaline foods and products will prevent etching.

What Should You Do?

As a general rule, granite sealer should be applied to all natural stones. However,this does not mean that "every granite and stone must be sealed"... not true... but

when necessary...

I recommend SenGuard Sealer (and a couple other sealers) available at the StoneCare Center.

Many dark-colored denser granites (browns, blues, blacks) do not require sealing...often travertine, limestone and many marbles don't need sealing especially when

polished and neither does soapstone (although sealing and/or oiling is

recommended mainly for cosmetic reasons).

Again, this is not a hard and fast rule. It depends on several factors (more below).

That's why you need to test to determine when applying a granite countertopsealer is appropriate.

And Not Do...

You should not apply a granite sealer to astone that does not need it "just to be safe".

It doesn't work that way.

Testing will also help you avoid applying a

sealer to a stone that cannot absorb it.

Applying a granite sealer to dense granites or

polished travertine or marble when testing

shows you should not only creates a problemyou de�nitely don't want.

73 Shares

37

34

2

11/8/2016 Granite Sealer Guide To Sealing Granite & Marble Countertops

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-sealer.html 6/15

If applied to such stones, the sealer does not absorb, just sits on the surface, dries

and creates a hazy, streaky mess. It can be stripped o�, but what a pain. Best totest!

How Often To Re-Seal

Frequency of granite sealer re-application really depends on four variables:

The absorption rate of your stone (porous or dense)The type and quality of granite sealer used

How well the initial sealer was appliedProducts used for cleaning granite countertops (common household cleaners

are too harsh and will degrade the sealer)

Light colored granites and un-polished (honed, tumbled) softer stones such asmarble, some travertine and limestone and onyx may need sealing every 1-3 years.

Dark colored granites as noted in the greens, browns, blues and blacks can be

sealed less frequently: every 3-5+ years or . . . not at all. But remember, it dependson your particular stone and sealant, so be sure test a sample.

All sealers are not equal and a few are able to protect your countertops for 10 to

15 years when properly maintained.

Again, it also depends on the porosity of the stone and how well the sealant is

applied. Impregnating sealers do break down and degrade over time (except thepermanent bonding SenGuard Sealer which does not degrade requiring only one

e�ective application) and it's certainly much easier and far less expensive to re-seal

your stone pro-actively rather than paying for the hassle of removing stains ormarble restoration.

But you don't have to guess, worry or consider any of the above factors. Again,all you have to do is water test the surface. This simple sealer test sums it all up

and tells you if you should apply a granite sealer or not either initially or for re-

application.

73 Shares

37

34

2

11/8/2016 Granite Sealer Guide To Sealing Granite & Marble Countertops

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-sealer.html 7/15

Sealing Is Simple

In reality, sealing your stone countertops is a simple wipe on, wipe o� procedure.

It's not complicated and no special knowledge is required except the ability tofollow some simple instructions. So relax. You have nothing to worry about.

The key is to completely remove any sealer residue from the surface after it has

absorbed into the pores below the surface saturating the stone, but before it dries.

Helpful Tip: Consistently using a specially formulated natural stone cleaner like

STONE PLUS Cleaner, as I recommend, will reduce the frequency of re-sealing

required.

This type of product can be used weekly or for end of day cleaning to keep your

countertops shiny and streak-free.

Quartz vs. Granite

First of all, the makers of quartz countertops have made a much bigger issue out

of applying granite sealer than it really is.

Quartz countertops are excellent (we highly recommend them as essentially equalto granite) and you can't blame them for trying to e�ectively market their product,

but the issue of sealing and granite counter top care is really a minor advantage ofquartz when compared with the advantages granite has in natural beauty,

uniqueness, the quality and quantity of colors and patterns available and theability to make repairs if needed, which is not possible with quartz.

All other qualities and characteristics of each product are the same. After all,

engineered stone is 93% quartz which comes from granite.

Even though Silestone, Zodiac, Cambria and other makers of quartz counter topstry to convince you that applying granite sealer is a complicated hassle--it just isn't

true. It's only a marketing story. True it's one less task and expense, however.....

73 Shares

37

34

2

11/8/2016 Granite Sealer Guide To Sealing Granite & Marble Countertops

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-sealer.html 8/15

Applying granite sealer is a simple procedure and you should not let it be a factorwhen deciding whether to install granite or quartz counter tops. And truth be

told... it is possible to stain quartz and the resin in quartz is more susceptible toheat damage than granite.

Bottom line is that the di�erences between granite and quartz are so insigni�cant

that you should simply install the color and pattern you like best whether graniteor quartz.

Read Other Sealing Granite and Marble Questions & Answers

Learn even more! Click on the links below to see questions submitted by othervisitors with complete answers and great info....

Sealing Blue Pearl Granite Countertops  QUESTION: Our installer put in our blue pearl granite 3 days ago and said he would

be back in a week to put the sealer on. There is a �lm over the …

Problems Sealing Travertine Tile  QUESTION: I am trying to correct a travertine sealing �asco. I sealed my travertine�oor tile with this "sealant" that now looks over-sealed …

How To Use SenGuard Granite Sealer  QUESTION: I'm interested in purchasing Senguard to seal my granite countertops,

but I would like some information on the process or a PDF of the directions. …

Is Granite Countertop Sealed Properly 

QUESTION: We just had granite kitchen countertops installed and sealed, but areseeing dark water stains around the sink. We purchased a Dupont sealant …

Removing Fresh Granite Sealer from Countertops  QUESTION: I have a black/brown mottled granite counter top that was sealed overa year ago and tried to seal it again today. The sealer I used …

Using AGER To Darken Granite Countertop Edges 

QUESTION: We recently had granite countertops installed in our kitchen...Santa

73 Shares

37

34

2

11/8/2016 Granite Sealer Guide To Sealing Granite & Marble Countertops

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-sealer.html 9/15

Cecilia...The stone has a beautiful golden hue... We were disappointed …

Sealing Marble Shower Tile & Grout  QUESTION: I just installed new marble tile in my bathroom on the shower walls

and �oor. What is the best sealer for grout and tile in a marble …

Granite Countertop Color After Sealing  QUESTION: I just had new venetian gold granite countertop installed in my kitchentoday. Unfortunately the largest piece had to be re-cut due to the …

Doctored Black Granite Countertop Etching  QUESTION: I have a bathroom vanity with what was advertised as a black granite

countertop. We now realize that the stone top was doctored to make …

Haze & Water Stains after Sealing Granite Countertops  QUESTION: I just sealed my new granite countertops and I'm experiencing a hazeor a �lm on the surface. How do I clean it o�? ANSWER: A haze …

New Kitchen Counter isn't smooth after install?  QUESTION: We just had new granite kitchen countertops installed, using a high-

movement stone with lots of veins and embedded crystals. The sample …

Cleaning Rainbow Stains on Black Granite Countertops 

QUESTION: I have "Absolute Black Premium" granite countertops that haverainbow "stains" around the sink areas in my kitchen (I have two sinks...the …

Applying Granite Sealer on Polished Resined Countertop  QUESTION: Hello, We recently installed Beautiful granite counter-tops, a lighterBrazilian "Typhoon Bordeaux" 3cm, that has a high gloss polished resin …

Using Color Enhancer for Sealing Granite Countertops 

QUESTION: Just installed venetian gold granite countertops. Looks great... how do Iget that wet look? ANSWER: The "wet look" is achieved by applying …

Stripping & Re-Sealing Honed Black Granite  QUESTION: I have a light grey bleach stain on my honed absolute black granitekitchen counter standing out against a darker �eld. I've had some …

73 Shares

37

34

2

11/8/2016 Granite Sealer Guide To Sealing Granite & Marble Countertops

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-sealer.html 10/15

New Black Galaxy Granite...Nitpicky Concerns?  QUESTION: We had Black Galaxy granite countertops with an ogee edge installed

this week. And while the overall look is glamorous, I've been disappointed …

Sealing Basalt  QUESTION Please advise if we could use the same process sealing Basalt as wewould granite. The Basalt is called Raven Black and it is from China. …

Sealing Madura Gold Granite  QUESTION: We just recently had a new granite countertop installed called Mardura

Gold. When we asked our installer, he said that it was already sealed …

Grit on Granite Countertops  QUESTION: I just had Santa Cecelia Gold granite countertops installed in mykitchen, with a tumbled travertine backsplash. I've noticed a �ne gritty …

Cleaning and Sealing Black Granite Countertops  QUESTION: I have black granite countertops and want to know about cleaning

before re-sealing and then proper application technique for sealing black …

Granite Countertop Repair Rough Pitted Patches 

QUESTION: I just got granite installed in my kitchen, I picked it out in a slab shop,name of the granite is Juparana Fantastico. I didn't realize it …

Do Granite Countertops Need Sealing  QUESTION: Do granite countertops need sealing? From what I understanddark/dense granite countertops do not require sealing at all. I have the BUTTERFLY

…

How Often To Seal Granite  QUESTION: I am looking at Santa Cecilia granite countertops or a New VenetianGold granite slab. Are these granites that need to be sealed? …

Removing Black Granite Sealer  QUESTION: We just installed miles of beautiful countertop: Blue in the Night

granite...very dark dark grey black ...with small �ecks of deep blue!! …

73 Shares

37

34

2

11/8/2016 Granite Sealer Guide To Sealing Granite & Marble Countertops

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-sealer.html 11/15

Sealing Uba Tuba Granite  QUESTION: We sealed a portion of our newly installed Uba Tuba granite

countertop with 511 impregnator. It left streaks and hazing in some areas …

Dry Treat Travertine & Granite Sealer 

QUESTION: Have you heard of a travertine and granite sealer called Dry Treat?They claim to have 15 year warranty on their product. I have installed …

Sealing Antique Brown Granite  QUESTION: I have recently just had Antique Brown granite countertops installed inmy kitchen. Every time I (or the kids) leave a wet glass or other …

Sealing Tumble Marble Shower 

QUESTION: I am about to install tumbled marble, creamy colored, in my showersurround and bathroom �oor. My installer said not to seal it-- is he correct? …

Permanent Marble & Granite Sealer Answers  QUESTION: I've been shopping for granite countertops. The one I'm leaning towardhas not been sealed or treated. Some other places that I've …

Which Granite Sealer To Use? 

QUESTION: I was wondering... are there any reviews or studies ranking theperformance of the di�erent granite sealers? I just purchased granite …

Sealing IceStone Countertops  QUESTION: We are considering putting IceStone, the recycled glass/concretecountertop product in our new kitchen. Can you compare the porosity and …

Filling Granite Countertop Fissures Not rated yet QUESTION: What do you recommend for treating natural cracks and �ssures in

stone? This stone is called Golden Silver granite and has rust, greys, …

Oil & Lemon Testing Granite Countertops Not rated yet QUESTION: Should black absolute change colors when lemon is set on it for 20seconds and turn to a light grey color? The sample black absolute granite …

73 Shares

37

34

2

11/8/2016 Granite Sealer Guide To Sealing Granite & Marble Countertops

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-sealer.html 12/15

Preparing for Sealing Granite & Grout Not rated yet QUESTION: Do I need to seal �amed granite tile �ooring before I grout it? ANSWER:Sealing granite �oor tile prior to grouting is not generally …

New Granite Countertop Pits & Sealing Not rated yet

QUESTION: We recently got new granite countertops. It took the men only a fewminutes to wipe or "polish" the counter after installation. When …

Sealing Granite Cafe Imperial Not rated yet QUESTION: Reading above about the black granite and the blue pearl granitecolors, not having to be sealed. I just installed Cafe Imperial and wondering …

Food Safe Sealer for Sealing Granite Countertops Not rated yet

QUESTION: I just bought some granite countertops, installed by someone whodidn't know how to clean them or seal them so they are food safe. It's green …

Is A High-Quality Granite Sealer Worth It Not rated yet QUESTION: Is a high-quality granite sealer worth the extra expense for a high-quality granite or is there much di�erence? Do Chocolate Bordeaux …

Professional SenGuard Application vs.

Sealing Granite Yourself Not rated yet

QUESTION: A countertop company is trying to sell us on the importance ofprofessional SenGuard sealer treatment that protects granite from staining …

Best Granite Sealer Not rated yet QUESTION: I'm wanting to �nd the best granite sealer available, but not sure howto know. Application has to be simple enough for a novice (but handy) …

Sealing Mexican Saltillo Tiles Not rated yet

QUESTION: We have a house in Baja Mexico with Saltillo �oor tiles through out.The sealant that was used on the �oor originally by the builder …

Sealing Resined Typhoon Bordeaux Granite Not rated yet QUESTION: I just had a new counter top installed, made of Typhoon BordeauxGranite. I did the water drop test , and it appears to pass with no …

73 Shares

37

34

2

11/8/2016 Granite Sealer Guide To Sealing Granite & Marble Countertops

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-sealer.html 13/15

Stain Protection Without Granite Sealer Not rated yet QUESTION: Just reading about the sealing �asco of blue pearl granite and I amwondering.... How is a granite countertop protected from stains without …

Sealing Red Palladio Not rated yet QUESTION: I see that you say some darker stones may not need to be sealed. What

do you suggest for Red Palladio, since it isn't a true granite? Thanks …

Sealing Black Galaxy Problem Not rated yet QUESTION: I have black galaxy granite countertops and my wife decided to seal thecountertop... and it dried with streaks and looks like crap. I tried …

back to Care & Cleaning

back to Countertop HOME... from Granite Sealer

Search

Get a Quote!  Countertop Installation, Cabinets or Kitchen Remodel 

73 Shares

37

34

2

11/8/2016 Granite Sealer Guide To Sealing Granite & Marble Countertops

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-sealer.html 14/15

Free Price QuotesGet Matched to Top Local Full Kitchen Remodeling Pros

Does your Kitchen Remodel require adding orremoving any walls?

 Yes  No

How soon do you want to begin this project?

 Immediately Within the next 6 months I'm not sure

Do you own the home?

 Yes No, but I am authorized to make improvements No

Zip Code:

Like CountertopSpecialty.com?

New! Comments

73 Shares

37

34

2

11/8/2016 Granite Sealer Guide To Sealing Granite & Marble Countertops

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-sealer.html 15/15

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

Share this page:  What’s this?

Facebook Twitter Google

Pinterest Tumblr Reddit

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Shop Contact Us About Us Privacy Terms Your Own Site

By Ryan Burden, Copyright © 2005-2016, CountertopSpecialty.com  | All Rights Reserved.

73 Shares

37

34

2