Sealing granite and natural stone surfaces plays an important role in protecting your natural stone surfaces and maintaining their aesthetics for as long as possible. But how do you know if sealants on your natural stone are effective in protecting them from moisture and other potentially harmful substances? Fortunately, you can do a simple test to verify the effectiveness of your natural stone sealant.
Granite sealant water test
Granite is a natural porous and absorbent stone. It is sealed once it is cut and processed and again after being produced by the installer. Granite is sealed to reduce its absorption from staining or damage from water, oil, grease, and other substances. To test the water resistance of a stone countertop, simply pour water into different positions on the countertop. A small puddle about 10 cm in diameter is fine. If water starts to absorb in less than 30 minutes, the surface of the stone will turn black, and you will need to clean it and reseal it. Make sure that the water stains have evaporated before sealing.
Interpret the results of the water test
If the water is still standing after 30 minutes, or if there are no stains after evaporation, the seal is good and you do not need to seal the stone. However, you can always seal the stone if you wish, because it is not possible to over-seal the stone. If a stain occurs in less than 30 minutes, you should reseal it.
Test other stone
If your countertops are made of limestone, marble, or other types of stone, you can do the same tests to verify the quality of the seal. Make sure you use only water. Under no circumstances should you use common household cleaners to test or wipe natural stone, as they may peel off seals, darken professional finishes and cause staining and etching.
Clean and seal
Although your natural stone countertops are properly sealed from the start, that doesn't mean they won't eventually absorb liquids and produce stains. It is important to clean regularly with products specifically designed for natural stone, and you should also wipe out spilled liquids as soon as possible. When you regularly use stone safety sealants or your countertops, you have time to clean up spilled liquids, which are forced to form beads on the surface. If you leave the liquid idle, it will start to deteriorate the seal.
How long should I seal my natural stone surface?
Most natural stone professionals recommend sealing your surface once a year unless there is significant wear and tear on the surface. For example, if you cook in the kitchen every day and then clean the countertops every day, you may need to reseal the natural stone surface seasonally or every two years to protect them from future damage. If your natural stone countertop or natural stone surface requires some maintenance, contact a Houston-based professional stone specialist at Modern Stone Care. Our team can help you determine how long it will take you to seal your natural stone surfaces so that they will look good for decades to come.
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