Granite Countertop Sealers
Sealing Granite Countertops
 To seal your countertops, apply the sealer to your countertop using a clean white rag or brush. Let the sealer absorb into the stone for approximately 3 to 4 minutes. When the sealer is almost dry, apply a little more sealer on your granite and then rub it in with a dry, clean rag. Repeat on the next section of stone until your entire countertop is sealed. Wait at least two hours before a second application. The wait time depends on your specific brand of sealer. It's best to work in a small area, 4 to 5 square feet. If your granite needs to be sealed, at least 2 coats of sealer is recommended. To find out if your stone is sufficiently sealed, spill water on your countertop, wait for about 1/2 hour, then wipe it up. If your stone does not darken, your countertop is sufficiently sealed.
Not all granite needs to be sealed. Before sealing, place several drops of water on the surface of the stone and see how long it takes for the water to completely disappear. If the water absorbs into the stone under 3-4 minutes, it may need sealing.
Sealing granite and natural stone with penetrating sealers, (also called impregnators), protects the structure of a natural stone. They protect the stone from within. When sealing natural stone or granite with this type of sealer, it is applied directly to the face of the stone with a soft cloth. It's simple to do and does not require a stone specialist. This type of sealer is recommended for sealing granite.
The sealer will penetrate below the stone's surface without leaving a coating or film on top. The stone below the surface will be protected, however, there is no surface protection. This means calcareous natural stones such as marble, onyx, limestone, and travertine can still etch or dull if acidic products such as orange juice or coke are left on your stone.
To help provide surface protection, a natural vegetable soap cleanser or a cleanser made specifically for natural stone can be used. These cleansers build up a thin film layer between periodic deep cleanings. Natural vegetable soaps and stone cleaners remove dirt and debris from the stone's surface the same as a detergent soap does. They are just milder.
Penetrating sealers are either solvent based or water based.
Solvent based penetrating sealers have a higher durability because they are able to penetrate deeper within the stone. Water based, on the other hand, cannot penetrate any deeper into the stone than it will absorb.
In the denser stones, a water based sealer will not penetrate as deeply and leave the protection just below the surface. This means there is less protection of the stone over longer periods of time. Stones with a high rate of absorption will take the protective sealers deeper into the stone. A water based penetrating sealer works well with very porous natural stones.
The most common protection materials used in penetrating sealers are silicone, siloxane, and fluoropolymers. These materials are unaffected by outside elements and only damaged by temperature ranges of 900F to 1200F or exposure to strong caustic solutions. Sealers with silicone, silane, and siloxane work well to repel water born stains. This type of impregnator will repel water based liquids such as coffee and tea.
Fluoropolymers are generally water based sealers and have oil repellent characteristics. They will repel oil based liquids such as grease and cooking oil.
If you are sealing granite or natural stone kitchen counters, look for an oil repellant impregnator. An oil resistant impregnator will only slow the absorption of oil while an oil repellant impregnator will keep the oil from entering the stone. All of them work well to protect stone. Some repel water better and others oil.
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