How Do You Know if Granite Has Been Sealed

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When it comes to sealing granite, 3 questions immediately come to mind:

1. Do I need to seal my granite countertops — and if so, how do I practise it?
2. How often practise granite countertops need to be resealed — and which products should I utilize?
3. What happens if you don't seal granite countertops?

We'll answer those three questions — and more than!

Hither's everything you need to know about using a granite sealer…

Does Granite Need To Be Sealed?

That is the question that most people ask before making a granite countertop purchase.

And if your granite countertop was installed awhile ago, then you're probably wondering if y'all need to reseal granite or non.

When I spoke to Jeremy and Edward at M&F Business Corporation, a granite slabs importer that sells wholesale to fabricators hither in Georgia, their reply was that all granite must exist sealed.

Usually, granite is sealed at the mill and after the fabrication process.

So the chances are good that your granite countertops have already been sealed — at the manufactory and/or upon installation in your home.

The existent question is whether it's time to reseal your granite countertops or not.

The question you lot should be asking is: When should yous starting time resealing granite countertops?

How Often Practice Granite Countertops Need To Exist Resealed?

There is no single respond to that question. It depends on these things:

• How frequently you cook in your kitchen.
• How much wear and tear you put into your countertop.
• How y'all clean your granite countertops (whether you use chemicals or non).
• The quality of the granite sealer that was applied previously.
• How absorbent your granite countertop is right now.

Typically, a manufactory-practical granite countertop sealer lasts 10 years or more.

I asked Jeremy how often homeowners need to utilize a sealer to their countertops, and his reply was that the installers can apply a granite sealer that volition last 20 years or longer — so exist sure to enquire for that, if you're involved in the installation procedure.

Mostly speaking, near people reseal granite countertops every one to 3 years.

TIP: Use the simple DIY tests below — to make up one's mind if your granite countertop has already been sealed or not, how absorptive your granite countertop is at the moment, and when you should exist prepared to reseal it once again.

Fortunately, the process of sealing granite (described beneath) is really simple to practice!

How To Tell If A Granite Countertop Is Sealed Properly

Yous demand to see how absorbent your granite countertop is at the moment — the more than absorbent it is, the more it needs to be sealed.

There are two ways to test a granite countertop (or any rock countertop) for absorbency, and also make up one's mind if the stone is mixed with calcite or other minerals that are sensitive to acidic spills.

Annotation: Having the smallest amount of calcite in your granite countertops volition brand them more susceptible to stains and markings — due to a chemical reaction with acidic liquids similar lemon juice, orange juice, household cleaners, and more.

#one – The Oil And Lemon Test

How to exercise it:

1. Line your granite samples on a tabular array with the polished side upward, and then dust them thoroughly.
2. Spill a few drops of lemon juice and cooking oil on each one of them. Be sure to use unlike spots on the surface of the rock for the juice and oil.
3. Let the lemon juice and the oil sit on the surface of the stone for 5 minutes or so, and then wipe it dry.

How to interpret the results:

• If you notice irksome spots where the lemon juice hit the surface, you exercise not want this granite for your kitchen countertop. This "granite" is mixed with calcite or other acid sensitive minerals, and maintenance will be a nightmare!
• If the rock surface turns dark almost immediately, y'all do not want this granite for your kitchen countertop. This "granite" is extremely absorbent and you will exist a slave to information technology!
• If it takes 30 seconds or a piddling more than to turn nighttime, then you may take a stone that can be controlled with a good quality impregnator sealer

  

  .
• If it takes more than 5 minutes, then you have a stone that probably doesn't even need to exist sealed!

Here'south some more information on how to seal granite.

#2 – The Water Drop Examination

How to do it:

1. Drip a small puddle of water on your stone. That'south it!

How to translate the results:

• If it darkens speedily, you should seal the granite with a few coats and re-seal it every three years. E'er wipe upwardly any spills ASAP.
• If the stone takes iv to 5 minutes to darken, a good impregnator sealer should be practical and re-practical every 3 to 5 years.
• If the stone darkens in 10 to 15 minutes, apply 1 coat of sealer then check it again every 3 years or and then for absorbency.
• If the stone darkens in 30 minutes or not at all, consider yourself lucky and sealing may not exist necessary due to the hardness of the stone.

Refer to the instructions if you are still unsure of what to look for or how to interpret the test.

Impregnator Sealers vs. Topical Sealers

There are 2 types of granite countertop sealers:

• A topical granite sealersits on tiptop of the rock and coats it.
• An impregnatorgranite sealer is captivated into the stone and protects it from within. (This type is also known equally impregnating sealer or penetrating sealer.)

An impregnator granite sealer is typically your best bet because impregnator sealers really penetrate below the surface of the stone — restricting water, oil, and dirt from entering the stone.

For all polished and smooth surface, an impregnator is mandatory since sealers (which are surface coats) will not bond and will be easy abraded [worn away over time]. Source

Personally, I utilise a fresh coat of impregnator sealer to my granite countertops every 2 to three years.

And I'm not alone. Tom Silva, the well-known contractor from This Quondam Firm reapplies an impregnator every 2 years to his granite countertops:

We have granite countertops in our kitchen and beloved them. They really don't take a lot of care. The start thing we did when they were installed was to wipe on a solvent-based sealer called an "impregnator" with a soft cloth. I put on one coat, then waited a day before applying a second coat. You'll probably hear various stories about how long this stuff lasts, but in our business firm we find it's skilful for nigh 2 years. Source

There are a few schools of thought regarding impregnator sealers vs. topical sealers. Then I'll let you read and be the judge:

• Caring For Granite Countertops
• Topical vs. Impregnator Sealers
• Granite Sealer Guide

Whether you determine to get with a topical granite sealer or an impregnator granite sealer, one thing'south for sure: your granite countertops must have 1 or the other!

How To Seal Granite Countertops Yourself

It's important to note that sealing granite countertops does non make them 100% stain resistant — considering granite is a naturally absorbent textile, and certain liquids will find a mode to leave a stain if you're not quick to clean information technology upwardly.

Sealing granite but gives you a little more time to clean up spills before they somewhen seep into the tiny fissures that naturally announced in granite slabs.

Must read: How A Granite Countertop Sealer Works

Sealing granite is a very simple DIY project.

Here'southward how to do it:

1. Only wipe a granite countertop sealer

   

   on.
2. Let it ready about xxx minutes.
3. And then wipe information technology off.

Be sure to follow the manufacturer'due south instructions for the granite sealer you chose.

What Happens If You Don't Seal Granite Countertops?

If yous don't utilize a granite sealer on your countertops (or you lot wait too long before resealing granite countertops), they will:

• Blot nutrient, grease, and liquids — causing fix-in stains on your countertop.
• Absorb water — making the countertop always look muddy.
• Absorb chemicals that are in cleaning products — which will discolor and damage your countertop over time.

Unsealed granite is not wise for any countertop.

Here are the differences between an unsealed granite countertop and a sealed granite countertop.

TIP: Whether your countertops are sealed or not, you should non use citrus-based cleaners — considering citrus speedily wears off whatever granite sealer that was applied, and (even worse) eats away at the calcium that is naturally in the rock, leaving pits and etching.

I of the biggest offenders in natural granite countertop cleaners is citrus or acidic products such as vinegar. Not only will these materials wearisome the granite's advent, but they can also etch or cut the rock. While the carving might appear virtually instantly on some countertops, the damage isn't ever immediately credible. Don't allow this fool you lot into thinking that it'due south condom to utilise acidic products on your granite countertops — the harm is leap to show up over time. You lot should too stay away from Windex or like products. In nearly cases, a product like this is too harsh for granite and tin remove the stone'south valuable seal, making information technology more than prone to a buildup of dirt, grime, and bacteria. Source

The Best Granite Stain Remover

Is your granite countertop already stained? Looking for some advice on removing stains from granite?

There are a few different products on the market for granite stains, but you lot will need to know what caused the stain in order to effectively remove it — information technology's a molecular-level, chemical kind of matter.

Two swell products come to mind:

1. HMK has a line of stain removers based on what acquired the stain.
2. Miracle Sealants

   

   also has a few specialized products for unique granite stains.

Granite is an awesome choice for countertops. But like anything worth having, you must take proper care of it if you want it to last equally long equally possible (or indefinitely, similar it would naturally).

Hither'due south how to remove stains from granite countertops.

I started as a dwelling house-stalker… visiting brand new homes under construction in the neighborhoods about my house. That inspired me to write about dwelling building and domicile renovation projects — chronicling homes during dissimilar phases of construction from a consumer'southward point-of-view. Basically, the tips y'all'll find in my articles are a collection of checklists for what I think should (and should not) get into building or remodeling a quality dwelling.

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Source: https://homebuilding.thefuntimesguide.com/seal_granite/

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