Why Sealing Granite Countertops is Important!

That new granite countertop in your kitchen represents a large financial investment in the beauty and longevity of your home, and some care must be taken to keep it from becoming discolored over time. The most important thing you can do to protect your investment is to periodically seal the granite, making it impervious to staining in the first place. There are many products on the market that specialize in sealing granite countertops, but it is important to know when and how to do the job.

The first step in sealing your countertop is to establish whether it is time for a fresh coat of sealant or not. A good rule of thumb is to seal your countertop once a year, but different types of granite have different properties and levels of porosity and each piece of stone is unique unto itself. Some granite will last a lifetime without ever needing to be sealed and some may require sealing more often than once a year (your granite supplier will be able to provide detailed information about your particular stone choice). To establish the need for sealing, clean the countertop thoroughly and allow it to dry. Then pour a small amount of clean tap water onto the granite and allow it to pool there for several minutes. If, when you wipe the water away with a clean cloth, a slight discoloration remains where the water was, your granite needs to be resealed (do not worry about the spot as it will quickly fade away when the water trapped in the pours evaporates).

Having established the need to seal your countertop, the next step is to choose from among the large number of commercial sealing products on the market. Again, your granite supplier will be an excellent resource on which sealer is best suited for your particular countertop. The actual job of sealing the countertop is pretty straightforward, but it is important that you read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Typically, you will thoroughly clean the countertop with a commercial granite cleaning product and allow it to dry completely. Next, apply the sealing material as per the manufacturer’s instructions, allowing it to soak into the granite for as long as recommended before wiping it off and allowing it to dry. After a waiting period of several hours to overnight, depending on the product you choose, a second application of sealing compound is usually recommended.

The technology involved in sealing granite countertops continues to advance with new products and innovations being introduced all the time. This relatively painless chore is one of the best investments you can make in the lasting beauty of your kitchen.