Sealing granite countertops is important for retaining their natural shine and luster. The same is true for kitchen countertops made of different stones. Natural stones tend to get easily damaged with water spills if they are not properly sealed with impregnators commonly known as sealers. However not every natural stone countertop requires to be sealed. Before you decide to go on with it run a small test by placing a few drops of water on the counter surface, if it penetrates quickly in almost about 3 to 4 seconds then you must seal them first thing.
This is not a very difficult task and you can do it yourself very easily. There are different types and brands of granite countertop sealing solutions available. These are broadly categorized into water based and solvent base. Solvent based are normally more durable and easily penetrate into denser stones whereas the water based sealers normally are ideal for porous stones. Some people make a mistake of using water based sealers on granite counters without realizing that these permeate only a little below the surface and therefore do not provide thorough protection.
Silicone, Siloxane and Fluoropolymers are ideal for maximizing protection and this makes them an integral component of most granite sealers. The important feature of these is that they are resistant to damage by external factors and are only harmed if exposed to scorching temperatures of 900F to 1200F or caustic solutions of high strength. The first two are ideal for repelling water based liquids whereas Fluoropolymers repels liquids which are oil based. These are important things to consider when purchasing a granite countertop sealer because if you have concerns regarding oil spills then going for water repellant will not ensure complete protection.
Many professionals use Marble Infusion 32OZ sealer which retails for around $29. Then there is SenGuard Permanent Marble and Granite Sealer which can be bought for $150. Granite City Tool, Optimal Chemical Inc., DuPont, Granite Gold and Stone Care International are few of the other brands known for their excellence in providing granite and marble sealers. Once you have bought any of these sealers you can continue with the procedure yourself. All you need to do is wipe off the surface with a clean dry cloth and then start rubbing the liquid on small areas of approximately 4 to 5 Sq.Ft. on the counter surface. It is ideal to apply two coats of these sealers to ensure maximum protection.
These sealers make sure your counter looks good as new for a very long time. It is a great way of maintaining the kitchen surface from the very beginning as once you are done with this process you will not have to worry about any kind of liquid spills to affect your countertop.
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