The importance of sealing your natural stone kitchen countertops and other natural stone applications cannot be stressed enough. Through proper sealing, you prevent stains, etches, efflorescence, and spalling of the stones. Though there are some people who say that some types, like granite slabs, don't need sealing, you're better off safe than sorry by sealing them anyway. But you need to confirm the sealer for its effectiveness and efficiency before installing. For that, here are some things to remember when selecting your stone sealer.
Stone type
You have to know your stone type to find the right sealer for it. This is because sealers are specially-designed for a stone type. The sealer for a marble slab is different from that of a granite slab. Since different stones have different textures, composition, and levels of porosity, the sealer that you should get must work with those properties. Otherwise, the sealing won't be as effective. So make sure to understand and distinguish between different types of sealers at first.
Check for staining
Some sealers also have the side-effect of staining a particular kind of stone. For example, some marble slabs get stained with a particular kind of sealer. Instead of protecting your natural stone, you'd end up damaging it. Regarding staining, you should also be aware if your stone is treated with resin. There are sealers out there that react negatively with resin, resulting to further staining and dense appearance of dark spots after application.
You should also be careful about how a sealer would react to resin-treated stone. It means you must consider the maintenance related aspects before selecting your sealer stone. It is obvious that you need to maintain them properly, then do not forget to learn the best techniques of it. Your seller or fabricator can help you on this.
Read the label
Some sealers contain harmful chemicals. Read the label for proper application and use of the product. You should be aware of needed safety equipment, such as goggles, gloves, and masks, before the use of a product. Proper storage and disposal should also be noted since some of these may contain toxic materials detrimental to the environment. However, in most cases you do not face such issues. Taking precaution can only prevent some sad events.
Ask your stone fabricator
You can also ask your stone fabricator for any sealer they may recommend. While you're at it, you should also ask for proper application and sealing procedures. Since they work with stone for a living, you should get important and helpful information from them. If you are not up to install the stone all by yourself, you better take the professional assistance.
These are some of the things to remember when selecting a stone sealer for your kitchen countertops. Though sealing is important, you don't just get the first stone sealer you see on the shelf. Getting a stone sealer has long term effect. So it is recommended to make the decision seriously. You also need to be sure that you'll get the right sealer for your natural stone type to do the sealing right.
Stone type
You have to know your stone type to find the right sealer for it. This is because sealers are specially-designed for a stone type. The sealer for a marble slab is different from that of a granite slab. Since different stones have different textures, composition, and levels of porosity, the sealer that you should get must work with those properties. Otherwise, the sealing won't be as effective. So make sure to understand and distinguish between different types of sealers at first.
Check for staining
Some sealers also have the side-effect of staining a particular kind of stone. For example, some marble slabs get stained with a particular kind of sealer. Instead of protecting your natural stone, you'd end up damaging it. Regarding staining, you should also be aware if your stone is treated with resin. There are sealers out there that react negatively with resin, resulting to further staining and dense appearance of dark spots after application.
Read the label
Some sealers contain harmful chemicals. Read the label for proper application and use of the product. You should be aware of needed safety equipment, such as goggles, gloves, and masks, before the use of a product. Proper storage and disposal should also be noted since some of these may contain toxic materials detrimental to the environment. However, in most cases you do not face such issues. Taking precaution can only prevent some sad events.
Ask your stone fabricator
You can also ask your stone fabricator for any sealer they may recommend. While you're at it, you should also ask for proper application and sealing procedures. Since they work with stone for a living, you should get important and helpful information from them. If you are not up to install the stone all by yourself, you better take the professional assistance.
These are some of the things to remember when selecting a stone sealer for your kitchen countertops. Though sealing is important, you don't just get the first stone sealer you see on the shelf. Getting a stone sealer has long term effect. So it is recommended to make the decision seriously. You also need to be sure that you'll get the right sealer for your natural stone type to do the sealing right.
Stone Sealer Reminders