Granite is a lovely countertop that you can install in your kitchen or bathroom. It comes in a variety of colors and has many patterns from which to choose. Not only is it a gorgeous stone, but it is also a durable stone. It can withstand high heat from pans or hot plates placed on its surface. It is also resistant to stains and is relatively easy to clean. Although granite is a rather hard natural stone, occasionally, it can experience wear. As a result, you will have to get your natural stone restored to make it look new.
If you want to keep your granite countertops looking pristine, it is a good idea to seal it, in fact it’s a must.
Here are some other great reasons to get your granite countertops sealed.
Minimizes the Chances of Absorbing Bacteria and Germs
Granite is one of the toughest and durable natural stones on earth. However, one of its disadvantages is that it is very porous. If you happen to have granite kitchen countertops, you probably use your kitchen countertops to cut various foods directly on the countertops. With laminate and quartz countertops, you don’t have to worry much about preparing foods on them because they aren’t very porous. Therefore, after preparing foods, you can wipe away the residue.
However, with natural stones that aren’t sealed like granite, the residue from these foods never really goes away after cleaning the area. This is because an unsealed granite countertop absorbs the residue into the pores. Over time, this can lead to contamination which can make you and your family sick. Sealing your granite countertops helps minimize this problem and keeps your countertops free of germ and bacteria buildup.
Prevents Stains
Because granite is porous, it can also absorb stains. If you spill wine, spaghetti sauce, coffee, or dark juice on your granite countertops, you will have to work quickly to get up the spill. Otherwise, the stain from the spills can seep into the granite, discoloring the stone. This may not be as apparent in dark-colored granite as it is in light-colored granite, however. When your granite countertops are sealed, you won’t have to worry about such items discoloring the stone as easily.
Less Etching
Another problem that is not very common but could happen with granite is etching. Etching occurs on a natural stone when consistently exposed to acidic items like lemons or abrasive ones like bleach or ammonia. You can tell that your granite is etched when you observe it under light and see that some part of the granite is dull, and the other part looks normal. Again, sealing your countertops will minimize the chances of etching.
Determining If Your Granite Countertops Need Sealant
Sealing your granite countertops is essential to preserving them. It would help if you aimed to seal them once every year or two. However, if you feel the need to seal them more often than that, you can. If you are wondering whether your granite countertops are sealed already, you can perform a quick test to find out.
The Granite Test
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- Start by getting a cup of tap water.
- Pour about a tablespoon of water onto the countertop.
- Allow it to sit for about 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, observe the water’s behavior. If it disappears and turns the granite darker, your countertop is not sealed. If the water is sitting on the surface and the granite has not darkened, your countertop is sealed.
Since granite is porous, the water that you put on it will immediately soak into the granite. However, if the granite is sealed correctly, it will remain on the surface and won’t soak into the granite.
Countertop Installation Services and More
Do you need your granite countertops sealed? There are many commercial products on the market that you can use to seal your granite countertops. However, if you are afraid of using the wrong product and causing damage to your countertops, you can also contact a countertop specialist to seal your countertops for long-lasting protection.
Wisconsin Granite Design located in Oak Creek only installs granite countertops that are sealed with the highest quality solutions available, so you don’t have to worry for years. As countertop fabricators and installers of the highest quality marble, granite and quartz countertops, we make sure your installation is perfect, beginning with them being sealed properly.
If you are thinking of replacing your kitchen countertops we have a wonderful selection of granite, quartz and marble in the most unique colors, patterns and designs so that you are getting a product as unique as you. We are a top choice throughout Wisconsin for countertop solutions as well as remodeling services so visit our countertop store in the Milwaukee area and speak to a design professional today, Free!