There are conflicting opinions about natural stone sealer. If you are a “do-it-yourselfer” or a homeowner going for a repair or renovation, you may well be confused about whether or not you should seal your natural stone structures.
Natural stone structures are indeed popular, because they lend a luxurious touch to the house.
From entire stone houses, to stone flooring, to bathtubs and counter tops, natural stone is a much preferred option in construction materials. They are expensive and require a lot of care, the reason why they are usually treated with a natural stone sealer.
Some people swear by natural stone sealing, while others are of the opinion that not all stones need to be sealed. While doing your homework, you will find that most experts recommend sealing all-natural stone, but many others will contradict by saying that sealing should be done according to stone types.
So how do you find out if your natural stone needs sealing?
Stone absorbency test
Performing an absorbency test on natural stone will give you a general idea if the stone is porous. To perform this test, simply put several drops of water on the surface of the stone and let it sit there. Keep track of how long it takes for the water to get completely absorbed.
If the water gets completely absorbed in under one minute, the stone is very porous. If it takes around three to four minutes for the water to disappear completely, the stone is porous.
If it takes more than five minutes, the stone is only slightly porous. This simple test will also give a good idea about how much stone sealer needs to be used for the entire area.
Things to know before sealing
To be on the safe side, all-natural stone surfaces should be sealed for extra protection. Even when a stone is not very porous, you will need little sealer, but you should never skip sealing altogether. Non porous stones will absorb very little sealer to get the maximum protection. The natural stone sealer isn’t an added expense.
It extends the life and durability of stone surfaces. If your stone is not very porous, you should buy only a small bottle of sealer.
Stone sealing is also dependent on the type of stone surface. If you have granite countertops, check if they are already pre-sealed. You can ask your fabricator about this or simply perform the absorbency test to find out. Presealed stone doesn’t need to be sealed again. The same applies for resined stones.
These days, all stones are resined in the factory. You may still want to use a natural stone sealer, but always perform the absorbency test to make sure how much sealer you need.