A natural stone sealer is required to protect natural stones, otherwise known for their hardness and durability. However, if they aren’t maintained properly, they tend to be susceptible to attracting grime and also staining.
A natural stone sealer basically acts as a sealing agent, which prolongs the stone’s life while also protecting its looks.
Natural stone sealer: Types & variants
Two types of natural stone sealers are available in the market. These are topical sealers or penetrating sealers. A topical natural stone sealer is a coating that sits on stone tile surfaces to protect them from water, contaminates, oil, lubricants as also other liquids.
These produce a high gloss polish on the stone’s surface but may also darken it, altering its natural look. If you decide to use a topical natural stone sealer on stone flooring, the gloss resulting from it could lead to lesser slip resistance. Therefore, a non-slip additive needs to be used to ensure safety, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms.
This sealant type tends to wear out quickly also. This is, therefore, unsuitable for heavy traffic areas that have stone flooring. If topical sealants are applied to stone kitchen countertops, it needs to be ensured that it is suitable for use in an area where food is prepared.
Penetrating natural stone sealer
A penetrating natural stone sealer is also called an impregnating sealant. These are capable of penetrating a natural stone’s surface and protect it from staining and liquids.
An additional advantage is that impregnating sealants don’t alter the beauty of natural stone, which a topical sealant can. These are, however, incapable of protecting stone tile surfaces from abrasions and scratches.
As a penetrating natural stone sealer works below the surface of natural stone, it doesn’t erode quickly and, therefore, requires less maintenance as compared to its topical counterpart. In some cases, special cleaners may be required to work in tandem with a penetrating natural stone sealer.
Making the right choice
In order to make the right choice, you need to know your stone first. The general thumb rule is to use a topical sealer to protect porous stones like limestone, slate, and travertine.
On the other hand, a penetrating sealer works well with marble and granite, which are less porous. Also, if you want to maintain the natural look, using a topical sealer could alter the color. The best thing to do, therefore, is to ask your stone supplier what sealant to use.