A lot of people prefer natural stone for certain parts of their house if they can afford it. Natural stones occur freely in nature, like limestone, sandstone, and marble.
Stone houses, stone flooring, stone bathtubs, and stone kitchen counters are very common. Natural stone is durable and last for ages if maintained well.
Key factors
But there are various maintenance processes involved in preserving the look and durability of natural stones. Because they are in limited supply and require a lot of care, natural stone is more expensive than wood or any other construction material.
Nevertheless, they are in high demand all over the world. Natural stone is often considered a luxury.
Natural stone sealer is a substance applied to the stone in order to preserve its natural shine and look, and also to protect against erosion and contamination. Because natural stones are porous like a hard sponge, they absorb all kinds of liquids, from water to oils to chemicals like floor cleaners.
These liquids not only alter the color and look of the stones in the long run, but also cause cracks and damages. Natural stone sealers are used to prevent these changes from occurring and keep the stones looking like new.
Sealers vs. enhancers
There are two primary types of natural stone sealer. One is the topical sealer, and the other is an enhancer. Although both of them are sealers, they serve different purposes. Customers are often confused between regular sealers and enhancing sealers.
Not all customers want the same thing. Some want to protect the natural look while others want to enhance the look.
There are two different kinds of looks that a sealer helps to achieve. If you want to make the color of the stone deeper, then you need an enhancing sealer. This kind of sealer penetrates the stone, bonds with minerals, and both enhances and protects the stone from staining substances.
Topical sealers only protect the stone from external elements without changing the look or texture of the stone. Sealers can be either water based, or solvent based. Water based sealers don’t penetrate as much as solvent based sealers. The latter is more powerful.
A vital step
Enhancing sealers are more expensive and also more durable. If your stone surfaces already come pre-sealed, then you can choose a water-based sealer. In either case, a natural stone sealer must always be applied on stone surfaces for extra protection.