Sealing De Gratia granite countertop?

[CLC]

Hello,
I'm getting a new granite (De Gratia) countertop installed in a bathroom on Friday.

The installer came out today to do a template and told me that they don't do the sealing and handed me a card for a local company that will do it for $80. I was a bit surprised that they don't do the sealing. Is is a normal practice for a company that sells/installs the granite to not do the sealing?

I've read enough posts to know that not all granite needs to be sealed. Does De Gratia granite need to be sealed? If so, is this something I can do myself? If I can do it myself what kind of sealer should I use?

Thanks,
Carter

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[bbcamp]

I moved you over here so one of our stone guys will see your question.

So, stone guys, have at it! :D

[MasterGranite]

Hi Carter,

First off I've never heard of De Gratia granite. Someone made that name up and so I can't tell you if it needs sealing as I don't know the material. I've searched the internet and came up with nada. Ask your granite supplier what the "real" name is. Regarding fabricators and sealing. We seal ALL granites and marbles before we install with a few exceptions which mostly have to do with the finish.

Let us know the name of the granite and we will be able to help you, also be sure and ask if the material is actually granite as I've seen references to that name in my search that had something to do with marble, which as a rule I would not install in a kitchen unless it has a honed finish.

[GraniteGirl]

The sealing thing sounds a lot like a company called "Granite Shield". It is a franchise based on a referral scheme, where the fabricator would, in essence ge a kick-back from the sealing company for refering a client.

The sealer will be applied with all kinds of guarantees and fine print and most likely you will be required to purchase the recommended cleaners to maintain the sealer or void the warranties. :deal:

I can not vouch for the efficacy of the sealer or for the company applying it. There are a few guys doing a similar business. In my opinion, it is a money making scheme designed to exploit the public perception that all natural stones absolutely require sealer.

If i were you, I'd wait 'till the stone is installed and then test for absorption. If it gets darker when exposed to water, it would need sealer. There are good sealers and other stone maintenance products available that might serve you just as good or even better :tup1:

Our company seals all stones that require it as part of our service to the client.

PS: If you have a picture of your stone, we could all give a guess at what the "real" name of it is! Stones get renamed by the various slab yards to foster an air of exclusivity.

[Davestone]

Yeah, i couldn't find it either..a company i used to work for used to name different stones after members of their family so you couldn't compare prices.A crema Marfil became Crema Maria......Dei Gratia is latin for From God.

[CLC]

Thanks for all of the responses. My home computer has been down after doing a Microsoft critical update so I'm sending this from work.

I spoke with the fabricator and it's called Dei Gratia and is supposedly a rare Brazilain granite.

In any case they came and installed it today and the wife says it looks great. They tried to push the $80 sealing package on my wife and she declined.

I'll wait a bit and do an absorption test on it.

If needed I'm planning on using the Miracle 411 product. Anybody know a place to purchase this product? I live in the Seattle, WA area.

Thanks,
Carter

[joh]

Hi Carter,
Congratulation on your purchase of natural stone.
Do the water absorbing test as soon as you can, if this stone is a granite and need sealing you may have to adjust your application techniques to suit the absorbing rate of the stone and the type of sealer you chose, this may have been one of the reasons the sealing task was referred to company that dos restoration are strictly sealing.