Advice and installation help at the John Bridge Tile Forums
Best sealer for Marble, Granite, Travertine and Other Dimensional Stone
John P. Bridge (3-22-2011)
Granite is hard, dense and needs no sealing, right? I’m afraid not. Granite is porous and must be sealed to prevent or inhibit staining. To be classed as granite the stone must contain at least twenty percent quartz crystal as well as certain amounts of feldspar and other elements. So although granite is in fact hard and somewhat dense, it is not without voids within its structure. These microscopic spaces must be filled if low porosity is desired.
Not all “granite” is actually granite. There are other species of stone which are commonly sold as granite, and all of them require sealing. I am often asked about “the best granite sealer,” and I highly recommend the use of Impregnator 511 by Miracle Sealants. You can buy 511 in the tile aisle at Home Depot as well as from tile and stone dealers throughout the U.S. and Canada. 511 also works well on marble, travertine, slate and other stone species, as well as on ceramic tile and grout.
Directions must always be followed, but basically, sealing entails applying the sealer to the surface, allowing it to “dwell” for a few minutes and then wiping the surface clean. Remove all stains beforehand, clean the surface and allow it to dry thoroughly. Once again, please do follow the directions supplied by the manufacturer.
A great place to learn more about the best granite, travertine and marble sealers is the Cleaning, Restoration and Sealing Forum on this web site. You’ll also find information on how to seal granite and other stones.
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Sealing Granite — How to Seal Countertops and Showers
Advice and installation help at the John Bridge Tile Forums
Best sealer for Marble, Granite, Travertine and Other Dimensional Stone
John P. Bridge (3-22-2011)
Granite is hard, dense and needs no sealing, right? I’m afraid not. Granite is porous and must be sealed to prevent or inhibit staining. To be classed as granite the stone must contain at least twenty percent quartz crystal as well as certain amounts of feldspar and other elements. So although granite is in fact hard and somewhat dense, it is not without voids within its structure. These microscopic spaces must be filled if low porosity is desired.
Not all “granite” is actually granite. There are other species of stone which are commonly sold as granite, and all of them require sealing. I am often asked about “the best granite sealer,” and I highly recommend the use of Impregnator 511 by Miracle Sealants. You can buy 511 in the tile aisle at Home Depot as well as from tile and stone dealers throughout the U.S. and Canada. 511 also works well on marble, travertine, slate and other stone species, as well as on ceramic tile and grout.
Directions must always be followed, but basically, sealing entails applying the sealer to the surface, allowing it to “dwell” for a few minutes and then wiping the surface clean. Remove all stains beforehand, clean the surface and allow it to dry thoroughly. Once again, please do follow the directions supplied by the manufacturer.
A great place to learn more about the best granite, travertine and marble sealers is the Cleaning, Restoration and Sealing Forum on this web site. You’ll also find information on how to seal granite and other stones.