Find out here about the importance of sealing granite worktops.
Why do granite worktops need sealing?
Granite worktops have beautifully smooth and polished surfaces, and it is important to take good care of them. When they are maintained well, granite worktops will continue to look excellent for years to come.
By sealing your worktop, this will help to prevent accidental staining and spillage marks, and will enhance your granite worktop surface. Sealing will also make them easier to keep clean and maintain.
How often do granite worktops need sealing?
Unfortunately, most granite worktop sealants found on the market do break down over time. This means that granite worktops will need to be resealed regularly during their lifetime to keep them in pristine condition. At Stoneworld, we recommend sealing a granite kitchen worktop every 3 months depending on how much cooking you do in the kitchen.
Was your new granite worktop sealed when it was installed?
At Stoneworld, we always seal granite worktops before they are sent to our clients. This will offer you immediate protection against the normal spills and smudges that are going to occur in the kitchen.
The general method used for applying granite sealer to kitchen worktops is to paint it on the surface and leave it overnight in the factory. The surface is then buffed the next morning before installation. Although there’s nothing wrong with the method being used for this type of product, it’s the chemical structure of the sealant that is going to cause the sealant to fail.
Why silicon-based granite sealants are not recommended
Silicone sealants offered on the market have large molecules which are too big to penetrate the surface pores of granite and get into the stone. Granite has a tight molecular structure with tiny pores. The result of this means that the silicone sealant fails to penetrate the stone surface and instead sits atop the surface, becoming a surface coating.
As soon as the granite worktop begins to be used, and subsequently cleaned with everyday household cleaners, the surface coating of the sealant begins to break down. The result will be darkening of the granite when wet, difficult stains to remove and it will be generally harder to keep the worktop clean. Greasy marks will be visible as residual grease will remain on the surface.
Please note – It is important that acidic substances such as vinegar, wine, lemon juice etc. are wiped up straight away. If you do not take action to protect the surface quickly, acidic scorching will happen with or without a sealant in place. Acidic scorching will ruin the polished surface of your granite, marble or quartz worktop.
Things to avoid
We do not recommend:
- Cutting directly on the polished surface– cutting directly on the surface can leave scratch marks.
- Putting hot pans straight from the hob onto the polished surface – Hot pans can leave marks in the polished surface.
- Leaving acidic spillages (lemon juice, vinegar, wine) for prolonged periods on the polished surface – Acidic substances can spoil and mark the polished surface.
- We do not recommend most everyday cleaning products for maintaining the surface of a granite worktop – many are either too harsh, and as discussed will break down any sealant applied to the surface. Many contain surfactants which cause greasy build up on the surface, meaning you will never achieve that sparkle that first attracted you to owning a granite worktop in the first place.
Our advice for the best care and maintenance of granite worktops
- Ensure your granite worktop has been sealed. If you have purchased your worktop from us, we will always seal it with our Rob Parker’s Best Quartz and Granite Sealer before we deliver it to you.
- For daily cleaning of your granite worktop, we recommend using our Rob Parker’s Best Quartz and Granite Cleaner. This will tackle daily spillages and keep your worktop looking fantastic.
Our recommended products for your granite worktop
We recommend using our Rob Parker’s Best Granite Sealer to protect all granite, quartz and marble kitchen worktops and surfaces. Scientifically developed with nano-technology, the molecules are smaller than the pores in the stone, so it will seal your granite worktop by getting right into the surface structure of your worktop.
The method of application is also simpler:
- Spray on using neat product, covering surface evenly
- Leave 30-40 seconds
- Buff with a fresh dry clean cotton cloth
- There’s no need to wait for the product to cure. The sealer penetrates the pores and is delivered to the right place immediately.
Rob Parker’s Best Granite Sealer can offer up to 3 months of protection before requiring reapplying. It works because it has tiny molecules which can penetrate the polished granite surface. It will last longer and give better protection because daily household cleaners cannot immediately break down the structure of the sealer as it sits within the stone. Whilst Rob Parker’s Best Granite Sealer will assist in the protection of your worktop, it is essential you still wipe up spills immediately.
For daily cleaning of granite kitchen worktops, which will give excellent shine with no smears, we recommend Rob Parker’s Best Quartz and Granite Cleaner.
Products in the range
We hope this article has helped you understand why it is advisable to seal your granite worktop. Please contact us for further advice on suitable treatments and remedies for all your stone surfaces. You can call us on 01844 279274 or email us at sales@stoneworld.co.uk and our team will be happy to help.
