Depending upon usage, your Granite countertops should be sealed twice a year. Cabinets and Countertops recommend sealing every 6 months because some household cleaners may cause your sealer’s bond to weaken.
Granite countertops must be sealed once a year at the minimum.
A good way to test the sealant’s effectiveness on your Granite countertops is to spill water on a small area. If the water beads up, Granite countertops are still sealed. If the water starts to seep into the Granite, causing the Granite to appear darker, it is time to re-seal.
There are many stone sealers on the market today. Cabinets and Countertops recommend a Stone Impregnator. This sealer penetrates the stone and works its way into the cracks and pores in the Granite to keep out all other foreign and potential stain forming materials.
With a solvent-based sealer, the entire process will only take about 10 minutes. Simply spray on the product and wipe it onto your Granite countertops. Let it dry to a haze (This is very important. In order to get a good bond, you need to allow the sealer to penetrate or impregnate your Granite). After 5 to 10 minutes, use a clean terry cloth or paper towel to wipe off the haze. You have now SEALED you Granite countertops. With a water-based sealer, the process can take several hours with many coats and some buffing required. See the backside of sealer for specific instructions.
“Pitting” is a characteristic of all Granite. It is more noticeable in some colors. Pitting is described as tiny, sometimes slightly rough indentions or pock marks. Rest assured that this does not decrease durability of the stone.
These “surface cracks” are know in the industry as fissures. These are common with many colors of Granite that have a linear type of pattern. They do not penetrate the Granite and do not in any way affect the integrity of your Granite countertops.
