Have you got a granite countertop in your kitchen? Sealing it is imperative to restore its shine and make it long-lasting. At least once every five years, you should seal your granite countertops to prevent them from losing their luster. Many buyers are reluctant to go with a granite countertop because of its maintenance, but getting it is worth it, as it adorns your kitchen and enhances the beauty of your home.
Granite countertops are composed of various types of quartzite and stones. The usage of multiple rocks makes it an ideal choice for different purposes. Granite countertops are strong, long-lasting, and resistant to scuffs and stains, keeping their beauty intact. More than just cleaning, regular cleaning is required to maintain its beauty for a long time. Sealing it is crucial to keep it new for years.
A test to know the need for sealing
If you are still deciding whether you should seal your granite countertop, you must perform a water test that is easy and effective to determine.
- Fill a cup 1/4th with the water and spill it on the granite countertop
- Keep a tab on when water gets spilled until it is absorbed.
- If water repelled instead of getting soaked, you do not need to seal your countertop at the moment
- The granite counter needs to close if water gets absorbed by the countertop and leaves a dark spot.
With this test, you can decide whether to seal your granite countertop. Sealing the countertop with a need would be redundant and will save you time and money.
Deciding on the sealer layers
Keeping a tab on the absorption time helps you to decide the sealer layers you need to put on the granite countertop.
- If the water is getting absorbed instantaneously, you need to wipe off the water immediately and apply a few layers of the sealer annually.
- If it is getting absorbed in 4-5 minutes, you need to apply multiple layers every 3 to 5 years. Make sure to do the water test again before you apply the sealer after 3-5 years.
- Only one layer is needed if water is getting absorbed in 10 minutes. No further sealing might be necessary for years.
- If the time taken for absorption is more than 30 minutes, you do need to seal it at the moment.
How to seal the countertop?
You can do sealing. There are many guides available on Google, and you can also take the help of youtube to learn the intricacies of this process. You can hire a professional if you need more confidence in doing it independently. Hiring an experienced person will make sure that the job is done meticulously.
End Takeaway
Reading this article must have given you an insight into the sealing of your granite countertop to keep it durable for years. One fallacy amongst the owner is that sealing will make the countertop shiny, but it needs to be corrected. Only polishing can make the countertop shiny.
