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I am confused about if and when to seal / reseal my granite countertop. Do I need to have an expert do the sealing and if not what product should I use? How often should granite be resealed?

Article Number: 38 | Rating: Unrated | Last Updated: Thu, Mar 1, 2007 at 2:26 PM

Q. I am confused about if and when to seal / reseal my granite countertop. Do I need to have an expert do the sealing and if not what product should I use? How often should granite be resealed?

A. First off, understand that contrary to what you may have been told, not all granites need to be sealed. Why? Because not all stones were created equal. Some are more absorbant than others, and some just plain do not absorb anything, including the impregnating sealer designed to be absorbed, hence there is no need for the product. Regarding sealing of your stone investment, check first to see if you require sealing by spilling some clean fresh water on it for 15 minutes or so. If it darkens the stone (indicating that it is absorbing), then let it dry and seal it. After 24 hours, try the test again. If it darkens, let it dry, then seal again. If after 5-10 minutes the stone does not go dark, there is no need to seal the granite (it is not absorbing anything anyway). Now, if you have one of those stones that is more akin to a sponge than a rock, we have good news for you. Once you put an impregnating sealer (a good one anyway) into your stone counter, it is in the stone. Nothing is going to remove it. Some may require 2-3 applications to clog the pores, but once they are clogged, they will stay that way for a long, long, loooonngg time. Many sealers now have 15 year warranties, so you are good to go. How do you know when it is time to re-seal? When you notice water darkening the stone again. Pretty easy isn't it?

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