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How Often Do Granite Worktops Need Sealing?

Granite worktop sealants do break down over time and 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?

Most good granite worktop fabricators will have sealed your worktop before it is installed. This will offer you immediate protection against the normal spills and smudges that are going to occur in the kitchen.

However, the silicon sealants generally used by most worktop fabricators are flawed from the outset, and will fail in a relatively short period of time.

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 fail

Reason being, the silicone sealants generally used to seal granite worktops 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 mismatch is 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 and fail. The result will be darkening of the granite when wet, difficult stains to remove & it will be generally harder to keep the worktop clean. Greasy marks will be visible as residual grease will remain on the surface.

Nb.  It is important that acidic substances such as vinegar, wine, lemon juice etc. are wiped up straight away, within seconds of the spill. 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.

Why do granite worktops need sealing?

Stone is hard, and is a natural element of our world, but before we install it in our homes it is polished to bring out the hidden beauty that lies within the raw hewn rock.

In order to maintain the polished surface of granite and keep it looking as good as it is on the first day you admire it in your home, some care and maintenance is required.

Granite worktops can be spoiled accidentally if new owners are not pre warned in advance of a few care requirements of the stone.

At Stoneworld you can imagine that we are a bit precious about stone, please excuse our passion!

Things to avoid doing to your granite worktop

We do not recommend:

Our advice for the best care and maintenance of granite worktops is:

  1. Initially, use the right product to seal your new granite worktop before the surface is used.
  2. For daily cleaning we recommend a non-greasy cleaner.

At Stoneworld we recommend using Rob Parkers 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 Parkers Best Granite Sealer can offer up to 3 months 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.

Buy Rob Parkers Best Granite Sealer now>>

Whilst Rob Parkers Best Granite Sealer will assist in the protection of your worktop, it is essential you still wipe up spills immediately.  Furthermore we never recommend cutting, or placing hot pans directly on the surface if you wish to keep the finish perfect.

Daily Care of Granite Worktops

For daily cleaning of granite kitchen worktops, which will give excellent shine with no smears, we recommend Rob Parkers Best Quartz and Granite Cleaner.  This product has also been specifically developed to addresses an issue constantly asked about.  Namely, how do you keep granite worktops shiny?

Find out why Rob Parkers Best Quartz and Granite Cleaner works better than others  here>>

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.