To (re)seal or not to (re)seal granite counter tops?
 

I have heard and googled conflicting advice over whether or not to
reapply sealant to a granite kitchen countertop. Our countertop was
presumably sealed upon installation 4 years ago but nothing has been
done since.

So, what do the Usenet experts here recommend for upkeep of a granite
countertop?

Also, Home Depot for example sells a combo package with cleaner,
disinfectant, sealant, and polish.
Are any of these "potions" worth applying?

Thanks?

I have a dark granite and it doesnt stain with coffee, I was told if I
left red wine on it all night it could stain. Light colors will stain
easier. Id say if you have had no problems and dont use products that
can stain you have little to worry about, but buying a " kit" seems
like overkill, it is sold to make them money. If you want to seal it for
saftey just buy the sealer.

blueman wrote in message ...
I have heard and googled conflicting advice over whether or not to
reapply sealant to a granite kitchen countertop. Our countertop was
presumably sealed upon installation 4 years ago but nothing has been
done since.

So, what do the Usenet experts here recommend for upkeep of a granite
countertop?

Also, Home Depot for example sells a combo package with cleaner,
disinfectant, sealant, and polish.
Are any of these "potions" worth applying?

Thanks?

veggie oil only.

Ours had 511 Impregnator applied when installed 7-2000 and
instructions to redo annually. We don't follow instructions well and
nothing has been done since. Looks good.

On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 09:47:01 GMT, blueman wrote:

I have heard and googled conflicting advice over whether or not to
reapply sealant to a granite kitchen countertop. Our countertop was
presumably sealed upon installation 4 years ago but nothing has been
done since.

So, what do the Usenet experts here recommend for upkeep of a granite
countertop?

Also, Home Depot for example sells a combo package with cleaner,
disinfectant, sealant, and polish.
Are any of these "potions" worth applying?

Thanks?

I have followed this debate and finally called the company that sold us the
granite. They said that it was sealed when they fabricated it and nothing
else needs to be done to it. Tom

I have heard and googled conflicting advice over whether or not to
reapply sealant to a granite kitchen countertop. Our countertop was
presumably sealed upon installation 4 years ago but nothing has been
done since.

So, what do the Usenet experts here recommend for upkeep of a granite
countertop?

Also, Home Depot for example sells a combo package with cleaner,
disinfectant, sealant, and polish.
Are any of these "potions" worth applying?

Thanks?



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In article ,
(Fogbank) wrote:

blueman wrote in message

[snip]

veggie oil only.

Oil is the biggest enemy of granite. Seal once a year with a silicone
based grout sealer.

In article ,
blueman wrote:

I have heard and googled conflicting advice over whether or not to
reapply sealant to a granite kitchen countertop. Our countertop was
presumably sealed upon installation 4 years ago but nothing has been
done since.

So, what do the Usenet experts here recommend for upkeep of a granite
countertop?

Also, Home Depot for example sells a combo package with cleaner,
disinfectant, sealant, and polish.
Are any of these "potions" worth applying?

Thanks?

Seal once a year with silicon based grout sealant.

Actually some stone sealers have tung oil in them. Not so popular in
the US, however other countries such as China have used tung oil for
century's for both wood and stone. As for vegetable oil, it can become
rancid.

Robatoy wrote:
In article ,
(Fogbank) wrote:


blueman wrote in message


[snip]

veggie oil only.


Oil is the biggest enemy of granite. Seal once a year with a silicone
based grout sealer.

"blueman" wrote in message
...
I have heard and googled conflicting advice over whether or not to
reapply sealant to a granite kitchen countertop. Our countertop was
presumably sealed upon installation 4 years ago but nothing has been
done since.

So, what do the Usenet experts here recommend for upkeep of a granite
countertop?

Also, Home Depot for example sells a combo package with cleaner,
disinfectant, sealant, and polish.
Are any of these "potions" worth applying?

Thanks?

it depends upon the specific granite used. if you have a scrap of it, leave
a drop of lemon juice, a drop of oil, and a drop of red wine on it for a
while. if you have a mark on them from any of these liquids, then seal it.

"Charles Spitzer" wrote:
"blueman" wrote in message
...
I have heard and googled conflicting advice over whether or not to
reapply sealant to a granite kitchen countertop. Our countertop was
presumably sealed upon installation 4 years ago but nothing has been
done since.

So, what do the Usenet experts here recommend for upkeep of a granite
countertop?

Also, Home Depot for example sells a combo package with cleaner,
disinfectant, sealant, and polish.
Are any of these "potions" worth applying?

Thanks?

it depends upon the specific granite used. if you have a scrap of it, leave
a drop of lemon juice, a drop of oil, and a drop of red wine on it for a
while. if you have a mark on them from any of these liquids, then seal it.

Da! What Charles said.

In article ,
G Henslee wrote:

Actually some stone sealers have tung oil in them. Not so popular in
the US, however other countries such as China have used tung oil for
century's for both wood and stone. As for vegetable oil, it can become
rancid.

Tung oil is used to 'finish' some stone products. That 'seals' it as
well.
When sealing a granite countertop, however, the idea is not to introduce
a 'finish', strictly a barrier for liquids etc. The stuff they use is
from the same family as grout sealers. You wouldn't use tung oil for
that job. Silicone/teflon based highly capillary sealants are used.

I vividly recall a recent event when a Cambria Black granite countertop
was installed and the plumber put a wad of putty on the counter. When he
removed the putty, it had left a grease stain in the granite which could
NOT be removed. The stain was still there 3 weeks after when the
insurance company showed up. That was a 'sealed' countertop.

The thing that gets me is why is it so difficult to seal a granite top?
The stuff flows on and looks like water, get it all wet, and wipe
dry...done..what's the big deal? Once every couple of years will do.

The big 'seal is done forever' argument has been created by the granite
boys to counter (pun not intended) the solid surface guys who know their
products like Staron, Corian etc won't need sealing.
When it comes to stain resistance... nothing beats an acrylic solid
surface counter...well...there's stainless steel if you can live with
the noise, dents and scratches....

0¿0
˜

Rob

www.topworks.ca

To (re)seal or not to (re)seal granite counter tops?
 

You have to seal it.. For more info just go to www.sealandshine.net

The reason for the conflicting stories is because the granite
companies dont want you to know...

Hope the site helps..

Melissa
Seal & Shine, LLC
Granite Maintenance Service & Care Products