Congratulations to you on remodeling parts of your home! What an exciting time it must be for you. Adding those natural stone countertops to your kitchen or bathroom was such a simple way to add that touch of elevation and sophistication to the aesthetic of your home, wasn’t it?
As you likely already know from all the research you must have done, the two most popular types of stone for natural stone countertops are marble and granite. (Allow us to add that we offer both in a variety of beautiful designs, for any of your future remodeling needs). And as beautiful as they are, they do require some maintenance to keep them looking sleek.
Despite being naturally strong and durable by design, we highly recommend you seal your natural stone countertops at least every ten years in order to preserve the integrity and beauty of the material for as long as possible.
Why Should You Seal Granite and Marble?
Granite and marble are porous in structure, as natural stones tend to be. When these stones are used as the material for your countertop, a sealant should be applied to avoid any potential discoloration from oils, water, and other fluids. When the natural stone countertop is sealed, fluids will no longer be able to seep into the stone. They’ll instead form into little beads on the surface.
These stones, when left unsealed, are easily prone to staining by deeply pigmented liquids like grape juice or wine— which can be devastating especially when your natural countertop is located in your kitchen.
Sealing your natural stone countertops also prevents etching, which is generally caused by acidity and acidic foods, such as citrus.
Ultimately, sealing creates a barrier between the party in your house and the integrity of your counters.
The Advantages of Sealing Your Natural Stone Countertops
Once your countertops are sealed, cleaning them will become hassle-free.
When you seal your natural stone countertops, they will become much more hygienic for daily use. Don’t forget, natural stones like marble and granite are porous and have a tendency to soak up whatever substances are spilled onto them, which in turn allow bacteria to seep in as well. Sealing prevents potentially hazardous materials to grow in the cracks, crevices, and pores of your counters.
Additionally, you won’t need as many harsh chemicals to clean your countertops. We don’t recommend the use of bleach, ammonia, and other aggressive acids. Instead, we recommend you stick to simple water, soap, and other countertop-friendly cleaning detergents.