Stone Sealers and Sealing Stone
One of the things that comes with looking for a new stone countertop is the decision of whether to seal the surface. In fact, this question may come up even if you are not installing a countertop. You may contemplate whether you need to seal some other kind of surface. In this post, we will discuss the basics of stone sealers and sealing stone. Along the way, we will look at some of the kinds of stone sealer that is used for stone and other materials. Additionally, we will cover some things to consider when trying to determine what sealer to use for specific projects.
Types of Sealers
The first thing we need to look at in our discussion of stone sealers is what kinds of sealers are available and what makes each type unique. Making this distinction can help you to determine which type of stone sealer to use. Since each sealer is designed for particular types of material, you will find that even sealers that are in the same family will work better on various materials. As a matter of fact, this is true for many stone fabrication products. For example, there are adhesives for bonding different stone. Let’s get into our consideration of some basic sealer types.
Topical Sealers
The first kind of sealer that we will consider is the topical sealer. These kinds of stone sealers work by forming a film on the surface of the material to which they are applied. They are formulated to protect the surface by adding a film to the surface. Hence, the name “topical” sealers. These sealers exist in both strip-able and permanent varieties. Strip-able sealers can be removed after they are applied using products made for removing them while the permanent sealers are generally more difficult to remove. Some of these topical sealers are water-based and others are solvent-based. Yet, topical sealers are just one kind of stone sealer that is available.
Impregnating Sealers
In addition to topical sealers there are impregnating sealers that are formulated to help protect stone surfaces. These sealants penetrate the surface of the stone and repel substances that make their way onto the surface of the stone. Once the impregnating sealer is in place, the absorption of the stone is inhibited and it does not readily absorb liquids. This results in the stone becoming stain resistant. Like the topical sealers mentioned above, impregnating sealers also are available in water-based and solvent-based forms. Impregnating sealers also vary in the types of liquids they repel. Some impregnating sealants repel both oil and water while others repel only water. which kind of impregnating sealer you need will be influenced by the project. Which leads us to our next topic; which sealer to use.
What Sealer Should I Use?
As we have seen in this post, there are many variations of stone sealers. Knowing whether you need a water-based topical sealer that repels only water or if you would be better off using an impregnating sealer that is solvent-based for repelling oil and water can get somewhat tricky if you are not familiar with what kinds of sealer are the most practical for a given application.
One of the largest producers of stone sealers is Tenax. This sealer manufacturer makes all sorts of sealers for everything from concrete, natural stone, and even engineered quartz. Tenax4You.com even offers resources to help you in selecting which kind of sealer is right for your project. For example, Tenax offers sealers that are also stone enhancers. With so many sealants from which to choose, it could be tough to determine what sealer to select. Of course most people end up searching for things like “the best stone sealer”, “the best granite sealer”, “what sealer is best for quartz, and “which marble sealer is the best”. One sealer could not possibly be the best for all of those. Why not?
What Is the Best Stone Sealer?
Trying to determine which sealer is the best can make your head hurt. There are so many options and variations that deciding on a sealer for your stone surface can become so complex that you simply want to give up. Why is that?
The reason that deciding on a product for sealing stone is so difficult is because there are different kinds of stone surfaces that need to be sealed. There are also differences within those various categories too. For example, granite is available in grades. Additionally, some kinds of natural stone are more porous than others. So, they will need sealers designed for more porous material. Even the finish of the stone can affect the sealing of stone. This means companies that specialize in creating products for sealing stone and other materials generally offer multiple products. Because of these variables, many sealers could be rightly referred to as the “best” sealer. However, this would depend on the stone, the finish, the environment and many other factors.
In the end, which sealer you choose will depend on the project itself. Getting the best sealant for that project will require that you research the type of stone. Additionally, the kinds of sealers available for that material and what you want to protect the stone from also play a role. Going with a supplier that offer many options will no doubt offer you flexibility and quality as you make your decision.