How to Seal Marble

Each stone is original, whether it's marble, granite or some other form of rock. One piece of stone isn't like all other piece of stone on the planet. That's basically why marble is so popular: its beauty is in part because of its uniqueness. The personality of each stone is what attracts homeowners towards using marble or granite. This uniqueness also means that no two stones have exactly the same absorbent qualities. It'd be similar, but nonetheless distinctive if all stone originated from one quarry. For instance, Carrera Marble from Italy may perhaps not absorb anything, while a related stone type from Asia may absorb just like a sponge. It doesn't matter where the natural rock is found in your home: counter-top, fireplace surround, kitchen island or floor tile. If its natural stone, then there's a good possibility it could require sealing. Not all marble or granite will require a sealer. If your natural stone can't absorb anything, purchasing an impregnating sealer won't sink in to the stone. An impregnating sealer is one which sits below the surface of stone and deposits solid particles in to the stone pores to coat the individual minerals below. Neither marble or granite will a stain if a wax won't seep into it. This might come as a shock since generally salesmen will let you know that most stone must be sealed every 6 months / annually. There's actually no need to seal most marble or granite frequently. For the most part, there's just a small percentage of commercially available polished stone used for countertops that needs sealing.

The Marble Sealer Test You Can Perform at Home

Homeowners can check their marble and granite to decide if it needs to be sealed. There are two tests you can perform: a water-based test and a mineral-based test. • For the water test: Take a little bit of water (several tablespoons) and keep it on a stone slab for 10-15 minutes and then take it off by wiping it up (using a paper towel). If water doesn't darken the {stone|rock} when it's removed, the marble or granite won't absorb water-based staining material or a water-based sealer either. • For the mineral oil test: To determine if a solvent-based or petroleum-based stain will enter the marble or granite. Merely pat some mineral oil around the slab and leave for approximately 5-10 minutes. If, when you eliminate it, it doesn't darken the stone, neither will a staining agent. If the mineral oil does go dark, don't be worried about harming the marble or granite with the test. The mineral oil will entirely evaporate, leaving {the stone its natural color. What this test tells you is that a solvent-based sealer to protect against oil-based stains is perfectly fine. So what have we learned: when there is no color change after testing with either water or mineral oil, you don't absolutely need a sealer on your own marble or granite countertop.