Applying Granite Sealer on Polished Resined Countertop
by Ted
Typhoon Bordeaux Granite Kitchen Countertops
QUESTION:Hello, We recently installed Beautiful granite counter-tops, a lighter Brazilian "Typhoon Bordeaux" 3cm, that has a high gloss polished resin surface that looks like glass!After visiting and speaking with warehouse showroom personnel at Triton Stone and getting quotes from 6 installers over the next 2 weeks, the expressed opinions were split 50\50 concerning the need to "SEAL" this stone. Half stated that the -quarry applied and polished- surface Resin was sufficient in protecting the stone against absorption, and half stated it still had to be sealed to prevent stains!? Our chosen installer actually applied Senguard after fabrication and installation, as he said it is the BEST product he's seen in the past 12 years and doesn't take any chances on the lasting quality of his work (good answer)! I've included a pic of the kitchen for your review and was interested in your professional opinion...did this "TB Granite" need to be sealed, or not?! Will it need to be re-sealed in the future? Thanks for any advice, Ted ANSWER:Although Typhoon Bordeaux typically can take a granite sealer, countertops that have been resined often do not need sealing.However, since there are 2500+ colors of stone sold as granite (and not all are 'geologically' granite) you might imagine there is a range of qualities and characteristics. It's a natural product and every slab is truly unique. It is not uncommon for a granite of the same color/name/variety to also show differences. So, even though the traits of many colors are well-known and you can definitively say that granite ABC always needs to be sealed and granite XYZ never needs it, the only and best way to ever determine whether any particular slab of stone (resined or not) needs to be sealed is to perform the simple water test for sealing granite countertops on several areas. Performing this test removes all guess-work and opinion. You don't have to know a thing about any particular stone and the test will tell you if it needs a granite sealer or not. Of course, this test will also tell you if and when your granite countertops need re-sealing. Despite what you might read that sealing granite countertops 'must be' done every 6 months or every year or every 3-5 years... the truth is that it depends. The frequency for applying a granite sealer varies considerably based on several factors. The main one is that "granite" is not a uniform man-made product. It's not all the same. So, whenever you hear or read "granite is this... or granite does that... or granite needs" ... just remember these are very general guidelines that commonly (but not always) apply. The truth about applying a granite sealer is that there is no set schedule for any color or stone type. You may need to apply and/or re-apply a granite countertop sealer every year, 3 years, 5 years, etc., depending on the variables. And sometimes you won't have to re-seal for 10 years and sometimes not at all since many 'granite' colors do not, in fact cannot be sealed because the stone is just too dense, nothing readily absorbs and it's nearly impossible to stain already in it's natural state. So, it's always best to test preferably before you even buy the stone so you know it will perform as you want it too. Your installer is correct about the SenGuard Marble & Granite Sealer though. It is by far the best granite sealer available forming permanent bonds that require only a single application. And if he was able to successfully apply the SenGuard granite sealer, then you can conclude that your granite countertop "needed" sealing. Typically what will happen when a granite sealer is applied to a stone that does not need sealing is the sealer will dry on the surface or sealer residue will be left behind on the surface creating dull hazy streaks. I'd say you are good to go and you should thank your installer for a job well-done! Good Luck, Ryan P.S. Get all the facts, answers, explanations and simple solutions with step-by-step instructions for any issue, problem or question with our Granite & Marble Maintenance Manuals.
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