Is High Quality Sealer Worth It For High Quality Granite
QUESTION:Does this chocolate bordeaux granite need a sealer?? If so, is this worth (also let me know if it will penetrate/be effective to apply) the following sealer::http://cbeckstone.net/ ... "Hot Seal" (Life time warranty OR even a 15 yr) ... about $4 / sft for material and application!! Thanks ANSWER:Well, as with any stone the need for a granite sealer is not necessarily a function of the price you paid for the granite... it certainly does correlate in some instances, but all you need to do is perform the water test on a sample or the installed granite to determine if it does or doesn't need a sealer.Some varieties/color of granite always need a sealer and some never do, but they are all natural products that can vary, so testing is the best way to answer your question. Regarding the link to the sealer... I've never heard of it, but based on the small description it appears to be a topical vs. and impregnating sealer. Topical sealers have come a long way and can be useful in some -mostly large commercial- situations to prevent excessive damage or etching, but in general you do NOT want to put a topical coating on any stone. Topical "sealers" form a hard coating that doesn't let the stone breath and can be problematic if a repair is necessary. Again... never heard of the product and don't have enough of a description to say for sure, but sounds like a topical and not an impregnating sealer, which is what you want. Regarding the quality of sealer vs. the quality of stone... The quality or grade of a stone has little to do with this either. If a stone needs sealing, then you want to use a quality sealer. Now you don't have to use the most expensive. The most advanced sealers are expensive, but the work differently and last far longer (possibly forever) than the last generation of sealers, which are still very good. I recommend using STONE SENTRY or SenGuard Sealers. Stone Sentry is an excellent sealer that will give you 5 to 10 years protection depending on the porosity of the stone and proper application. SenGuard represents the most advanced technology on the market forming permanent bonds with the stone. It's much more expensive, but it will be effective for 15+ years... and likely for much longer. The technology hasn't been around long enough to truly test that, but the chemical properties that determine how the sealer works make it likely to last a lifetime. Regards, 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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