Professional SenGuard Application vs. Sealing Granite Yourself

by Elaine Treadwell
(San Diego, CA)

QUESTION:

A countertop company is trying to sell us on the importance of the SenGuard treatment that protects granite from staining and comes with a 15 year guarantee.

A slab yard merchant says that process is really unnecessary and the consumer can do just as well sealing the granite themselves for less money. Which process do you recommend?

I'm considering a dark green/black granite like Ubatuba or Verde Butterfly.

ANSWER:

First, it may be that neither stone needs sealing because they can both be pretty dense and non-absorbent especially verde butterfly.

That's why you should always test for sealing granite countertops (use water or acetone) any stone you intend to seal to determine if indeed it will need or even absorb a sealer.

If testing determines that a granite sealer should be applied, then SenGuard is excellent... the best technology available.

Now, you can buy SenGuard and apply it yourself. It is very easy and the sealer kit comes with a DVD and instructional booklet.

The catch on doing it yourself is that you do not get the 15-year warranty. So, you have to consider the likelihood that you'd ever actually need the warranty.

My opinion is that you won't ever need it.

SenGuard granite sealer forms permanent bonds with the stone. It's quite likely that you will get far more than 15 years of protection from your application and it may last a "lifetime."

Personally, I don't think there is much advantage, if any, sealing granite countertops with professional application... unless you simply prefer to pay people to do work for you even though you could do it.

I think the warranty says that SenGuard knows how good their product is, but doesn't offer more warranty than they need to. No other granite sealer will perform better or even close to 15 years... see what I mean.

I think it's great that SenGuard offers a 15-year warranty. I also think that the product is so good that the warranty really doesn't offer you much value.

I agree with the slab merchant and recommend you do it yourself and save the money a pro would charge you.

Good Luck,
Ryan