Removing Sealer From Quartz

QUESTION:

I purchased white Caesarstone quartz countertops directly from a manufacturer, but I didn't realized they sealed the stone until it was installed under my drop in tub.


The "film" started flaking off once I started scrubbing it with my finger thinking it was silicone...

How do I strip the sealer without damaging the quartz stone? I went to the manufacture and they told me to scrub it off with fine steel wool. Can someone please help me??

ANSWER:

I'd defer to the manufacturer and follow their instructions on this one.

Here's why:

Caesarstone is not actually a "stone". It's a man-made quartz countertop like Silestone, Zodiac, Cambria quartz and others. These are made from stone combining quartz in a resin that is dyed and formed into slabs.

Solvents and other chemicals that you could use on granite countertops to remove a sealer will likely damage the resin in your quartz countertops.

And Caesarstone did not seal it. It isn't meant to be sealed. Quartz countertops have a low rate of absorption and do not stain easy.

They say it is stain-proof, but that's not quite true. Quartz countertops can be stained. It's very hard to do, but it does happen. It just can't be sealed.

So, I'd kick whoever told you it needed to be sealed in the shins. Just kidding... but that advice is plain wrong.

I wish I could help you more, but give the steel wool a shot. We recommend using steel wool as well for some issues, so this may work fine.

Learn more about granite vs. quartz at the countertops materials page.

Comments for Removing Sealer From Quartz

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New Countertops sealed
by: Anonymous

I just had new countertops installed and they put sealant on it. They didn't even clean it before sealing it. Should I make them replace them? Will it damage my countertops by removing the sealant? HELP! These cost a lot of money!

==== Countertop Specialty comment:

Quartz countertops do not need sealing. So, if your countertops are man-made quartz countertops, then the installers should not have applied a sealer. They should know that.

Maybe the countertop is not man-made quartz?

If it is, then the sealer may or may not damage the surface. If the sealer was a solvent-based sealer, then it could damage or discolor the surface.

A water-based sealer should not cause any permanent damage.

However, any sealer could leave a streaky haze on the surface that is very difficult to remove.

So, if you are seeing any discoloration or hazy film, then something needs to be done. Possibly it would require replacing the countertops.

However, you need to determine if indeed the material is a man-made quartz countertop or if it is granite or some other natural stone.

Sealing natural stone like granite is normal. Sealers won't discolor granite, but a sealer could still leave a chalky haze if it were left to dry on the surface.

So, verify the type of countertop you have and then inspect the surface for any problems. If there are no problems, then I wouldn't worry about it.

If you do see a haze or discoloration, then contact your installers to resolve the matter.
Your countertops are not quartz
by: Anonymous

I live in china and manufacture both Quartz and agglomerate marble surfaces.

Lemon juice will not etch quartz.

Your countertops, 100% have marble content... especially if they were cheap. A good way to test if a countertop is a pure quartz agglomerate is to put a few drops of a concentrated acid on the surface. If it bubbles, even a little, it's not pure quartz.
Discoloration on quartz countertop
by: Katy

My contractor tried to remover sealer and glue on my black quartz countertop with Goooff and it damage the surface.

There are discolorations here and there . Is there any methods to restore the color back to black? Please, reply, I'm desperate. Thank you.

==== Countertop Specialty comment:

You may be able to restore the color but many chemicals can discolor quartz countertops and it can be permanent.

The best option is to clean with Bar Keeper's Friend and see if that works. If not... probably permanent and your fabricator should buy you a new countertop.
Lemon Juice Staining on Quartz?!?
by: Anonymous

I recently refurbished a flat and installed a quartz counter top in the kitchen. I bought the quartz direct from the suppliers who also installed it for me. I went to their yard and they had a good selection of slabs of all sorts of stone - although these guys are not high street suppliers.

Tenants in the flat have told me that the quartz has been stained by Lemon juice that they spilled the night before - I went and looked and it appears that the surface has been either stripped or etched (Im not sure which).

Everything I read says lemon juice won't stain quartz - will it? and what can I use to fix this?

=== ADMIN COMMENT:

Lemon juice should not damage (etch or stain) quartz countertops. However, quartz can be damaged by some chemicals, so I wouldn't say it is impossible.

One possibility is that the countertop is not an "quartz" countertop. There are now several man-made or "engineered stone" varieties... not just quartz.

There are also marble-based engineered surfaces. I'm not talking about "cultured" marble, rather countertops made essentially in the same manner as quartz (quartz and resin) except with marble (marble and resin).

And just like real marble, these man-made marble surfaces will easily etch.

Unfortunately, once either quartz or marble engineered stone surfaces are chemically damaged it is often permenant.

Natuarl stone countertops you can alway restore, but fixing quartz countertops or other manufactured countertops is tricky.

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Removing Gloss Sealer from a Quartz Countertop

QUESTION:

We have just had a Cambria quartz countertop installed. When the backsplash was installed the installer sealed it with Tilelab Gloss Sealer and Finish and he has spilled some of it on the countertop.

What would be the best product to use to remove the sealer from the quartz countertop?

ANSWER:

Well, IF it were a granite countertop (or any other natural stone) I'd suggest using acetone or methylene chloride to strip a sealer....

However, such solvents could potentially damage the resin that colors and binds the quartz of a quartz countertop.

So, DO NOT use solvents or any other strong chemical like bleach or acids on Silestone, Cambria, Zodiac, HanStone, or any brand of quartz countertops. Many chemicals will permanently damage quartz countertops.

You may try using 0000 grade steel wool pad, but go lightly. It should not scratch at all, but again this is a man-made product, so options for repair/cleaning are more limited than with granite or natural stone countertops.

But first, I'd contact the manufacturer and see what they recommend for removing a sealer.

Comments for Removing Gloss Sealer from a Quartz Countertop

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Dawn Power
by: Anonymous

We have an arborite countertop and spilled the Tilelab Gloss Sealer on it. We got all of it off using Dawn Power Lift (Dishwashing Liquid) and a non-scratching scrubbing sponge.

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