Sealing Uba Tuba Granite and Ceramic Tiles

by Nishat
(Austin, TX)

QUESTION:

Should I seal Uba Tuba granite counter top and what kind of sealant should I use? Should ceramic tiles on the floor be sealed? What type of sealant should I use?

ANSWER:

Generally Uba Tuba is not absorbent and won't take a sealer. HOWEVER, it's important to remember that even though certain varieties of granite may have a similar density, with all natural stone qualities and characteristics can vary.

So, the simple way to tell if ANY stone you have needs sealing is to test it. Testing the actual slab you have or a sample you are looking to purchase is the ONLY way to know for sure. Be sure to test several areas of your Uba Tuba granite countertop.

The same is true for ceramic. Most ceramic tile is glazed and doesn't need sealing, but just test it the same as your granite countertop and that will tell you. The grout DOES need sealing in EVERY case though.

If your test tells you that you need to seal, then I recommend:

Stone Tech Bullet Proof (designed for more porous stones, but you probably will only need to use it once on uba tuba) --- see "products" page.

MB-4 Impregnator is also a long-lasting sealer.

For sealing your ceramic tile (again probably not necessary) you can still use StoneTech Bullet Proof or MB-4.

To seal only the grout use:

StoneTech Heavy Duty Grout Sealer (see "products").

When applying a sealer it is very important to closely follow the directions and wipe up excess prior to drying or you'll get a dull haze that will required chemical stripping.

Good Luck,
Ryan