[caption id="attachment_318" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Sealers do not add shine to surfaces, nor completely protect them from stains."]
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Sealers can be great tools for protecting your natural stone but it is important to understand their limitations.
Myth: Natural stone sealers prevent staining.
Fact: Some stones, like granite and soapstone, rarely stain. Some marble and travertine may stain if the spill is not wiped up immediately. Either way, a sealer only slows down the natural rate at which stone absorbs liquids; sealers do not create some impenetrable force field around your stone.
Not all sealers are created equal.
SenGuard Permanent Bond Sealer is an excellent liquid repellent and dramatically reduces stones' absorption rates. But if a cracked bottle of oil or unnoticed drop of wine remains on the surface too long, you will still have stained stone.
This also means that sealers do not protect your stone from etching and water stains either. Find an etch remover polish or contact a professional to correct etching issues with your marble and other stones.
Myth: Sealing natural stone will keep it shiny.
Fact: Sealers do not enhance shine. Polish does. In some cases, such as with granite, only a mechanical process using diamond abrasives can restore or increase shine.
It is important to note that acids (coffee, soda) slowly damage the shine on marble, limestone and travertine counter tops so it is important to clean up spills immediately to prevent staining and to maintain shine.
For further information on natural stone care, or to add natural stone to your home, call Marble and Granite Inc. at 877.39-STONE
or visit
marbleandgranite.com.
Source:
countertopspecialty.comImage Source:
HansNYC