Congratulations – you’ve taken the plunge and invested in a granite countertop. Not only will it make your kitchen (or bathroom) look amazing, but you will also add some serious value to your home at the same time.
However, as we all know, this beautiful natural stone does not come cheap. So obviously you need to look after it. After all, as we’ve explained many times, it’s porous and so, without sealing it, spillages can soak into the surface.
Is my countertop sealed?
If you’re not sure whether your countertop has a sealant, it’s an easy enough thing to test. And you need to do this to be sure you don’t unnecessarily reseal a surface.
Simply drop a tiny volume of water and a few drops of oil in two separate, inconspicuous areas of your granite. Let both liquids sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Then look to see whether the stone has absorbed the liquid. If some of the liquid has disappeared and/or the stone looks darker, you need to apply a granite sealant.
How do I seal a granite countertop?
Firstly, clean the surface using a hot, soapy cloth. Get rid of crumbs, dirt and all other residue.
Next, spray the worktop with the sealer and wipe into the granite with a lint-free soft cloth. (Follow the manufacturer’s instructions while doing this.) Let it dry. Then buff the surface with a similar (but dry) cloth.
Do this two or three times, and then leave the surface to dry for 24 hours before a final polish. (This bonds the sealing products to the granite’s pores.)
You can then use a granite polish if you wish, using it in the same way as the sealer.
How often should I reseal my granite worktop?
If your product came factory-sealed, it could last for a decade or 15 years. If not, we’d recommend you reseal your granite every six to 12 months.
Clearly, you’ll also need to take good care of your granite kitchen worktop on a day-to-day basis.
Let us take care of your granite surfaces
Royal Stone Care has many years’ experience looking after granite surfaces and other natural stones at domestic and commercial properties across London.
Whether you want us to take care of sealing for you, or you need granite chip repair or indeed any kind of granite repair or cleaning, we can help. Give us a call right now for an initial chat – we never give anyone the hard sell.
