Do My Granite Counters Need to Be Sealed?

That question is a good one since a search online can bring you face-to-face with information that can seem like a contradiction at first glance. This brief article will not only consider the question "Do granite countertops need to be sealed", it will also why there seem to be conflicting answers to that question.

Is Sealing Your Granite "Required"?

Let's take a brief look at the fundamental reason why people get what seem to be conflicting answers to this question. The reason answers can appear to be at odds with one another is because of how the question is worded. What one person sees as a need may be different from what another person thinks of when they hear the word need. So, in order to clarify the answer let's consider the same question in view of what is "required" - what a granite owner has to do. Once we look at this, the reason for conflicting answers may become clear.

So, is sealing granite required for all granite? No. We can see this by looking at what is stated by the Marble Institute of America:

"When consulting with your stone supplier, you may find that many stones do not require sealing. However, applying an impregnating sealer is a common practice."

The statement shows that some granite does not require sealing. The same statement though, shows that even if a stone does not require sealing, many owners choose to seal it nonetheless. This is because sealing the granite can make maintaining the stone easier. Notice another comment from the same source:

"Sealing does not make the stone stain proof, rather it makes the stone more stain resistant..."

Stain resistance is a key factor when considering how easy it will be to keep your granite looking its best. A stone's ability to resist staining can give you more time to get spills wiped up. And, the easiest stain to clean up is the one that never happened.

Is Granite Sealer Needed?

Considering the aforementioned points regarding whether a granite stone requires sealing, the answer to this question can be explained more easily. Whether your particular stone requires sealing can be determined by your granite supplier. But if you choose to seal your granite countertop with an impregnating sealer as mentioned by the Marble Institute of America it will make it more stain resistant.

So the answer to the question is not the same for everyone. There are factors involved that can affect whether a particular stone needs to be sealed. However, even if you have selected a stone that does not need sealed, applying an impregnating sealer to your granite can help the stone to resist staining.