Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to seal my granite countertops monthly?

I can't tell you how often I hear this question.  This issue has been blown way out of proportion because of marketing.  For the record, many types of granite are so dense that they will not take a sealer at all.  In addition, many granites imported today have been sealed with a resin coating during the polishing process.  These will not accept a sealer either.

As a general rule of thumb, we recommend reapplication of a good impregnating sealer every two years.  You can test the effectiveness of your current sealer by pouring a little water on top of the countertop.  If the water beads up and the stone's color is unaffected, the sealer is in good shape and no further action is necessary.  If the stone is darkened by the water, then it is time for another application.

You may also read that you must seal granite to maintain its shiny polish. Not true. Sealing is for stain resistance. Both natural and synthetic stone countertops are polished by grinding and buffing the surface into a smooth shine.  Impregnating sealers close up the pores of the stone to prevent stains from soaking in - giving you time to wipe them up. Applying granite sealer/impregnator is really a very simple and infrequent "wipe on, wipe off" procedure.  It is easily done by a homeowner. 

Signature Stone seals its installations with SB sealer from Surface Treatment Technologies - the best sealer currently on the market.  As a premium upgrade, we offer FE treatment, also from Surface Treatment Technologies.  We are so confident in the SB/FE combination treatment that we will provide a lifetime stain warranty on installations where we provide this treatment.