Is All Countertop Stone Sealer the Same?
That is a fair question to ask because there are so many countertop sealers available on the market that it can be difficult to know what the differences are and which one is needed for your particular project. In this post, we will take a brief look at some different kinds of countertop sealers and explore what might be good to think about when you begin to search for one.
What to Consider
There are some basic things to consider when you begin to think about choosing a countertop sealer. For example, what is the environment in which the countertop is installed? Is it a conference room at a business? Is it a work space surface on which there will be various kinds of substances? Or is it a countertop in your kitchen? Each of these types of countertops may require different kinds of sealer.
Food Safe Sealer
For instance, if you are treating a kitchen countertop on which food is regularly prepared, you may choose a food safe stone sealer such as Skudo. Selecting a food safe countertop sealer makes the most sense in that situation. however, it may not be the best sealer for every scenario.
What is the Purpose?
Different stone sealers are formulated to fill various needs and some perform better than others in specific areas. There are sealers geared toward protecting surfaces from graffiti and others that work well with porous stone. In any event, it is good to keep this in mind when you begin looking for the best stone sealer since it might influence your decision.
Sealers for Specific Materials
In addition to the environment of the surface, it might be good to consider the material that is being sealed. Why is that the case? Because sealer manufacturers produce sealers for all sorts of materials. Some of the different sealer types include:
- Concrete Sealers
- Natural Stone Sealers
- Color Enhancing Sealers
- Engineered Stone Sealers
- Sealers for Exotic Stone
As you can see from that list, there are many kinds of sealers and they can be based on the material type or the condition of the countertop or other surface that is being sealed.
Choosing the Type
We have already looked into the fact that there are products for various environments and we have seen that the material to be sealed plays a role as well. In addition to those factors is the kind of sealer itself. Yes, your choice of the type of sealer varies as well. There are impregnating sealers and topical sealers from which to choose. So, what is the difference?
Impregnating Countertop Stone Sealer
As mentioned, sealers are designed in different ways. That means that how the sealer works can be different. For example, an impregnating sealer operates on the stone differently than other sealer types. Note what is mentioned on the Tenax USA website, one company that makes impregnating sealers:
Impregnating sealers are sealers that penetrate the stone’s surface and repel substances in order to protect the stone from absorbing liquids and other contaminants.
So in the case of an impregnating sealer, the product makes it way below the surface of the stone and then repels the dirt or stain causing substances. This is not how all sealers work, but it does have some appealing characteristics. Namely, it keeps contaminants out while allowing moisture inside the stone to escape. This is exactly what you may want in some cases.
Topical Sealers
Another type of stone sealer is the group commonly referred to as topical sealing products. Unlike the previously mentioned stone sealers, topical stone sealers (A.K.A. film-formers) work in a different way.
Topical sealers coat the surface of the stone and create a barrier that prevents substance from entering the stone or leaving it. This may be what you need for certain applications.
When choosing a topical sealer, be aware that there are different kinds. The first kind is commonly known as a “strip-able” topical sealer and the second is referred to as a permanent topical sealer. They are just as they sound. One can be removed by stripping it off and reapplying it and the other is permanent and is more difficult to remove.
Final Thoughts
As we have considered, there are many things to think about when trying to choose a sealer for any type of stone surface. We looked at the importance of considering where the stone is and what it is used for. We also considered some of the different types of stone sealer that can be used and how they work differently from one another. Finally, we took a brief glance at how topical sealers differ in their permanence.
In the end, you will usually let the project itself point you in the proper direction and make your decision of what kind of sealer to use based on the requirements of the project. But no matter what the project is, you will no doubt find a sealer designed for the task.