Specialty Sealers
If you are one of our customers, you know we undersell and over-educate about natural stone restoration, protection, and maintenance. It is VERY important that natural stone be properly sealed and protected to help protect your investment. Natural stone is inherently porous and susceptible to staining. Some stones are also easily damaged from acids such as wine, lemons, vinegar, etc. We strongly encourage you to read the following information and get you stone sealed on a regular basis.
The most widely used sealer for Natural Stone is a penetrating sealer. Frequently referred to as an impregnating sealer. This sealer is designed to absorb into the stone and “help” prevent it from staining. Properly sealed surfaces do not guarantee you don’t get a stain, but it gives you a better chance to remove the stain if you get one. Impregnating sealers come in neutral (which does not change the color of the stone) or enhancing (which darkens the stone and grout.) Impregnating sealers do not stop calcium-based stones, such as marble, some quartzites, limestone, etc., from etching.
Lifetime Stainproof Warranty – We are authorized applicators and distributors of a lifetime, full slab replacement warranty for stone. If the stone gets a stain and we cannot get it out, the insuring company will pay for a new slab of stone similar to your existing stone.
To prevent etching or staining, you must put a topical protectant on it. Topical protectants come with advantages and disadvantages. For example, if you use it on a floor, you must be aware of trapping moisture that could cause the stone to spall. Topicals are also prone to being scratched.
Some “Quasi” topical sealers are ceramic coatings. We believe they’re an excellent sealer that will help prevent staining and give you some topical protection. We recommend this sealer on many porous granites and marbles subjected to excessive oils. One caution is that it could darken the stone.
One of the methods that we recommend to prevent etching is a protective film. Protective films work very similarly to a screensaver on a cell phone. They are inexpensive and offer excellent protection that can be easily removed and reapplied. This process works great, especially in commercial settings or areas where the stone is subject to a lot of use. You remove the old layer and put a new layer on. They work very well for what they are intended to do, but it does take away the natural look of the stone.
A UV coating is one of the newer topical coatings to hit the Stone Market, but not recent in technology. Certified Stone Professionals has been utilizing UV coatings on concrete and other surfaces for over 15 years. We have been applying More AntiEtch UV coatings on natural stone for the last 5 Years with great success. It is one of the most natural-looking protectants you can find for your stone. It has disadvantages like any coating, but can be refinished or reapplied. There is a steep learning curve to apply this product, so our experience is crucial to the success of your top.
Our experience of over 20 years has reinforced our belief that one sealer will not protect all stone surfaces. Because of this, there are certain situations where we custom-mix our sealers to get you the best protection possible. Again, we have the experience and knowledge to match the most effective sealer with your type of stone. We strongly encourage you to call us and discuss any concerns you have before purchasing your stone or after installation to be sure that you have the best possible protection available.
