Traditionally, natural stone did not require anything more than gentle cleaning with soap and water. Today, there are many sealers on the market for the treatment of natural stone.

Sealers come in two basic types, Coatings, and Impregnators (penetrating sealers).

Coatings place a coating on the surface of the stone that acts as a barrier to water, oil and dirt from entering the pores of the stone. Coatings are generally sacrificial, in that they will wear away and need to be reapplied in time. Coatings are generally cheaper, easy to apply, provide luster (shine), and can reduce slip resistance.

Impregnators or penetrating sealers deposit particles below the surface of the stone that restrict water, oil and dirt from entering. Sealers might be Water Repellent (water, fruit drinks, coffee, tea, soft drinks), or Oil Repellent (cooking oil, grease, body oils). Impregnators do not change the appearance of the stone, are generally more costly and solvent-based ones can produce noxious fumes during application.

Whether you seal your stone, and what with, will depend on the type of use the stone will be put to, the stone type, the traffic or work performed, and the type of finish applied to the stone.

Marble Art only uses food safe sealers on kitchen bench tops. We can advise you on whether you need a sealer, and what type to use depending on your requirements.