The capillaries or veins add beauty and appeal to marble, granite and other types of natural stone. Many people actually find this to be one of their most striking features. However, this feature is also what makes them susceptible to staining. This is because these sponge-like veins are the ones that absorb the liquid on the stone’s surface.
It is for this reason that natural stone—when used as flooring, shower walls, or countertop material—requires periodic sealing. Unfortunately, sealants by themselves cannot ensure that your natural stone surfaces will be safe from being damaged. It is true that a sealant can help with keeping stains at bay. However, it won’t do much when it comes to discolouration and etching.
Most sealants are topical and they’re usually sufficient in repelling spilled liquids and keep them from damaging natural stone surfaces. However, in essence, what they actually do is to slow down the absorption of liquid. This is why you should never leave standing liquid on natural stone surfaces. If you do, the liquid will soon find its way through the sealant and onto the stone.
There are newer types of sealants that are being used by manufacturers nowadays. These, accordingly, are more capable of actually protecting natural stone. These types of sealants penetrate the surface of the stone instead of just leaving a protective film above it.
When these sealants enter the stone, it helps to change the molecular make-up of the stone. By doing so, it makes the stone and its surface more resilient to liquid. And the best part is that it doesn’t do anything to change the appearance of the stone. Manufacturers even claim that this type of sealant provides natural stone with better protection against acidic stains.
Nonetheless, the application of sealants does not mean that you can forego regular cleaning and maintenance. Despite all their benefits, one simply cannot depend on a sealant to ensure the beauty and longevity of natural stone. Sealants make cleaning easier and provides a certain level of protection, but that’s about it. Much of the work required to keep natural stone gleaming will be on the part of the owner.
If you are looking for high quality natural stone for your sandstone walls, granite counters or marble bathroom, please feel free to contact us. You can call us up at (02) 9540 5432. You can also leave a message in our contact page for any of your enquiries.
