Marble is a beautiful natural stone which is also a very famous countertop material. But the main challenge for marble countertops is sealing them. This article will show you foolproof ways on how to seal marble countertops.
Counter Should Be Clean
The first step that is crucial when sealing marble or granite countertops is to make sure that the surface is clean. Clean and smooth surfaces will allow the sealant to adhere better and do its job the right way. So before you even get to the sealing part, you need to clean all of the surfaces of your countertops. You can get a wet wash cloth along with a simple cleaning solution or soap and water and wipe all of the surfaces of your countertops in the kitchen. What you don’t want to do is use any sort of abrasive or harsh cleaning solution or tool to clean your surfaces, otherwise it can ruin the marble.
Marble is a very reactive stone and it reacts readily with acid. So if a cleaning solution contains any sort of acid in it, then it will dissolve the marble and render it useless. So make sure that you are using a very mild and gentle cleaning solution. That’s why soap and water is the best thing to use, because it is neutral, it gets the cleaning done and it does no harm to the marble. You can also use oil based detergents and solutions containing edible oils like coconut oil or avocado oil.
The Type Of Sealant Matters
There are so many types of sealants to choose from. There are sealants you can paint on, brush on or even spray on, which are usually available in pressurized aerosol bottles. The composition of sealants is also variable. You have silicon based sealants, epoxy based sealants, varnishes, liquid sealants, waxy sealant etc. There are also colored and tinted sealants which are very popular nowadays. The type of sealant you want to use solely depends on you and how you want the process to carry on. If you want something that is fast and easy and requires no precision, then you would want to go for spray on sealants. If you want a longer lasting sealant, then waxy and regular brush-on sealants are your way to go.
Drying Time Matters
The drying time of sealants also plays a very important role. One thing you want to keep in mind is that you should always work in thin layers. You should never be hasty in the sealing process, because once the sealant is on, it’s almost impossible to get it off, especially from a stone like marble. Once the first coat is applied, you will have to wait for it to completely dry before you can go ahead with the second coat. The drying time is mostly 48 to 72 hours, depending on the number of coats you have applied. After the final coat has been dried completely, you can then clean the top most surface of the countertop with a slightly damp washcloth to make sure that the top surface is clear and free from any kind of dirt or debris.
Clean Spills Immediately
To make your sealant last longer, you will need to properly take care of your marble countertop. Make sure that you are cleaning your countertop regularly. The tricky thing with marble is that it absorbs any liquid almost immediately, so if you see a spill, then you should immediately clean it and wipe it off the counter. Otherwise it may seep into the marble and damage it internally.
No Heavy Impact On The Kitchen Countertops
Marble is not the strongest of countertop materials out there, so it is necessary that you don’t put heavy impacts on the countertop. Otherwise it might shatter or crack very easily. You always want to maintain your marble countertops since they are an expensive investment and you want them to last for years to come.
These sealing tips will make your countertops last longer and you will be surprised at the fact that how much stronger marble countertops become if you consider sealing them. As granite countertops also need sealing, you can also ask a granite countertop installer NC for sealing your marble kitchen top.
