Granite, although a durable countertop material, can be scratched by knives being used directly on its surface. It might not happen with all granite colors, but the risk is still there. Cutting directly on the granite countertop can also remove the sealer placed on the surface quicker than normal. Without a strong sealer, the risk of staining said countertop is greater. Also, cutting directly on such a hard surface can damage your knives. It’s recommended to always use a cutting board on your countertops.
Sealer is the common name for a chemical that is applied to the surface of your countertops to help prevent staining. There are two types of sealers: penetrating and topical. Topical sealers are the most common. The liquid is applied to the countertop surface, creating an extremely thin barrier that sits on top of the granite surface itself. This microscopic layer stops liquids from entering into any of the pores that exist in the natural stone. Penetrating sealers are applied in a special way, where a skilled technician applies the chemical in a manner that allows the sealer to soak into the granite. This method allows all the tiny openings to be waterproofed vs. just creating a thin film over the top of the entire surface.
It is not recommended that a homeowner apply sealer to their countertops. While there are many instructional videos available online that show how this application can be done themselves, undoing incorrectly applied sealer is not an easy task. Countertops are a huge investment in a house and should be treated as such. Alps Craftsman provides a service to clean and re-seal countertops. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
