Natural Stone & Granite Sealing

Topical Sealers

Topical sealers for natural stone and granite sealing protect the surface of the stone from water and oil based contaminants. These sealers come in a liquid form and are applied directly to the surface of your stone.

A topical sealer creates a barrier on the surface of the stone to protect it from foot traffic, soil, dirt, oil, etch marks and stains. It sits on top of the natural stone and forms a short lived protective film.

It doesn't necessarily require a stone specialist to apply a topical sealer BUT...
it might to take it off!

All of the sealer must be removed before reapplying a new coat. The topical sealer is then reapplied. This type of sealer is not usually recommended for residential stone applications.

For residential, use a long lived penetrating sealer.

There are two types of topical sealers:

1. Strippable


2. Permanent

Strippable coatings are usually water based and easily removed from the surface of the stone. Most of them are NOT designed for granite.

Permanent coatings are solvent based sealers and very difficult to remove. These are NOT recommended for granite sealing.

How often you need to reapply a topical sealer depends on your usage. The more foot traffic and occurrences of soiling, the more often it needs to be reapplied. AND, before reapplying a topical sealer, the old sealer must be removed.

Advantages Of A Topical Sealer:

1. Some topical sealers contain additives that produce non slip characteristics.
   This is great for natural stone flooring.


2. This type of sealer creates a protective barrier between water and oil contaminants, foot traffic, and the stone.


3. Topical sealers protect the stone from surface scratching and etching caused by acidic materials such as orange juice and coke.


4. If you like the shiny, glossy look, a topical sealer produces a gloss that can be buffed. This allows for the maintenance of a high gloss surface.

Disadvantages Of A Topical Sealer:

1. Topical sealers alter the appearance of the stone by adding a gloss sheen. They may also deepen the color of your stone.


2. Sometimes there's problems with moisture. Moisture becomes trapped within the stone.
   The protective barrier doesn't allow the stone to breathe.


3. Because topical sealers create a film on the surface of the stone, it tends to show scuffs, marks, and paths in heavy traffic areas. These marks are removed during the reapplication process.


4. Requires continual reapplication as it wears in heavy traffic areas.


5. The old topical sealer MUST be removed before applying a new coat of sealer. The process of stripping the old topical sealer can be harmful to the surface of some stones. This also adds higher costs to maintaining your stone.

If you plan to use a topical sealer for natural stone, marble, or granite sealing, weigh your advantages and disadvantages carefully.

Sealing granite countertops? Don't use a topical sealer! Use a penetrating sealer.

You'll find More Sealing & Staining Stuff Below:

• Still not sure what a sealer is? Definition Of A Sealer For Stone.


• Penetrating vs Topical. Which one should you use?


• Already have a stain? Here's a professional grade stone stain removal poultice.