Granite countertops are popular among homeowners who want to give their kitchens a distinct appearance without the need for putting a lot of care and maintenance into keeping the material looking its best at all times.

You don’t need to do a lot to care for granite, but you do need to be sure that your granite is properly sealed by an expert at the task. That’s because granite is a porous stone and much like other stone materials commonly used for countertops, such as marble, soapstone, travertine, and limestone, the hardness of the material can vary.

The hardness categorizes how easy or difficult it can be scratch or damage the surface of the stone and the more porous it is, the more easily it can absorb moisture that is spilled on the stone material. This is where a potential hazard can arise as a porous stone used for a kitchen countertop that absorbs a lot of moisture could become a breeding ground for bacteria and germs.

The Dangers of Unsealed Granite

Think about all of the foods you prepare in the kitchen, how many of them have harmful germs and contaminants inside? If your porous granite isn’t properly sealed, those hazards can soaked into the countertop and cause a potentially dangerous living situation for you and your family.

Countertops that soak up liquids contaminated with bacteria such as salmonella and E.coli can become infected and that is extremely difficult to disinfect thoroughly. In many cases, if a countertop absorbs too much contamination it will need to be removed and replaced as it will be too hazardous to keep in your home.

Another serious problem that could come up for unsealed granite countertops Chantilly is that too much moisture getting into the stone itself through those pores could have a damaging effect on the appearance and structural integrity of the granite. Kitchens are prone to all kinds of spills of liquids and substances since that’s where food is prepared. It makes perfect sense to have something splash across your countertop.

You just don’t want it to seep into the granite surface. Otherwise you are asking for a whole bunch of problems that you probably don’t want to deal with, time or money-wise.

What to Do

But when you seal your countertops, you are preventing these things from happening which can better preserve the look, feel, and safety of the granite. So while it pays to seal your granite countertop, chances are the countertop you are planning to install has already been sealed ahead of time by the manufacturer. In case you’re not sure, it’s always a good to ask your dealer first. But in most cases, the granite is well-sealed prior to being sold to the consumer.

However, in the event that you have purchased a countertop that has not been sealed previously or perhaps the granite countertop you currently have in your kitchen is showing the effects of worn out sealant or exposed areas, you can apply the sealant yourself. This is not a difficult task to perform.