What Sealer to Use
When it comes to natural and engineered stone surfaces, selecting a sealer involves much more than looking at a budget and deciding on what sealer to use base on price. It means making a decision to use the sealer that is best suited for your specific project. This involves a few aspects of the sealer. In this article we will look at some of the factors that go into choosing a sealer for your natural stone project. Additionally, we will consider other uses for some of the Tenax sealers available.
Types of Sealers
When it comes to sealers for stone surfaces, there are an array of types available from Tenax. Each of these sealers is developed in a particular way for a particular purpose. Let's take a look at these various types and briefly discuss each type.
Topical Sealers (Waxes)
The first type of sealer that we will discuss are the
topical sealers. Topical sealers are sealers that are formulated to protect the stone's surface from substances like water and oil as well as other contaminants. These types of sealers are formulated from natural waxy, acrylic, and other plastic compounds. Since these sealers coat the surface of the material, the sealer is the focus of the maintenance. This maintenance is performed through the stripping and reapplication of the sealer. An of example a topical sealer is Petrolux.
Impregnating Sealers
The other type of sealers used for natural and engineered stone surfaces are the
impregnating sealers. Unlike the topical sealers mentioned earlier, these sealers are solvent based. Additionally, they are designed to penetrate the stone; getting below the surface. These sealers are generally water and oil repelling sealers. These types of sealers are designed to keep contaminants out of the stone's pores. At the same time, these sealers are considered "breathable" because they allow internal moisture to escape from the stone.
Stone Enhancing Sealers
Some stone sealers are also color enhancers. These sealing products actually make the appearance of the stone more vivid in addition to protecting the surface of the material. Some of these enhancing sealers are as follows:
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Sealers That Also Enhance the Stone's Appearance
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Sealer Name
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Type of Sealer
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Sealer Notes
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Uniblack 2
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Topical Sealer
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Black liquid wax that increases the black effect on polished, brushed, and smooth surfaces. It also enhances the gloss of the surface being treated. Recommended for restoring color to black surfaces that have faded.
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Petrolux
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Topical Sealer
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disguises micro fissures and/or "spider webbing" in natural stone surfaces.
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Ager
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Impregnating
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Sealer for color enhancing various natural stone types like granite, marble, travertine, and agglomerates. This sealer enhances the stone by creating a "wet" effect and can be used for both indoor and outdoor applications.
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Ager Tiger
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Impregnating
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This sealer is perfect for use on the edge of resined granites and particularly on exotic stones. It works particularly well when it is necessary for matching the color between the resin treated top and the untreated edge of the stone.
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Quartz Toner Plus
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Impregnating
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This sealer can be used as both a color enhancer and a high quality, premium grade sealer for quartz and other engineered stone materials. It does not change color when exposed to the sun and works well to disguise small scratches that can affect engineered stone.
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Proseal
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Impregnating
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A premium grade sealer that protects granite, marble, and other natural stone against oil and water stains. This premium sealer is also breathable and does not leave a film on the surface.
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Protex
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Impregnating
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Protex works extremely well on sandy amorphous material mixed with the presence of silicate and calcium carbonate, such as limestone, travertine, marble, etc. After the application a light increase of color can be seen but depends on the type of stone and where the product is applied.
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Hydrex
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Impregnating
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This sealer allows the stone to breathe and maintain its natural characteristics. It is especially effective on polished granite and polished marbles as it operates on the surface of materials.
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Glydex
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Impregnating
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An anti-stain, water and oil proof sealer for granite and similar stone. It is completely free of organic solvent and operates on the surface of the stone. Glydex fills the microporosities of the stone to prevent liquids from penetrating the material yet remains, allowing the stone to breathe and keep the characteristics of the stone unchanged.
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