Sealing Quartzite - What You Should Know
When it comes to sealing natural stone there are some basic concepts to keep in mind. One type of natural stone that can be particularly challenging is natural quartzite. Why is sealing natural quartzite particularly challenging? What can be done to meet that challenge? And What is the most effective way to seal quartzite? In this article, we will explore these questions and peer into why sealing natural quartzite matters.
A Brief Quartzite Tour
Even if you have heard of this natural stone, you may not be familiar with the characteristics that make it desirable to homeowners and businesses alike. Natural quartzite comes in a variety of colors and goes by a wide variety of names. Some of these names include:
As you can see from the list above, there are a number of names associated with natural quartzite material and that list is by no means exhaustive. Yet, even though there are variety of natural quartzite slabs, the challenges of sealing them are much the same. But why is that the case? Let's look at the answer to that question next.
Why Sealing Quartzite is a Challenge
Yo are no doubt aware that natural quartzite, even though the name sounds similar to that of the man made material quartz, is a very different surface. Engineered quartz surfaces do not require sealing because of the non-porous nature of material. Quartzite on the other hand,
does require sealer and many consumers are aware of this *.
. They know that natural stone needs to be sealed and they realize that every material will require maintenance. Knowing how to care for and maintain any hard surface involves becoming familiar with the material's requirements. Even then, how you meet the challenge of maintaining a stone slab varies.
How Porosity Affects Stone Care
The porosity of natural stone, including all the various types of quartzite, has an impact on the stone's performance. It is ease to overlook the fact that porous stone absorbs liquids. The more porous the stone, the more susceptible it is to various kinds of stains. To of the biggies are water and oil based liquids. Many food products in the home are in these classes liquids. And since quartzite is a fabulous material for use as a kitchen countertop, an effective sealer is needed. So how is the challenge of sealing quartzite met? We'll cover that next.
Meeting the Challenge of Sealing Natural Quartzite
As we mentioned earlier in this article,
every countertop surface material will require cleaning and maintenance. The question though that we are considering here is: "How can I meet the challenge of sealing natural quartzite?"
You may already be aware of the fact that there are a variety natural stone sealers available. In fact, here on Tenax4You.com we have an array of sealers and each has particular effectiveness depending on which kind of material it is being used to treat. In general, the best way to seal natural stone is to use a sealer made for the task. Although the frequency with which the stone is to be treated will vary depending on certain factors, a regular, periodic sealer application keeps the stone resisting those liquids we mentioned earlier that could stain the stone.
Stone Sealer Specifically for Quartzite
As we just stated, various sealers prove to be more effective for certain materials. Up until recently we recommended using Proseal for natural quartzite because it is a very good premium grade stone sealer that works extremely well on a variety of materials. However, we saw the need for a natural stone sealer that was designed specifically to treat natural quartzite. And now there is one. Proseal Nano is a
natural stone sealer designed specifically for sealing quartzite
Making use of the proper stone sealer is a key to getting the longest life out of a stone surface. Meeting the challenge of sealing quartzite surfaces is no different. And now there is a sealer made for sealing natural quartzite.
Stone Sealing Maintenance Program
For sealing natural stone we recommend the following 3 phase maintenance program for treating natural stone, including quartzite:
- Regularly perform a "water test" (a.k.a. absorption test) on the stone to determine if sealing is needed.
- Apply the appropriate natural stone sealer according to the instructions when a indicates it is time for a treatment.
- Use only daily stone cleaners that are formulated for natural stone surfaces. Using the incorrect stone cleaner will destroy the sealer. Properly formulated stone cleaners do not harm the the sealer you have already applied.
There also may be times when you will need to remove a stain from the stone if a particularly nasty substance manages to make its way into the pores of the quartzite. If you do have to remove a stain, be sure to apply sealer to the area or to the entire surface so that the stone is maintained properly.
Well, as we have seen in this article, meeting the challenge of sealing natural quartzite is not that difficult. Especially if you are clued in on what you should know. Namely, what sealer to use and how to use it effectively. Furthermore, protecting the sealer by using the appropriate cleaner is also important. Now that you are informed, why not share what you know with someone else that might be able to benefit?
* There are differences between
geologically termed quartzite and materials sold in the stone industry that are labeled quartzite. Geologically classified quartzite does not have pores. However, some stone labeled as quartzite for stone surfaces has porous mineral(s) in it. return to paragraph. (For a deeper explanation, please check out this article.)
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