Marble Worktop Sealers: What You Need To Know

Whether you choose Arebescato for your island or Calacatta Rosata for your sink, you want it to last forever. When it comes to caring for your stone, the most important thing to understand is how to protect it. There’s lots of new marble worktop sealer products on the market so it is important to get the facts before you invest.

Why Does Marble Stain?

Like most natural stones, marble is porous. This means that it is essential to ensure that any marble worktop sealer used, prevents liquids from seeping into the stone. Damage within a stone is harder to rectify than damage on the surface.

Impregnating Sealants

When your marble worktop is installed, it will usually be sealed with an impregnating sealant. This will penetrate the capillaries of the stone and protect from within. Impregnators can leave your marble with a natural, or colour-enhanced appearance, but always with the stone surface exposed.

This type of marble worktop sealer is designed to stop any spillages onto the stone penetrating the internal structure of the marble and causing damage or a deep-set stain. There is a video on our YouTube that demonstrates the difference between water poured onto a sealed and an unsealed marble surface.

Etch Marks

It is common that an ‘etch mark’ is mistaken as a stain on a marble worktop. The high levels of calcium carbonate present in marble mean that it is highly sensitive to acidic substances. This is particularly pertinent for marble used in a kitchen. Everyday acids such as lemon juice or vinegar that come into contact with the stone will cause a chemical reaction. This results in a ‘chemical burn’ known as an etch mark. On a polished marble surface this will usually show up as a dull or white patch on the stone. When your marble worktop sealer is doing its job properly, this ‘stain’ is not permanent and can be easily rectified.

Surface Protection

There are a few products on the market that claim to make marble ‘acid-proof’. Many of these are resin based coatings. The downside of this type of marble worktop sealer is that it covers the stone surface and can make it look false or fake. They also have a tendency to scratch quite easily. Although marble itself vulnerable to scratching, the softness of the stone means that it can easily be restored. When a resin coating has been applied and is scratched, the removal process can be lengthier and with mixed results.

A newer technology uses UV light, bonded to the stone midway through restoration. This gives a finished look and feel that is close to the natural stone surface. Although a costly initial investment, for clients looking to have a marble worktop sealer that has extra surface protection this is a great option. Although not a service that we offer ourselves, we are happy to recommend Storm Stone Care.

Ongoing Care

The best way to make sure that your natural stone surface last forever is to follow a few simple maintenance steps. The trick is to put in place a cleaning regime that helps not hinders the marble worktop sealer. You can read lots more about this here but a few of our top tips are below:

• It is important to blot up spills as soon as possible. Try not to wipe spills as this will spread the damage, but blot up with absorbent paper as soon as possible.
• We recommend using coasters to form a barrier between the stone surface and any potentially damaging liquids.
• It is essential to wipe up sitting water from all surfaces. Take note of anywhere that water pools and try to keep on top of drying these areas.
• Use of pH neutral cleaning detergent is vital. Many common household cleaners are acidic and will damage your stone. Heavy duty cleaning concentrates are often alkaline in make up. They work very well to remove dirt, however, will react with the sealant applied to protect your stone.
• Fila Brio is a fantastic ready mixed pH neutral detergent spray which can be used for all surfaces in your kitchen and bathroom. Fila Refresh is an ideal cleaning option for use on polished worktops. It is designed to clean, build up and maintain levels of stain protection as well as enhance the polished finish on your stone.

If you are ever unsure about how to clean, care for or maintain your marble worktop then please get in touch. Our Athena Aftercare guide contains advice on caring for natural stone anywhere in your home and is available as a PDF.