Is Granite Porous? What You Should Know

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While the appearance of granite countertops may be the first thing you focus on when considering which stone to buy for your home, porosity is another factor that you should consider. The majority of natural stone that you will find is porous. Some stones are more porous than others. This article will focus on the porosity of granite, how that impacts the way you care for the stone and how granite’s porosity compares to that of other natural stone countertop options. 

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Is Granite a Porous Material? 

The short answer to this question is yes. Granite is a porous natural stone. This means that, if it is not properly sealed, liquid is able to penetrate its surface. If liquid or stains get down into the stone, it can result in damages and weakening of your granite. 

How Can You Protect Your Granite? 

While granite is porous, there is a way to protect your countertops from liquid damages or stains. To protect your countertop, you will need to seal it (and re-seal when appropriate). Sealer is specifically designed to go down into the surface and close off – or seal – the pores. Sealing the pores will not allow liquid to get beneath the surface of the stone. Sealing will protect your countertop. The process is a must for all granite countertops. 

The sealing process is extremely easy and will only take minutes of your time. In fact, many sealers come in easy-to-use spray bottles. Typically, you will only need to re-seal your granite countertops around once every year. You may have to seal certain types of granite more than others, but you will not have to re-seal as often as you would with many other natural stone countertop materials. There are many granite sealers that you can find on the market. 

How Porous is Granite Compared to Marble? 

Much like granite, marble is one of the most common countertop materials chosen by homeowners. But while granite is one of the least porous natural stones, that is not the case with marble. Marble countertops are very porous and require re-sealing once every few months. 

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How Can You Tell if Your Granite Countertops Need to Be Re-Sealed? 

To determine if it is time to re-seal your granite countertops, there is a simple test that you can perform to give you an answer. Pour a small amount of water on a small area of your granite countertop. After 10 minutes goes by, check to see if the water has worked its way down into the surface. If it has, you need to re-seal your granite countertops immediately. On the other hand, if the water beads on the surface, your current seal is still effective. 

While granite is not the most porous natural stone countertop option, it is still porous and you will need to seal the surface to protect it from liquid damage and stains. You do not want your granite kitchen countertops (or surfaces in other rooms) to sustain damages as a result of a worn seal. Now that you are aware of granite’s porosity and how to protect the surface, your granite countertops can stay in great shape for years to come. 

Why you can trust Marble.com

When it comes time to get the job done, our fabrication and installation teams have the equipment and expertise it takes to get your project cut and delivered the right way, every time. We at Marble.com are known for our incredibly quick turnaround, as we understand having countertops and other mainstays installed quickly and properly is important to our customers. We value your time, and our goal is to create the best work possible and have you enjoying it as possible.

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