Natural Stone Sealer

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

1. Q. What's the difference between a topical sealer and an impregnating sealer?
   A. A topical sealer sits on top of the surface while an impregnating type sealer sits below the surface. We'll be publishing an article soon that addresses each type of sealer.



2. Q. Can I apply a sealer myself?
   A. Our MB-4 Impregnating Sealer For Stone And More is easily applied by you.



3. Q. Is it possible to apply too much sealer?
   A. Yes it is. While you do need to make sure that your stone is thoroughly saturated, any excess sealer that remains on the surface of your stone (you will know because it puddles), should be wiped off with a dry towel.
   
   If any excess sealer dries on your stone and becomes sticky, use a little mineral spirits to remove it.



4. Q. Does my stone have to be completely dry before applying a Natural Stone sealer?
   A. Yes. If your stone is not dry, the sealer may not penetrate the areas where water is present and that portion of your stone will remain unsealed.



5. Q. How do I apply a Natural Stone sealer to my walls?
   A. Use a roller, cloth or lambs wool applicator. Saturate your applicator and work from the top down. Make sure to thoroughly saturate the surface of your stone and wipe up any excess sealer to prevent streaking.



6. Q. How do I know if I need to seal my stone?
   A. First: Determine if your stone is in an area that is subject to staining.
   
   Second: Before your stone is installed, (on a scrap) perform the
   Oil And Lemon Juice Test.



7. Q. How do I know if my sealer is actually working?
   A. Try the Water Test.



8. Q. How often do I need to apply a sealer?
   A. This will depend on the Natural Stone sealer you choose. Some manufacturers recommend every 6 months to a year. Others, every 3-5 years. Our MB-4, every 10 Years.



9. Q. Are all Natural Stone sealers the same?
   A. No, not even close.



10. Q. Will I need to apply more sealer to a honed surface than a polished stone?
    A. A honed surface will usually require more sealer than a polished surface. Honed and textured surfaces are more porous, since the pores of the stone are more open than that of a polished surface.



11. Q. Once my stone is sealed, how quickly should I wipe up spills to keep my stone from staining?
    A. As soon as possible.



12. Q. Will a Natural Stone sealer change the look or color of my stone?
    A. Impregnating Sealers will not. A Topical sealer may. If you want to Enhance Your Stone's Color, our MB-6 Color Enhancer will give your stone the wet look.



13. Q. What's the use of a sealer?
    A. A sealer helps to prevent staining.



14. Q. Will your Natural Stone sealer keep my grout lines clean and stain free?
    A. Yes.



15. Q. Will a sealer make my Natural Stone flooring slippery?
    A. A sealer like our MB-4 Impregnator/Sealer is designed to penetrate below the surface of the stone. Because of this, it will not make your Natural Stone flooring any more or less slippery.



16. Q. I've purchased honed Travertine for my bathroom flooring. We want the colors to stand out. I would like to purchase a Natural Stone sealer from you that would enhance the stone's characteristics. Please let me know what you recommend and where I can purchase it.
    A. You can find our MB-6 Stone Color Enhancer here. This will give your tiles the "wet look". It's also a great water repellant! Make sure to wait a few weeks after the installation of your tiles before applying the color enhancer.

Top of Page -
Natural Stone Sealer FAQ's