Is Granite Countertops Porous

Most fabricators will apply a sealer to granite countertops before they are installed which will protect them from absorbing liquids too quickly.

Is granite countertops porous.

After all quartz and granite are each loudly touted by their respective manufacturers as being purely natural straight. In your eagerness to choose a countertop for your kitchen or bath you have narrowed it down to two materials. Logic tells us that the more porous the stone the faster and deeper it will absorb any spilled substance. Granite is a porous material.

This term refers to the amount of void spaces in the stone that allow liquid and air to pass through. Granite countertops deliver gorgeous aesthetics in kitchens and bathrooms and have other good qualities. Alas its porous surface is granite s kryptonite. Even worse germs bacteria and mold can invade unsealed granite counter tops with stains running not far behind.

Because the minerals in granite are so variable you can t tell how strong or porous granite is from the color. While granite is porous there is a way to protect your countertops from liquid damages or stains. Sealer is specifically designed to go down into the surface and close off or seal the pores. When looking for natural stone countertops you may hear the term porosity.

In terms of natural stone countertop options materials like granite are on the less porous side whereas a material like limestone is very porous. If liquids are left on the surface for long periods of time they will eventually absorb. How porous your granite countertop is will depend on how it is finished and how it is treated. Granite countertops are porous if left unsealed.

Polishing the stone creates a flat smooth surface that reduces the porosity. Quartz countertops are one of the world s hardest surfaces extremely durable and non porous with a look that lasts a lifetime. Also granite is immune from the damages of most common household acids. However there are some potential weaknesse cons countertop granite kitchen low maintenance options porous prices pros sealing staining.

Being porous is not necessarily a bad quality. To protect your countertop you will need to seal it and re seal when appropriate. Polished granite is the most durable most granite countertops are polished then sealed making them nearly impermeable. If you can t get a sample don t despair.

A granite sealer will clog up most pores preventing a deep stain. This is not an easy decision because the distinction between the two countertop materials isn t apparent. Like all natural stone granite is susceptible to liquid sinking into its surface. The quality of protection depends on the quality of the marble granite countertop sealer and the quality of the application plus.

Quartz engineered stone vs. If you haven t chosen your granite countertop yet or you know the store your installed granite came from you can probably get a sample piece in order to stain test.