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General Stone FAQ

Why do I have to seal my stone?
The reason stone needs to be sealed is to prevent staining. All stones are porous to a greater or lesser extent and can all stain. Once your stone is sealed, it will prevent water-based, and most oil-based, stains from harming your stone surface. Because the sealer prevents fluid absorption, this also makes cleaning and maintenance just as easy as any other surface. In addition, some sealers can also enhance the natural colour of your stone or add a glossy sheen. We generally recommend using a colour enhancing sealer (such as, "Miton 42") for slate.

How do I seal my stone surface?
Sealing is a very simple procedure that takes little time and effort. You apply the sealer, undiluted and unaltered, to the stone surface to be sealed with either a paint brush, paint roller, paint pad, sponge, or just a clean, white rag. Some sealers are applied to the surface in a thin coat and allowed to set, whereas others require the excess to be wiped off or removed. By following the instructions on the bottle, you can ensure a proper application. Other instructions that should be followed include any protective clothing requirements such as wearing rubber gloves or a ventilator.

Sealers typically dry in approximately 20-30 minutes depending on the surface.

Caution: When applying a coat of sealer after a new tile installation, be sure to let the installation dry for at least 7 days. If there is moisture trapped in the stone, underneath the sealer, you will have occurrences of white patches or rings. These are rather unsightly and are difficult (if not impossible) to remove.

I just had my stone tile installed, it has not been sealed yet, and it has been accidentally stained with oil! How do I fix this?
Removing oil stains from stone can be difficult. Depending on the stone, you may or may not be able to remove the stain. However, we have found the following method to work on some slates:

1. Thoroughly clean the area with soap and hot water.
2. Apply GranQuartz 3-in-1 Cleaner, Sealer, Polisher.
3. Allow 3-in-1 to dry and generously apply Miton 303 C-Solvent.
4. Keep applying several coats of C-Solvent until the stain is no longer visible.

How often do I have to seal my stone surface?
Typically, we recommend sealing, and re-sealing, your stone once a year. Most sealers will last longer than this but we find it gives our clients an easy and regular timeline. However, depending on the application, you may need to re-seal sooner. Applications where the surface of the stone is taking a lot of wear (e.g. front entrances, mud rooms, or exterior applications), may require a re-seal as often as 6 months. The easiest way to tell if it needs a re-seal is by splashing a small amount of water on the surface: if the water darkens the colour of the stone or appears to leave any kind of mark, then it needs to be resealed. Sealed stone will cause water to bead and repel off of its surface.