Marble is beautiful, yes, but not always the most practical choice when it comes to a kitchen countertop. It’s more suited to reception and braai areas, where it won’t be exposed to as much liquid as it would be in a kitchen.
Marble is one of the more porous stones, and protecting it by keeping it well sealed is the way to make sure it lasts longer.
When you buy the countertop, there’s no sealant on it. You could ask the installer to apply the sealant, but you can easily do it yourself once the countertop is in place.
Sealant is required for the finish that you have decided to use. The most used marble finishes are either polished, for a high-gloss surface, or honed, which produces a softer matte surface. In the modern times, most marble surfaces are honed, as scratches don’t show as easily as a polished surface, but the surfaces does come more susceptible to staining.
Applying a penetrating sealant is simple. Ensure that the surface us clean and dry, then just wipe the sealant on with a soft cloth.
Under normal use, the sealant should last about a year before it needs to be reapplied, so long as you aren’t using harsh cleansers on your countertop. You’ll know it’s time for more sealant when you no longer see water drops beading on the surface.
