The sealing of your countertop contributes a substantial amount to how protected your countertop is. When the sealing wears out, your countertops will start to be vulnerable to damage. Understanding how to test and tell if your countertop needs sealing can enable you to take the appropriate steps to protect your countertop and ensure that they remain in the best possible condition.
The Water Test
The main test that is used to detect countertop sealing is called “the water test.” When you use the water test, you will essentially pour a small amount of water on the surface of your counters. After this point, you will time how long it takes for the water to absorb into the countertop. This doesn’t have to be a substantial amount of water- usually ¼ of a cup of water is sufficient. If the countertop darkens, it is likely that it is absorbing the water.
Time Absorption
The time that the countertop takes to absorb the water will indicate how effective the sealing processes currently are. With pristine countertop sealing, it should take 30 minutes for the water to absorb if it absorbs at all. When this is the case, you can be confident that your countertop is being properly protected and that the sealing is still working as it is supposed to. For lesser periods of time, the absorption rate may indicate how much sealing the countertop still requires. For example, if it takes a few minutes, you may need to have a few additional layers. If the water is absorbed immediately, you will want to have the countertop sealed more thoroughly.
May Need Multiple Coats
In general, one coat of sealant isn’t enough to protect your countertop. As was previously stated, when you pay attention to the time of absorption, you will be able to identify how much more sealing is necessary for your countertop. This will enable you to ensure that your countertop is protected.
More Porous Surfaces
You should also keep the porous quality of the surface in mind when you are identifying how much sealing the countertop needs. The more porous the surface is, the more quickly it will absorb water. If you have a particularly porous countertop surface, you will want to ensure that you keep this in mind when you monitor the absorption rate of the surface.
What Sealer Does
You should also understand what having a countertop sealed does, as this will impact your decision making process. Sealing the countertop doesn’t ensure that a complete shell is formed over the surface of the counter, because this can lead to damage to the counter. It increases the absorption time of the countertop, which aids in providing protection from stains and damage that can otherwise occur to your countertop.
Having your countertops sealed can have a huge impact on their condition. This can also impact the appearance of the countertop because they will be more susceptible to staining and other issues. At Out of the Woods, we can help to provide the ideal countertop installation and services to improve the condition of your countertops. To learn more about how to implement high-quality countertops and protect the condition of your countertops, contact us at Out of the Woods today!
