So you have acquired (or are thinking about acquiring) a beautiful, brand new quartz countertop that goes perfectly with your kitchen decoration. If you’ve been reading about stone countertops for a while, you may be wondering: do quartz countertops need to be sealed?
Well, it’s only natural that you want to take good care of it, right? If you want some tips about how to properly clean quartz countertops, you can read this article. Still, you’ll find that this material requires very little maintenance.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, sealing is the process of applying a coating to a surface to make it impervious. It is usually reserved to porous materials. It’s a way to prevent them from absorbing fluids, being an important step in the installation of a countertop.
Since quartz is not porous, it does not need to be sealed. However, there area a few important things you should know in order to make your quartz countertop last longer.
What Is Quartz?
First things first, the quartz used in the manufacturing of countertops and other household surfaces is not a natural stone. It is a human engineered material designed to look like other natural stones.
The “natural” quartz is still used in its fabrication, and it can reach up to 93% of the final composition. But the remaining percentage is complete using a combination of other varying natural stones, bonding resins and coloring substances.
This mixture is then put in vacuum chambers, where it becomes a slab that is then heated and curated. The final part of the process consists in finishing and polishing the surface of the resulting slab.
Why Quartz Countertops Do Not Need To Be Sealed
Because of the high cohesiveness of the finished quartz slab (due to the use of resin and vacuum), it ends up becoming a non-porous material. That’s why quartz countertops don’t need to be sealed: they already have a “natural” sealer.
Quartz has a natural protection on its surface, not allowing liquids and stains to penetrate it. However, there are certain precautions you need to take with your quartz countertop so it can last, virtually, a lifetime.
- Never clean it with abrasive products
Paint thinners, silver polish, nail polish remover, oil-based soaps, and bleach, are some of the products you should never apply on quartz. Any product that contains trichloroethane or methylene chloride can permanently stain your countertop. Also stay away from alkaline products and oxidizers. - Protect it from heat sources
Quartz is heat resistant, yes. You can put your coffee mug directly on it and it will be fine. But pans and other extremely hot materials, when left directly on top of quartz for a long time, can lead to discoloration and even burn marks. Always use trivets to protect your countertop from hot surfaces. - Don’t cut things directly on its surface
It’s less about the cutting itself and more about what you cut. Some acidic foods can damage your quartz, so it’s never a good idea to cut things directly on top of it.
Being mindful of these three rules, your countertop can last for years on end without much maintenance.
What If I Want My Quartz Countertop To Be Sealed Anyway?
Then you’ll just asking for trouble.
Not only don’t quartz countertops need to be sealed, but they also can’t really be sealed. The sealers work on natural stones exactly because they are porous. The sealer needs to get into those pores in order to really stick onto the surface.
So, if you try to apply a sealant to quartz anyway, best case scenario you just wasted your time and money and made an ugly, sticky surface. Worst case, the sealer will react with the stone or resin and leave an ugly etch.
If you’re looking to get the same glossy finish that natural stones have, your best bet would be to get your quartz countertop a fancier polishing. Or, you could also apply some other kind of coating to make it shinier.
However, be sure to contact a professional before you try anything. If you don’t know the specifics about what you’re using, you may end up damaging your countertop.
Is Quartz A Good Choice For A Countertop?
Yes. Yes it is. A very good choice, in fact. Its low maintenance and high durability make it a top notch choice for your kitchen.
Since it doesn’t need sealing and you can use it right away, it’s a very cheap and practical choice. It’s perfect for those who are looking for a low-maintenance countertop that still looks great. If you want more information before making a choice, this article can help you develop a more informed decision.
How To Clean The Most Complicated Substances
Sometimes, even if we are super careful, accidents happen. As a rule of thumb, always try to clean your quartz countertop with warm water and soap, but some substances are very difficult to get rid off, and since we can’t use the most powerful abrasive cleaners, we have to get creative when dealing with the worst messes.
For any kind of dried gunk, you need to softly scrape it with a plastic tool and later apply a wet cloth on it to loosen up the dirt.
If your problem is grease, use disinfectants or degreasing products that do not contain bleach, and make sure to clean them right away after you’re done.
Adhesive remover can do the trick with the most stubborn stains, but also always make sure to wash it off afterwards using warm water.
Always Choose The Help Of A Professional
If you have any doubts about the maintenance of your quartz countertop or you’re thinking about acquiring one, always get in touch with professionals in the field.
If you’re in the Sarasota area, in Florida, schedule the visit of an Eagle Stone professional to help you with that and any other countertop needs you may have.
