I got my marble floor Diamond Polished. My contractor is pitching a marble sealer to me. Floor looks good as is. Do I need the sealer? Many clients have this query. Let’s try to answer this.
Marble is a porous stone. It readily absorbs water or any other liquid like oil, wine, alcohol etc. This results in damage to the marble by physically weakening the stone, by staining and by deteriorating the surface. If a Thassos marble flooring develops a stain, it will be very clearly visible and will ruin the entire floor. In some cases, the stone itself may need to be changed.
To save the marble from such issues, a protective compound is applied. This is called a marble sealer. The high end sealers get absorbed by the marble and after curing make a semi permeable layer just under the surface. This layer allows the water vapour to exit the stone but does not allow liquids to enter. This protects the stone from water (yes, water can damage stone) and from stain causing liquids. Pls note, the marble sealers provide a short window of 20-30 minutes within which the spills should be removed else staining could still occur.
There are many kinds of marble sealers available in the market to suit most requirements and budgets. Cheaper sealers provide less protection and last for less duration.
Based on protection offered, sealers are of below types.
1) Sealers that provide protection from water– These are mainly used for protection of exterior stone or walls. Mainly used where cost is a consideration
2) Sealers that provide protection from stains– These are more expensive. These are preferred for using on floor in drawing/dining area where food spills is expected.
3) Sealers that provide stain protection and provide colour enhancement– These are most expensive of the lot. These help to protect the stone and also darken light coloured Italian marbles. These improve the look of the marble and brings out higher gloss.
Almost all good quality marble sealers provide protection from UV rays of the sun.
Based on how the marble sealer acts, these are of two types
1) Topical sealers- These marble sealers make a layer on top of the stone. These do not penetrate into the stone. These improve the shine of the marble and help cover any imperfections. The film formed on the marble is a bit prone to scratches.
2) Penetrating sealers- These marble sealers penetrate into the stone and form a layer under the surface. The marble is less prone to scratches and these sealers last longer. They do not impact the shine of the marble.
Special care has to be taken while sealer application on marble. The surface must be completely dry. The sealer must be applied thoroughly to the entire marble surface. Excess sealer needs to be removed before it cures. Until the sealer cures properly, the surface should not be made wet. For more help on this, pls contact arrow-solutions.