Should I Trust Fabricator to Seal Quartzite?

4 years ago

We are installing Platinum Black and Galapagos quartzite. I tested both of them by letting water sit on them for 40 minutes. Neither showed any signs of absorption. I am really wondering if they need to be sealed. The fabricator wants to seal them on site “just in case”. My concern is the sealer sitting on top and winding up with a haze that I had to deal with on a previous countertop that did not need sealing. I am not sure I trust them to wipe off the extra and I do not want it sitting on top. I am debating about not sealing them at all or doing it myself because I trust myself more to wipe off the extra. Does anyone have any advice on this? Thank you.

Featured Answer

Shannon_WI

4 years ago

There’s a lot of fabricators that say all stone should be sealed. They just don’t know any better. It’s also easier for them to default to sealing everything rather than using some brain cells and a couple minutes of time to see if a particular stone needs sealing or not.

To the OP - I think your idea of telkibg them not to seal the quartzit, and then sealing it yourself is perfect. I mean, it’s doesny take any skill to seal the counter. The hardest part of sealing stone counters is getting everything off the counters like toaster, fruit bowl, mixer, coffee maker, etc.! Since you are starting new, you won’t have to do that, so it will take you 5 minutes - if you need even to do it that is.

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Comments (7)

PRO
User
4 years ago
If you don’t trust the fabricator about sealing, should you really be trusting them to fabricate exotic stone slabs?
Nancy K thanked User
Nancy K
Original Author
4 years ago
Good point. We are building in a rural area so not a lot of choices but went with a fabricator with a good reputation based upon word of mouth. I trust them with the fabrication. The skill of sealing on site comes down to the worker bee and how thorough they are. This is the part that is more risky IMO. I guess I can let them do it and follow behind them like a puppy dog making sure they do not leave anything sitting on top.
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Marilyn
4 years ago
Just thought I would chime in here. I too have been looking at quartzite and spoke with a fabricator yesterday. He said all quartzite should be sealed, just like granite. But he doesn't do it on site because they use a wet saw and the quartzite will need to dry completely before sealing so when it gets installed it may still have some water content and should be sealed in the home after it sits for a couple of days. Anyone else come across this advice for a fabricator?
Nancy K thanked Marilyn
megs1030
4 years ago
Agree with @Shannon_WI... you can seal it yourself very easily.
Nancy K thanked megs1030
Nancy K
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks to all who posted. I am so tired of fabricators saying that everything needs to be sealed. They said that about my black galaxy too...it should be sealed “just in case”. This is simply NOT true and I would almost rather risk a few stains that are unlikely to ever happen vs. dealing with hazy granite with sealer sitting on top of it. I will tell them I am sealing it myself.
gtdj519
3 years ago
Marilyn…. i think uou are 100 percent correct and hit the nail on the head. i had quartzite installed 3 weeks ago. upon instsll, i asked the installer why the esges of the island and certain areas along the cointertop wall were darkened and looked saturated wet. he said they were wet from cutting and will dry in a few hours. well 3 weeks later they arent dried!! and they arent dry because the installer applied the sealer at install!! the water is trapped and cannot evapoorate.

the fabricator said he has no idea why this happened, they are replacing it, but the only logical explanation is EXACTLY what you stated. Im glad they are replacing it, but for 3 weeks i have been wrackong my brain about what it could be, behan searching for alternarive stones for fear of using the same quartzite and having it happen again, only to realize, it eas the improper install that caused thsi mess!