Quartzite Sealer Appropriate? Stainguard-50

4 years ago

Our fabricator used Stainguard-50 by Chemical Products Industries to seal our leathered Tahiti quartzite. It's 18 hours out and the quartzite looks and feels terrible. The color is completely different from before and the surface is sticky and hazy. My understanding is they should have buffed off any sealer that didn't absorb and that is at least part of the problem, but I'm concerned that the sealer is inappropriate for a quartzite countertop. Does anyone know the product or have experience with it? Google provides very few hits, and the product website seems to advertise more for exterior commercial masonry applications. A photo of the can of sealer lists isopropanol as a main ingredient. Trying to get information enough to decide whether we need to strip the sealer off with acetone and try to start fresh, wait and see, or figure out a different next step. Attached is a collage - before on top, after on bottom, and a view of the brown smudged appearance, and a look at the inconsistent surface.

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PRO

Joseph Corlett, LLC

4 years ago

"So the 3' limit for span of 3cm stone is not applicable here nor is the requirement for support of cantilevered stone since the stone isn't cantilevered"

It certainly is. You've got a huge span which appears to be more than 8' which is unsupported. The Natural Stone Institute allows 3cm natural stone to cantilever 10" without additional support, not 15". I've seen stone like yours sag and when it does, it torques the stone. If you develop a crack starting at a sink corner heading to the unsupported edge, you'll know why.

This isn't going to happen right away; it's going to take years. But hey, no worries, you've got a sign off from your fabricator, GC, and cabinetmaker.

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Comments (10)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
4 years ago
It'll probably have to be stripped with acetone; careful, it's flammable.

How deep and long is your cantilever on your island please? Any supports?
Jacque' Wicker
Original Author
4 years ago
Cantilever is 15" and is supported on both ends with cabinet structure.
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Jacque' Wicker
Original Author
4 years ago
I have assumed I need to strip it but trying not to get ahead of myself and get data/opinions.
millworkman
4 years ago
"Cantilever is 15" and is supported on both ends with cabinet structure."

Nothing in the center? That's not gonna cut it for support only at the ends.
Jacque' Wicker
Original Author
4 years ago
Well, it's not only supported at the ends, it's got 3 sides of supports. So the 3' limit for span of 3cm stone is not applicable here, nor is the requirement for support of cantilevered stone since the stone isn't cantilevered and does not require supports to prevent tipping. The fabricator has signed off on the cabinet design and the GC, cabinet maker, and fabricator have stated that the design is sufficient. Revisiting the issue, I'm now trying to research installation recommendations for 3 side supported stone to evaluate adding supports.
M Miller
4 years ago
I had thought true quartzite isn't to be sealed at all due to its density. Some quartzites are sealed because they are more like marble, and not true quartzite. I would strip the sealant with acetone as suggested above - note that a little goes a long way, and keep the windows open - and then do an easy absorption test. Drip water on it, wait 15 minutes, if the water has absorbed you need to seal, if it has not absorbed you do not need to seal.
millworkman
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
You have a 15" overhang, unsupported at the leading edge the entire length, from cabinet to cabinet (6-7' minimum?). That needed some steel for sure.
Mama Cita
4 years ago
Don’t take on remedying the finish yourself — right now your fabricator owns that responsibility. Make it worse DYI, and they’re off the hook.
Jacque' Wicker
Original Author
4 years ago
M Miller, it definitely absorbs water. Very thirstily. It's why I questioned the fabricators on whether it was sealed. They said they seal at their shop but some stones need to be sealed more than once. So they came out to seal it again and did this.

Mama Cita - I have the same concern. I've just had issues getting information from them and I disagree with the product they use and the method. I need to talk to my GC about the right path forward. I tend to want to take stuff over a La "if you want something done right" but this is a different type of situation.