Dear Sherry:
I don't know whose comments you've been reading about sealing, but they surely are not mine! In fact, I always say that the last thing that you want to do is applying a totally useless (under the circumstances) impregnating sealer to any black granite. Black “granite” is too dense to be possibly sealed – and consequently it never stains, either. In fact, what you have are not stains at all.
A stain – a real stain – is always darker than the stained material. If it is lighter, it's either a mark of corrosion created by an acid (etching), or a caustic mark created by a base (bleaching). There are no known exceptions to this rule. In the
But in the
BLACK ABSOLUTE GRANITE
Let's start by saying that the only black mercantile granite that has the legal right to be called “Black Absolute” is the one coming from
There used to be three possibilities to explain the problems that you are experiencing, which are here listed in order of probability (the first being the most probable):
In the last couple of years there's been a change in the scenario above. Another possibility has entered the scene:
4.
Certain manufacturers apply some sort of protective wax to the slabs. It is not actual “doctoring,” since there's no alteration to the color of the stone, but
the result is the same as if the slab had been “doctored” with the “shoe-shine.”
Finally,
Having said all that, the remedy to the points 1, 2 and 4 is to remove whatever it is that's sitting on the stone surface, by either stripping it chemically by soaking it with a solution of water and phosphoric acid, or mechanically, by rubbing on the stone surface a polishing compound for marble (NOT for granite!) with a little bit of water.
Case 3 is terminal.
From a legal point of view,
All things considered, black granite – which should be considered among the most enjoyable materials as a kitchen countertop – has made it out my own list of recommended stones.
Until the industry will not straighten its act up by becoming serious about the classification of all the different “granites” on the marketplace and dictate strict rules and guidelines about their characteristics and implied guarantees to the consumers, my position is going to be that from now on.
You can help! Actually, as a consumer-to-be of stone you're the best qualified to make things happen! Will you now please read and sign our Statement of Purpose by logging on at:
http://www.marblecleaning.org/purpose.htm? By spreading the word about this valuable site among your friend & family and the stone trades' people you've been dealing you will be rendering everybody a valuable service!
Thank you.
Ciao and good luck,
Mauri
Article ID: 1156
Created On: Thu, Feb 7, 2008 at 9:12 AM
Last Updated On: Thu, Feb 7, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Authored by: Maurizio Bertoli [mail@mbstone.com]
Online URL: https://marblecleaning.org/knowledgebase/article.php?id=1156