A question for Granite countertop owners

[The Granite Specialist]

I have been researching a once only sealer which guarantees never having to seal again or ever have to worry about stains. This is a 100% guarantee that if it does stain, it is taken care of 100% charge free.

So my question is, would you as a homeowner pay $10 per square foot plus mileage to never have to worry about stains or sealing again? If not, could you please explain why?

[sillysimms]

I'm not a granite countertop owner, but one of the reasons we have decided to go with quartz (there are a few others) is the sealing. There are a couple other reasons, but if with this sealing product the granite was still cheaper than the quartz, we might have considered it.

I'd also want to find out about the warranty, the exclusions and who was guaranteeing it (e.g. could they go out of business, do certain conditions void the warranty, etc.).

[The Granite Specialist]

I believe the only thing that could affect it would be chip bigger than 2mm deep and cracks. Other than that there is no small print. If a stain occurs, the company of the product will pay my time to remove the stain.

[houska]

Granite Guy (btw your comments elsewhere appreciated), I'm treating this as if I were in a market research focus group!

$10/sq ft would be the sort of price tag that I would be happy to spend if I really believed the claim and the follow through. But I would be worried about hucksterism.

So, if you were recommended to me (as our granite guy in Ottawa is right now) by our kitchen cabinet maker who used you long term as a partner, you suggested this as an option with independent back-up documentation and I could google something from another source that would support the claim, I would not hesitate to go for it.

On the other hand, If you're a random independent nice granite guy I come across myself, no matter how capable you look, I will tend to discount the warranty since I don't know how long you'll be around. If your only documentation would be your own brochure and a write up by the supplier that sounds like a financial huckster's spam email, and no one else has ever heard of it before - then I'd pass and assume that if this is that great, it will become more commonplace and I can have it done later.

I'm not trying to impugn you - for all I know you're great, trustworthy, dependable etc. But I'm trying to give you insight what I - and I suspect other consumers - will think.

[The Granite Specialist]

Very nice critic. I have thought of that also and do have the companies documentation of it also. Thank you very much for the input.

[dlhunter]

I'd say NO

We have granite counter (Giallo Ornamental) and after applying sealer (bought from specialized store, made in Germany), we had not have any problems so far. They advise to seal it once a year - so $70 for 500ml will last at least 3-4 years (depending on sq footage). If you buy 1L, you're guaranteed for 5 years. Cost effective and easy to do on your own.

I believe we have over 70 sq ft - so price wise it's close. Also, dark colors (like Uba Tuba, Black Galaxy, Absolute black, etc) do not require sealing AT ALL

[coolspot]

Our granite was sealed only once 6 years ago, and we have not had any issues with staining.

So I think staining is only an issue if youi're a big slob or very careless.

[poohsing]

Probably not at that price tag. A large bottle at HD costs $50 and will last you a few years. It doesn't take too much time seal it. Just pick a quiet afternoon where we have nothing else planned. I really don't like the smell though but only once or twice a year.

[Blunt]

Wow.. I would never pay $10 a square foot to seal my granite. That sounds like an outrageous rip off.

I would go to Lowe and buy the Dupont Granite Sealer for $25. It's half the size of the Home Depot one, but I don't need that large bottle. I will seal my granite once a year, and besides.. it's so easy. Spray on, wipe off 30 minutes later.