Natural stone is porous, and the sealer that protects it wears down a little with every wipe and spill. TopStone Granite is a Baltimore countertop fabricator and installer that cleans, polishes and reseals granite, marble and quartzite countertops so they keep resisting stains and look the way they did on install day.
Sealing visits are for owners of stone tops of any age, whether we installed them or not. If water darkens your countertop, or a dull film will not wipe away, it is time for professional care, and it is a service most stone owners need again every few years.
Our team has 15+ years in stone and 650+ completed countertop jobs. TopStone is licensed and insured under MHIC #145977, which you can check on the Maryland Home Improvement Commission license lookup, and we serve Baltimore and homes within about an hour of our Northeast Baltimore shop.
A professional sealing visit is more than wiping on a bottle of sealer. Each one is matched to your stone and the shape it is in.
Got a chip, an open seam or a loose sink as well? Our countertop repair team can often handle it in the same visit, before the stone is sealed.
Whether a countertop needs sealing depends on the material and, with granite, on the specific slab. Here is how the common surfaces compare.
Granite varies more than any other countertop stone. Many dense, dark granites absorb so little that sealer just sits on top, while lighter, coarse-grained granites can soak up water in minutes.
That is why we test before sealing, since over-applying sealer to dense granite is a common cause of cloudy film. Our granite countertops page explains how different slabs compare.
Marble should be sealed against stains from oil, wine and coffee. Sealer does not stop etching, though, because etching is acid reacting with the stone itself rather than something soaking in.
Etch marks need honing and polishing, covered in depth on our marble countertop repair page.
True quartzite is very hard but often more porous than people expect, so it usually needs sealing. Some stones sold as quartzite are really dolomite or marble, and they need different care.
Our quartzite countertops page explains how to tell them apart.
Engineered quartz and solid surface are non-porous, and quartz makers advise against sealing them. A sealer has nowhere to go and leaves residue on top. Porcelain and sintered stone are the same.
If quartz looks blotchy or dull, the cause is usually cleaner film, not a missing seal. See the care notes on our quartz countertops page instead of booking a sealing visit.
You can check your own countertops in about 15 minutes with a glass of water and a timer. It is the same quick check we use before deciding how much sealer a top needs.
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| The stone darkens within about 5 minutes | It is absorbing fast. Seal now, likely with more than one coat. |
| The stone darkens after 10 to 15 minutes | Protection is fading. Plan to reseal soon. |
| No darkening after 15 minutes or longer | The seal is working, or the stone is dense enough not to need one. |
A dark spot from the test dries out on its own and does no harm. Test the sink area most often, because that is where sealer wears away first.
Good sealing is mostly preparation and cleanup. Here is what happens on a visit.
An impregnating sealer works below the surface and leaves no film, so it does not change the look of your stone. Topical coatings that build a shiny layer are made for floors, and on countertops they scratch, peel and trap stains.
A cloudy countertop is not always a worn one. We work out which of these you have before choosing the fix.
On marble, dull patches are usually etch marks rather than worn polish. When dullness covers the whole top, full countertop resurfacing restores it by grinding and re-polishing the entire surface.
Kitchens get most of the attention, but every stone surface in the house wears its sealer differently. We adjust the visit to where the stone lives.
Hair oils, lotions, makeup and hair dye are among the hardest stains to lift from light granite and marble. Vanities also see hot water and soap film at the faucet every day.
A small vanity is quick to seal, so it is worth adding to a kitchen visit. Planning a new one instead? See bathroom vanity countertops.
Outdoor granite deals with rain, pollen, grill grease and Maryland winters. Water that soaks into porous stone and then freezes adds stress over time, so a sound seal matters more outside than in.
Outdoor stone usually needs resealing more often than indoor tops. Our outdoor kitchen countertops page covers which stones hold up best.
A sealing visit is one of the least expensive ways to protect a stone investment, and the price is set by the work your countertops actually need. The main drivers:
Your quote lists each of these so you know exactly what is included. For repair and installation pricing across the Baltimore area, see our countertop cost guide.
Good daily habits stretch the time between sealing visits and make each one quicker. Most of them cost nothing.
When the test says it is time, call or email and we will find a slot that suits you. We are open seven days a week.
There is no single schedule, because granites vary so much. Many need resealing every one to three years, dense stones may almost never need it, and porous light granites need it more often. The water test tells you when your own top is ready.
Yes. A good impregnating sealer from a stone supplier, applied to clean, dry stone and buffed off completely, works well for routine resealing. Call a professional if stains need removing first, if an old sealer has left haze, or if you are not sure whether your stone is granite, marble or quartzite.
No. Sealing makes stone stain-resistant by slowing how fast liquids soak in, which gives you time to wipe up spills. Oil or wine left overnight can still mark a sealed top, though it is far easier to lift.
A quality impregnating sealer should not change the color or shine of your stone. Color-enhancing sealers are different: they deliberately darken and enrich the stone, which some owners like on honed or leathered finishes. We always ask before using one.
Run the water test, then call or email us with what you found and what stone you have. We will book a visit to clean, treat stains, polish and seal your countertops.
Call (667) 400-3297