Why seal granite tables? Do granite top tables and marble tables even need to be sealed? Well, if you’re going to place food or drinks on a granite table, it’s a good idea to seal it. And my experience has shown for a marble table, no matter what, you’re going to have stains. Good news is, sealing granite and marble tables makes stain removal much easier. And the process only takes minutes.
Do Dark Color Granite Tables Need To Be Sealed?
As with granite countertops, darker color stones are often more dense and won’t need sealing. But lighter color granites and all marble and limestone are more porous and will definitely need to be sealed. And sealing granite tables is no different than sealing a countertop.
How To Seal Granite and Marble Tables
Clean & Degrease Stone Tables Before Sealing
Start by thoroughly cleaning granite and marble tables before you apply sealer. If your granite table or marble table is stained, follow these procedures to remove stains from stone tables. I always clean stone surfaces, including tables, with either denatured alcohol or oxygenated multipurpose cleaners. For routine maintenance and cleaning of your granite tables, follow the same instructions for daily cleaning of granite countertops.
Sealing Marble & Granite Table Tops
Same as you seal granite countertops, you seal stone tables by applying alphatic resin sealer, let it penetrate, and then wipe off excess. Porous stones will need multiple applications with some drying time in between. Sealing tables is a much quicker process than granite countertops just because they’re smaller.
Recommended Granite Table Sealers
As mentioned earlier, you should seal your stone tables with a fluorocarbon alphatic resin sealer. Two years ago I switched to a “permanent” sealer for granite countertops. Now I use the MB21 Permanent Sealer & Color Enhancer from MB Stone Care. Originally, I had used MB24 Barrier, also from MB Stone. This product effectively protected thousands of countertops I installed. And the typical effective life of this sealer was 3 to 5 years.
But for stone tables, why not use a permanent sealer like MB21, especially one that protects against oil and water-based stains. I apply 2 coats to stone tables and it seems to work quite well.
How To Seal Marble, Limestone, & Onyx Tables
Watch this video to see just how easy it is to seal a marble table.
How To Remove Stains From Marble Tables
Even with all my years in the granite and marble business, I still get stains in my stone. I purchased marble tables from Crate & Barrel and neglected to seal them. Both my white marble and black marble tables had oily stains in the first month. So I went to work and removed the stains . . . but they required a stain removal poultice. Watch this video showing how easy it was to get the stains out. And it only took one try!
Marble Table Stain Removal Instructional Video
Natural Stone Table Stain Removal Instructions
The white marble table in the video was never sealed. And sure enough, within the first week, it already has oily rings staining the top. My first stain removal tactic for stone is usually denatured alcohol or acetone. Either of these usually works well especially on granite. Spray directly on the table top or put some on a rag and then rub it. Wipe repeatedly. Work fast since these solvents evaporate quickly.
Stain Removal Poultice For Granite Tables
Unfortunately, marble is not as forgiving as granite, and the oil stains are set in. So the next step is a poultice product for stain removal. In this case, I used Stain Reaper RTU from MB Stone. With any RTU poultice paste, make sure you follow the instructions. You’ll need a plastic putty knife, plastic wrap, and tape.
You apply the paste ¼ inch thick with a putty knife and completely cover the stain. Next, cover the poultice with plastic wrap and tape all the edges to keep air out. Let it sit 24 hours. After 24 hours, remove the plastic and let the poultice “pancake” dry. As the poultice dries, it draws out the stain.
Once dry, use a non-marring tool like a plastic spatula to lift the poultice material off the stone. Then rinse the surface thoroughly with clean water using a soft rag or sponge. Now you may need to repeat steps for really tough stains.
Granite & Natural Stone Table Resources
Return from Seal Granite Tables to Sealing Granite Countertops