What is the Difference Between a Stone Sealer and Enhancer?

Choosing a stone sealer?

For the best stain resistance results, choose a natural stone sealer that has a higher “time to react” and a more extensive list of contaminants that it can resist.

It’s important to know that there are two major types of natural stone sealers on the market. The first is impregnator sealer, which is penetrating, meaning that it’s designed to soak into the stone when applied. This type of sealer does not affect the appearance of the stone’s surface.

The second type of natural stone sealer is called surface sealer. As the name implies, this type of sealer adheres to the surface of the stone, so it requires a textured surface in order to properly bond. As a result, it’s not recommended for polished or dense stones such as granite and marble. Surface-type sealers usually add some level of sheen to the stone’s surface, too, so keep this in mind when choosing the best sealer for your needs.

What is stone enhancer?

Unlike stone sealer, stone enhancer does not provide a barrier against stains. However, there are many available combination products that contain both stone sealer and enhancer. Enhancer is designed to highlight the stone’s natural color. Many homeowners like the way their tile looks when wet—to achieve that deeper color and luster even when your tile isn’t wet, an enhancer is the key. Enhancers can also add various levels of shine to the surface of the stone.

Whether you’d like to use a stone color enhancer or not, it’s important not to skip the sealer. Properly sealing your natural stone surfaces is integral in maintaining their appearance and preventing wear. Even lower traffic areas should be sealed to ensure a long life and better stain resistance, so that you can continue to enjoy your surfaces for years to come.

To envision what your dream kitchen could look like with a shiny, protective surfaces have a look at the Just Imagine Visualizer from Arizona Tile.