The Best Sealer for Quartzite Countertops

One of the biggest design decisions in a kitchen remodel is choosing your countertops.  Quartz, granite, marble, quartzite – the choices can be overwhelming.  As part of that decision, you need to consider the care and maintenance involved.  We opted for honed quartzite countertops as part of our kitchen remodel, because I loved the look of natural stone and quartzite is also very durable.  Given that quartzite is kind of the new kid on the block, I had a lot of questions about maintenance and care.  

• What kind of sealer do you use on quartzite?
• How often do you seal quartzite?
• How do you get water rings out of quartzite?
• How do you get oil stains out of quartzite?
• What will stain quartzite?
• How do you clean quartzite?

Do quartzite countertops need to be sealed?  Yes.  Typically, your fabricator will seal them once they’re installed.  Although one thing I discovered in this process, is that not all stone sealers are created equally. When it comes to sealing out stains, oils and water marks, it took some work to find the best sealer for quartzite countertops. This post contains some affiliate links.

Our fabricator said that since the counters were honed, they may need to be sealed multiple times, and I had them seal the counters twice after installing them (as we were getting water marks after they were initially installed, and he told me to call if we had that issue).  Despite repeated sealing by our fabricator (and myself with the sealer they recommended), we still were having issues.  

What do I mean by issues?

Water marks were one thing that we encountered.  If you left a glass of ice water on the counter, it would leave a ring from the condensation.  It would go away, but my fabricator warned me about it, and that you didn’t want it.  Over the long term, it could cause the counters to look that way permanently.  Not a good look.

How do you deal with water marks?  Water marks we had, went away, but I would get anxious any time one would appear.  The key to managing water marks is to let them fade, and then reseal your countertops, as that’s an indicator that they aren’t protected.

I can’t remember if this is a stain or a water mark, but you get the idea

What Will Stain Quartzite?

Stains were another concern.  While I never had any issues with tomato sauce or red wine, oil-based stains are something that like to soak right in to honed countertops and leave a mark that doesn’t go away.  Not to fear, oil-based stains can be removed with a this oil stain remover, which is made for natural stone surfaces and grout, or even a mix of water and baking soda to a poultice/paste that you cover with plastic wrap.  It will pull out the stain, and your counters will be fine.  But, it’s a worry that stresses me out, and something I thought the sealer should remedy.

I was frustrated.  The last thing you want to worry about is staining your new countertops, and feeling like you have to treat them with kid gloves.  So, I was on the hunt to find something that worked.

Sealers: What I Tried

I tried two water-based sealers (this one and this one) and one solvent based sealer. The first sealer was the same one that the fabricator used.  After continuing to have issues, I opted for the second one. Similarly, I continued to have problems.  I did a deeper dive, and came upon a solvent based sealer that had great reviews.  Specifically for honed quartzite.  Honestly, I think some of these sealants are fine on other surfaces (i.e., granite surfaces).  I don’t know if it’s the fact that we opted for quartzite, or that it’s honed quartzite that made it a little more tricky.  We had granite for years, and I never had an issue (although it was dark vs. light like our quartzite).  

What Kind of Sealer to Use on Quartzite?

In reading through posts in the kitchen remodeling group I’m in, this is not a new issue for some homeowners with quartzite.  But I was convinced I just didn’t have the right sealer.  This problem is a solvable one. Then I came upon this one – Stain Proof Premium Impregnating Sealer. This is the secret sauce, the winning formula, the protector I was seeking. Why? I think it’s because it’s solvent-based.  I’m all for using avoiding harsh chemicals and using water-based products whenever possible, assuming that they do the job.  But in my case, a water-based sealer just wasn’t protecting my countertops.  So when that happens, I go for the product that is going to give me maximum protection.

Suggestions and Precautions

• This sealer is solvent based, so it smells.  Open the windows if you can, wear a mask, and use gloves when applying it.  
• It’s a liquid, and I found the best way to apply it was with these sealer applicator pads.
• If your countertop appears darker, and looks as though it’s pulling every stain that had already occurred previously, don’t panic.  I kind of panicked (ok, I totally panicked) when this happened, but the color will come back to your countertops, and the stains that you’re seeing won’t remain.

You can see the spots on the countertop, as well as how it appears darker as I’m resealing it

• Seal it at least two times for good measure. Since it’s solvent based, the process moves pretty quickly, so it’s not difficult to seal it twice.
• Allow a full month for the seal to take effect.  Don’t panic if things aren’t perfectly sealed right off the bat.  Use trivets to keep things off the counter if you’re feeling extra paranoid in this time period. It’s an impregnating sealer, so it takes time to work into the stone.  But it works! Just be patient. 
• I would also highly recommend this sealer for marble or granite countertops. Although if you have marble countertops and are experiencing scratching or etching, that is something different than what a sealer is designed to address.  Sealers create a barrier against stains and water marks, whereas scratching and etching are related to the type and hardness of the natural stone. Marble is a softer stone, and more prone to scratching, chips and etching (which is why we opted for quartzite).

How Often Should You Reseal Quartzite?

Many of the sealers that I’ve seen say that they’re supposed to be good for 10-15 years.  I’m kind of a cynic at this point, so I recommend resealing any time you see an issue arise.  A water mark? An oil stain? Reseal.  My fabricator told me that you can’t “overseal” your countertops, so there is no worry in doing harm.  An impregnating sealer is designed to penetrate into the pores of your countertop and harden in order to protect your countertop.  Ideally, you should be well protected, but if you’re ever in doubt, reseal.

What Cleaners Can be Used On Quartzite?

There are a lot of natural stone cleaners that are on the market, and I can’t say that one is necessarily better than another.  But the makers of my recommended sealer, also make a spray cleaner, so based on my trust level, I would recommend the Stain-Proof Daily Countertop Cleaner,  or the Stone Care International Granite and Stone Cleaner.  I also clean it with water and Dawn dish soap on a regular basis.

I hope this post is useful to anyone experiencing similar issues with their countertops.  It’s very upsetting to spend a lot of money on countertops and then have to worry about maintenance that you didn’t expect.  I chose quartzite for its durability and beauty.  I love the look of marble, but I didn’t want the maintenance, so quartzite was the perfect compromise.  Life happens.  Spills happen. I feel confident that I have found the best sealer for quartzite countertops, and am glad to have this product in my arsenal.

What is your favorite countertop surface these days? There are so many to choose from, so many factors to consider, and I know firsthand it can certainly be overwhelming. Would I chose quartzite again? Absolutely.

Jenny