Sealing Driveway, Granite Countertop and tile?

Question

How long after a driveway is paved (asphalt) is it ready to be sealed?

Do I need to seal my granite countertop (Uba-tuba)?

I have new tile/grout/caulking in my bathroom; do I need to seal that?

Answer 1

Don't do anything to your granite that isn't recommended by the manufacturer.

I'd wait until Fall before sealing the driveway. The main purpose of sealing it is to keep it intact from water getting into cracks and then expanding when frozen.

As far as the tile and grout, there is a good sealer that you can spray onto the grout while standing, much, much easier than the old way. Sealing keeps the grout from getting moist which prevents mold and mildew from growing. Just follow the directions on whatever sealant you bought, it should tell you how long to wait before sealing.

Answer 2

We just had granite counters installed and the installers sealed the granite before they left. They also recommended that I seal it again before I tiled my backsplash, and then to seal it at least once a year after that. I would recommend that you call a granite place in town (preferably the one that installed your granite) to ask them about the care and upkeep. If you do NOT seal your granite, you are risking stains in the stone, as it will absorb any liquid from spills.

I would recommend sealing your grout at least once a year. While others may say it is a waste of time, my feeling is "why not?" Permeable grout sealer certainly inhibits the absorption of liquids and thus, especially if you have a light colored grout, it would help to prevent any staining.

If you have natural stone tile, you probably also want to seal that (especially if it is in your shower/bath area or behind a sink). However, if you have ceramic or porcelain that has been glazed, sealing is not needed.

Answer 3

Personally I would not buy a house with tiles for a counter top. I love solid granite. Tiles mean grout which is hard to clean and keep sanitary around food use, not to mention the staining of the grout. If you want a nice counter top but do not want to spend the money on granite look into something less expensive.

Answer 4

Unlike Concrete, Asphalt doesn't strictly "cure", but following directions that state when it can be "used" driven on, might be a clue that it's OK to seal. I've never sealed any of the 3 you suggest here however.

Especially a Granite anything.

I realize there are sealers sold for tile grout, and they have modest levels of effectiveness, but so too does regular cleaning. I've installed thousands of sq. ft. of tile and apply the rule,,, "The customer is always right,,,even when they aren't"

To seal grout, as I said, may have some effect of keeping it clean, but the nature of the surfaces and their use, dictates that you'll have to re-seal on a regular basis.

Steven Wolf