Natural Stone, and Engineered Quartz, frequently asked questions, and related information:

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Here are some great resources to help you make informed decisions about your project!

Please visit this link and download a .pdf for a comprehensive homeowners guide to “The Installation of Natural Stone Countertops” 

Please visit this link for a complete guide to “the Care and Cleaning of Natural Stone“

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Does sealing my granite make it maintenance free? 

Sealing makes your surface easier to clean and may help it shed water. Contaminants can sit on the surface longer, so you have more time to clean up before any staining occurs. Water may penetrate when there is no sealer applied and it may keep your tile or stone wet longer, increasing the probability of mildew occurrences. On some unsealed surfaces, staining can start immediately. Sealers are time sensitive, that is, if you do not reseal periodically it is no longer as effective as it was. No stone sealing product will make a porous surface stain-proof, but will make it highly stain resistant. Using the correct stone cleaning products also makes a difference. We use only the best sealers and cleaning products available. Our preferred Sealer is Tenax Proseal.  

Why should I use Tenax Proseal?   

Tenax Proseal is not a topical sealer for stone. Rather, it is an ultra premium grade stone impregnator sealer for the following materials:

• Granite
• Marble
• Engineered Stone
• Quartzite
• Grout

Tenax Proseal Ultra Premium Stone impregnating sealer is rated by fabricators as one of the best granite, marble, stone sealers to be used on natural stone. Period.

No other sealer will penetrate and protect as well as Proseal.

What about the 15 year sealers? Or sealers that come with a warranty? Are they better than Proseal?

Logic would think so. But the reality is they do not! Tenax Proseal Ultra Premium Stone Sealer out performs these sealers over and over again. In every instance that Proseal Granite and Marble Sealer has been tested directly against these sealers, the proseal is the one that does not leave the stain.

Don’t just take the Tenax word. Click on this link from an company made to compare Proseal against Dry Treat, Stone Tech, and Miracle Sealants 511. All of these sealers are very well known and 2 of them offer warranties.

What was the result? ONLY Proseal did not leave the stain.

Why doesn’t Tenax offer a warranty with Proseal Ultra Premium Stone Sealer if it is better than the warranty stone sealers on the market?

Read the fine print of the sealers and you will see exactly what is covered, all the hoops a fabricator has to jump through to even attempt to get a warranty (one even asks to send them a piece of the countertop to them so they can determine it was their sealer), only to find that the warranty companies will send you a free bottle of sealer.

Tenax would much rather offer the best sealer that chemists can make at a very affordable price, have a fabricator seal the granite, marble, stone counter top, and allow the home owner to not worry about stains. Tenax prefers the old keep it simple method.

Tenax Proseal is suitable to protect granite against practically all potential kitchen stain causing items:

• Coffee
• Wine
• Oil
• Peanut Butter
• Mustard
• Ketchup
• Soda

Proseal impregnating sealer also works well with polished, honed, brushed, matte, finishes.

What about high porosity materials such as marble, travertine, limestone? Tenax Proseal fills the pores and seals these very porous stones and protects the stone from oil and water stains better than any other Porous stone sealer.

Can Proseal be used for sealing grout?

Absolutely! After using Proseal for sealing grout, test it by putting any liquid on the grout. it will bead up like you just waxed your car!

Outstanding for Indoor and outdoor applications, Proseal is recommended for stone that will be exposed to wet conditions such as showers, patios, outside bars, pool copings, pavers, etc.

Tenax Proseal does not change the natural colors of the stone and allows the stone to breathe without leaving a film on the surface.

Wait 24 hours to allow the stone to dry and reach 100% protection.

The protection will last up to 4-5 years if the product is applied correctly on the surface and areas that are not under direct wear and use.

Tenax Proseal Stone Sealer Motto: Seal it and forget it!

If you have a job that you know it REALLY REALLY needs sealed, Tenax Proseal is your MUST GO TO sealer.

If you want to install a kitchen and not worry about stain call backs, Tenax Proseal is the sealer for you!

Should I get an Under-mount or an Over-mount sink?

While both types of sinks are popular, they differ in cost, look, and utility. Over mount sinks are much cheaper because the tile or stone does not need to have finished or polished inside edges. The downside is you do not have the ease of cleaning. Under-mount sinks are much easier to clean because the countertop surface continues all the way into the sink, making it easy to wipe food scraps into the sink. However, it can be more costly because the inside edges of the tile or stone have to be polished.

What is a granite composite / quartz composite sink?: 

A composite granite sink is an engineered product manufactured using a mix of granite stone dust and acrylic resins molded into sink form. Composite sinks composed of quartz dust and acrylic resins are close cousins and the labels “composite stone ” and “granite sink” are sometimes used interchangeably to describe either material.

How often should I seal my countertops?

The best answer is perhaps a qualified, “It depends.” Generally speaking darker granites do not need sealing very often, and once per year is usually sufficient around high use areas like your sink or stove area. Dark stones usually denser than lighter ones, and they are tougher to stain, and the stains are usually nearly invisible or barely perceptible because of the darkness of the stone. In plain terms, the lighter the color, the more often you should seal it. White and light-colored granites should be sealed more often. Marble, especially light colored marble, should be sealed more often as an extra precaution. Re-sealing marble every 3-6 months is a good idea. While it may seem like quite a project, sealing countertops is a very easy process and that homeowners should not be afraid of. It should only take just minutes and there usually little to no elbow grease involved. It is important to understand what type of stone you have before you implement your care strategy. Please download: “the Care and Cleaning of Natural Stone” for a comprehensive guide to identifying and caring for your stone countertops.

If I seal my grout, will it stay clean?

No, not without correct cleaning. Grout is the low point and often the most porous part of the wall or floor, and gathers the grime and residue from mopping. Sealing your grout makes it easier to keep clean. With a good grout sealer, you will get a much better result when you give your grout a good clean with the correct cleaner. We recommend upgrading to a stain resistant grout such as “Mapei Flex Color CQ”,   grout for maximum protection of your investment. These innovative new grouts help prevent cracking, color shading, efflorescence, and eliminate the need to seal your grout.

My polished marble/limestone/travertine is sealed but still has marks – why?

Penetrating stone sealing products protect the stone from staining. Often the “stains” are not stains but are etches. These stones, especially marble, are acid-sensitive, and any acid will burn the polish and create a dull or frosty surface. A good example is red wine. On an unsealed stone you will get a red stain and an etch, but on a sealed stone you will only get the etch. Penetrating sealers sit below the surface of the stone and prevent the red wine acid penetrating deeply to set up a stain, but will allow the acid to burn the surface. Acid can be in many forms, as simple as fruit or wine and salad dressings, or in the bathroom, urine may do the damage. This damage can be repaired.

I have chips or small pot holes in my granite or quartz can this be fixed?

Some chips, cracks or small indentions in granite or quartz can be filled with colored epoxies, acrylics and specialties adhesives and buffed. There is a wide variety of granite and some types may be more susceptible to cracks, veining, chips, or indentions. It is important to select stone that is appropriate for your selected application. While granite is among the hardest and most durable surfaces, if you drop a cast iron skillet from 6 feet high, bad things may happen. But what counter could survive that anyway? Try not to do this.

What is my Sink is damaged after it is installed under my countertops?

In most cases, we fasten your sink with special clips that anchor to the granite or quartz. This means that you can unbolt your sink from below, cut the sealant adhesive from the top, and easily take out our sink, and replace with with another one that fits the polished cut-out in your countertops. Many shops mount sinks like a sandwich between a plywood substrate and the countertops. This method would prevent you from replacing your sink without destroying your countertops! This is a terrible idea, and is why we use a smart sink fastening system, so you always have a backup plan!

How do I fasten my dishwasher to the stone or quartz? It used to just fasten with screws into my old formica.

We have a solution for this!  We can supply a special universal fitment bracket that mounts to your cabinet, and to the countertops that allows your dishwasher to mount securely!  Remember, you need to have an appliance installer, or plumber to hook up your dishwasher.

Will the granite guy hook my faucets back up?

We are skilled countertop professionals, not licensed plumbers. PLEASE HAVE A LICENSED PLUMBER hook up your sink drains, faucet, garbage disposal, insta hot, etc.