Although granite is more sturdy and reliable than marble, it has some drawbacks as well and needs care and attention for a longer life. There are some things that you need to be particular about regarding granite. Contrary to the general belief that granite retains it original color forever, in reality, granite can discolor just like any other material. There are tiny pores and cavities that are present in polished granite. These holes can collect and retain colored materials which can lead to the fading of granite colors.

 

To make sure that no color is retained by the cavities, clean a spill on the granite as soon as possible. Since granite is commonly used for kitchen countertops, there would many instances when something will be spilt over the granite surface. When such a situation arises, make sure that you wipe the granite as soon as possible to prevent it from retaining the color of the spilt liquid. Another measure that should be taken to ensure long lasting color of the granite is to apply a good sealant. The sealant prevents the color of any material from sinking into the pores in the granite.

 

After you have applied a sealant, you can be sure that its color won't fade away for a considerable time period. Most sealants need to be reapplied again after the lapse of a prescribed time. However, good quality sealants which are available in the market don't need to be reapplied again and again and have to be applied only once. Granite Shield is a good example of a high quality sealant. Granite Shield comes with the guarantee that the granite will never need to be sealed again.

 

As implied by the name, the sealant will seal the tiny pores present in the granite. Not only that, the sealant also enhances the gloss of the granite and gives it a beautiful look. Other brands of sealants are also reliable but their guarantees come with some restrictions. These brands include Ermashield, DuPont, and Sensaguard. Although the sealants of these companies also come with a guarantee, the restrictions void the guarantee if the guidelines are not followed. The guidelines include that the granite surface should be immediately wiped after something has been spilt on it. Another restriction that comes with most sealant guarantees is not to use certain chemical cleaners on the granite surface.