Manufactured Stone Veneer: To Seal or not to Seal?
Adding manufactured stone veneer to your home’s interior or exterior will make it look more luxurious and elegant, while also increasing its resale value. Soon after your faux stone is installed you’ll have the option of sealing its surface, or not.
Sealers are typically applied to stone veneer to create a protective barrier against moisture, salt, weather, staining and potential fading. And, like most everything else out there in the home improvement market, there are various types of stone veneer sealants available depending upon your objectives. As a result, it’s important to do your homework, including the pros and cons of using a sealer in the first place, before making your decision.
What follows are some tips to guide you along the way.
Choosing the Right Sealer
It’s best to apply a manufactured stone sealer using a high-quality paint brush and even strokes once the surface has been thoroughly cleaned. For exterior projects, a power washer works well to prepare the stone. And, whether you’re cleaning stone veneer inside or outside your home, you’ll also need to remove pesky rust and grease stains first using cleaners designed specifically for those tasks.
When choosing the right sealer, look for a product that penetrates well and is also breathable. Avoid sealers that contain acid, but instead look for one that’s silane or siloxane-based.
These are some good commercial sealers that North Star Stone recommends for our top-quality stone veneer products:
- Eagle Natural Seal
- The Armor SX5000 WB
- Eco Advance Concrete/Masonry Siloxane Waterproofer
You can find these sealers at hardware or big box home improvement stores in your area, or they can be purchased online.
Should I Use a Sealer + Enhancer?
As the name suggests, a sealer + enhancer not only provides the protection of a sealant, but also accentuates the natural characteristics of the stone while giving it more eye appeal. Carefully select a sealer + enhancer that’s safe to use on manmade stone including manufactured stone veneer.
One product we’ve found at North Star Stone that works well on our faux stone products is 511 Seal & Enhance by Miracle Sealants, although there are other great choices out there too.
Pros and Cons of Using Sealers
Besides providing a barrier to your veneer, another goal of using a sealant is to give your stone a permanent light sheen similar to water misting. Like everything else, there are pros and cons to sealing your stone veneer.
Here are some of the positives:
- Makes the stone easier to clean
- Protects against moisture and other environmental forces and fading
- Simple and fast as a do-it-yourself (DIY) project
- Can be used on interior and exterior stone veneer
Some of the potential negatives include:
- Can’t apply within 30 days of stone’s installation. Doing so runs the risk of permanently sealing in moisture which defeats the purpose.
- Porous stone requires 2 or more coats which means additional time and money.
- Sealer can slightly darken the stone’s appearance or make it appear like it’s permanently wet or has a film over it.
- Products must be applied during the right weather conditions.
- Once used a sealant will have to be re-applied periodically (usually every 2 to 3 years).
The beauty of using a sealant is that it can be done by a paid professional or as a DIY project over a weekend.
Note: It’s always best to test a small stone area first with some of the sealer and wait for it to totally dry to gage the final appearance.
We’ve Got the Sealer Advice You Need
At North Star Stone, we supply homeowners in the Chicagoland area, and across the nation, with our top-quality interior and exterior manufactured stone veneer products. We won’t apply sealers for you, but will gladly provide you with the sealer advice you need as you make the decision “to seal, or not to seal”.
Our manufactured stone veneer is easy-to-install, delivers a high resale return-on-investment, and is virtually maintenance-free. It’s also a relatively inexpensive way to add a luxurious appearance to your home’s interior or exterior- one that’s guaranteed to give you and your guests hours of enjoyment.
For more information on sealing manufactured stone veneer, or to view our large selection of faux stone styles that can be custom-colored depending on your home improvement needs, browse northstarstone.com now.