Should White Quartz Countertops Be Sealed?

Many consumers choose variations of white quartz because of its predictable patterning, durability, and plethora of misinformation.

As the author of this blog, I've spent more than 30 years in the stone industry and 25 of those years as the owner of a stone fabrication business. We had a full-time service department that maintained all types of natural/engineered stones and related applications. I've since retired from the stone supply and fabrication business, but I'm still actively involved in consulting with industry professionals.

It's common for us to receive questions about stone care problems, products, or procedures. I've decided to address any concerns and misinformation about white quartz and some real expectations. 

Today, we received an email from a customer who recently had a white quartz countertop installed in her kitchen. Having questions about quartz care and maintenance, she reached out to us with an email. 

Does Quartz Need to be Sealed

From The Customer: "Leigh P"

"We just installed new white quartz countertops. The company we used said it is man-made and, therefore doesn't need to be sealed. I just read that I should never "seal" quartz countertops. I was told that sealants can dull the shine over time. Now I'm confused and have a couple of questions.

• Should I seal my quartz countertops?
• Can I use Supreme Surface Granite, Quartz & Marble Treatment to make them more protected, shiny, and bright?" 

From Our Stone Pro: 

It is true that engineered stone countertops, or “quartz" countertops, are man-made. However, this has nothing to do with the rate of absorption or durability.

Should Quartz Countertops Be Sealed

In my opinion, yes, white quartz should always be protected against stains and against mineral deposits from bonding to the surface. However, it is meaningful to understand that common sealers for granite/quartz only protect against stains. The other problem is that engineered stones such as quartz countertops can't just use any penetrating sealer because of the possibility of an adverse reaction.

Do Not Use Common “Penetrating Sealers” on Quartz Countertops

Quartz counters are made from a natural stone aggregate and unsaturated polyester resin. The resin can have an adverse reaction with a solvent-based sealer. This is one reason why I wouldn't recommend sealing quartz countertops with common penetrating sealers, "NOT" because they "won't" or "can't" stain.  

As you have discovered, quartz counters do not shine like polished granite. It is not recommended to use a standard type of polish on quartz surfaces because many standard types of polish contain wax that can build up, flake off, and show wear over time.

Chemicals Quartz Countertops

According to popular brands such as Silestone, Cambria, TechniStone, Zodiaq and more, consumers should avoid using products that contain:

• Abrasive solutions
• Strong alkaline 
• Acid cleaners
• Free radicals
• Oxidizers

Discover "The ioSeal™ Advantage on Quartz

• An additional level of protection against stains, hard water spots, calcium and limescale buildup
• Safe to use on unsaturated polyester resin, natural and engineered stones
• Surfaces become smoother, more reflective
• Colors become more vibrant
• Helps protect against UV rays and fading
• Supreme Surface® Granite, Quartz & Marble Treatment with ioSeal offers a safe and simple solution to clean, shine, protect, and preserve quartz countertops, all in one spray.

Helpful Links:

• Quartz Countertops: How Safely Remove Hard Water Spots
• Supreme Surface Treatments with ioSeal
• Composite Sinks: Deep Cleaning and  Routine Protective Care
• White Haze On Composite Sinks

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