All natural stone has variation in porosity and has a chance of staining from oils, grease, dirt and its natural surroundings. Some types of natural stone are more prone to staining and weathering than others. We highly recommend pre-sealing the following natural stone:

• Sinai Grey Limestone
• Sinai Pearl Limestone
• Asian Blue Limestone
• Natural Granite
• Pearl White Sandstone

Sealing these stones will give them the best possible protection against moss and mould growth, weathering, traffic wear, efflorescence, picture framing, salt attack and freeze-thaw attack.

Using a sealant or colour-enhancer can protect against stains and enhance the colour for Asian Blue Limestone and Natural Sandstone. Whilst not necessary to protect the stone itself, using a colour-enhancer will slow the fading process and/or enhance the appearance of Black Limestone and Andhra Grey Limestone.

Pre-sealing means that your stone arrives on site sealed and ready to install. Our service gives reliable and even coverage of each stone, to ensure the best protection, and the Dry-Treat Stain-Proof’s performance warranty (15 years for Stain-Proof Premium Impregnating Sealer and 5 years for Stain-Proof Colour Enhancing Sealer).

We have chosen to use Stain-Proof products for our pre-sealing service because their sealers are different in two important ways. Firstly, Stain-Proof sealers penetrate deeply into the stone. Secondly, they make a permanent chemical bond with particles inside the capillary pores below the surface, yet they still allow moisture to evaporate. Our service also gives you a performance warranty.

Sealing a surface with a Dry-Treat Stain Proof premium impregnating sealer will make the surface water and oil-based stain-resistant, but not dirt resistant. The sealed surface should be cleaned as regularly as a non-sealed surface. If a problematic substance such as sticky tree gum falls on the surface, it will still be difficult to clean off. However it shouldn’t permanently stain the surface.

Sealed stone can still scratch and darker coloured stones will show up scratch and scuff marks more than lighter ones.

Your stone will tend to look slightly darker when sealed and it will not then darken when wet. Colour Enhancing sealer can also bring out the natural colour variation in the stone and show details like veining more clearly.

If an area of porous building materials is prepared and sealed by a Dry-Treat Accredited Applicator who holds a current license, you will qualify for a written warranty. The warranty is between Dry-Treat Stain-Proof and the property owner, and states that if the sealed surface is properly maintained but fails then it will be re-sealed free of charge. A failure is a treated surface that does not repel water and/or stains from a non-acidic non-solvent based liquid when compared to an untreated surface.

If using a landscaper, let them know you have pre-sealed the stone so they don’t try and seal again after the installation.

You may want to buy a small amount of extra sealant so you or your landscaper can apply it over the top of the joints or exposed cuts after installation.