Is Granite Porous Or Nonporous

Granite is a porous material.

Is granite porous or nonporous.

When a surface is nonporous such as stainless steel it cannot absorb anything at all. Common hard surface materials are stainless steel solid surface laminate porcelain and a wide variety of tile and ridged plastic materials. Granite is usually non porous but there are exceptions. To better understand the natural porosity of granite it helps to understand the following details.

Hard surfaces are a combination of porous and nonporous materials. Granite countertops are porous if left unsealed. All natural stone possesses some degree of porosity. If liquid or stains get down into the stone it can result in damages and weakening of your granite.

This means granite has tiny crevices or holes that allow air and water into the stone. This means that if it is not properly sealed liquid is able to penetrate its surface. Some of the more common porous surfaces include laminate granite and various types of tile and plastic materials. Like all natural stone granite is susceptible to liquid sinking into its surface.

Granite while it is a very hard substrate it is still somewhat porous. The general composition of granite includes silicon dioxide feldspar mica and various minerals. For example limestone is very porous when compared to quartzite and granite isn t as porous as marble. Granite is a naturally porous stone though it s not as porous as some other types of natural stone like marble.

Granite is an igneous rock. Even worse germs bacteria and mold can invade unsealed granite counter tops with stains running not far behind. Being porous is not necessarily a bad quality. How porous your granite countertop is will depend on how it is finished and how it is treated.

Also granite is immune from the damages of most common household acids. Alas its porous surface is granite s kryptonite. Primarily the sealing is done to keep harmful bacteria from penetrating the stone and transferring to food items. Come back and wipe the area.

Put a few drops of water on it and wait 30 minutes. Polished granite is the most durable most granite countertops are polished then sealed making them nearly impermeable. Polishing the stone creates a flat smooth surface that reduces the porosity. Most fabricators will apply a sealer to granite countertops before they are installed which will protect them from absorbing liquids too quickly.

If liquids are left on the surface for long periods of time they will eventually absorb. Often overlooked are details such as the material surface texture. If the area is darker then the rest of your granite it means that it has adsorbed some of the water rendering it porous.