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Should I seal or enhance-seal my leathered Virginia Mist?

9 years ago

My leathered Virginia Mist granite is installed but not yet sealed. My sister has had the same stone (antiqued rather than leathered) in her kitchen for years. She has never sealed it, and has has no issues at all with staining. That's partly why I chose it, in addition to loving the way it looks. However, when I test my samples, oil stains are showing up -- on unsealed, sealed and even enhanced-sealed! Aaaagh!

Sealed is on the right (fabricator is spelling-challenged) and enhanced sealed is on the left. I don't know which products he used. Second photo indicates where I put the oil.

The enhanced seems to show the oil stain a bit less. But I prefer the lighter color, and my contractor told me the enhancer can look blotchy over time.

Can you please share your experience with Virginia Mist sealing/enhancing and whether you are happy with your choice?

Note to self for next kitchen remodel... Test samples of specific slab before buying...

Featured Answer

Julie Drew
Original Author

8 years ago

designsaavy, that's interesting. My counters aren't shiny or wet looking at all. I will post a few pics though I have not yet cleaned up enough to do a proper finished kitchen photo!

sorry..sink needs to be cleaned... but anyway, this is the best close-up I have. not shiny or wet looking.

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Comments (7)

Julie Drew
Original Author
9 years ago
Julie Drew
Original Author
9 years ago
Following up on this...I tried a few different sealers and all were failing the oil test. I was in a panic and wondered if I'd chosen a stone that was super fussy. I finally got some good advice from a local fabricator (not the one who installed my granite) to use Tenax Ager (to enhance) and Tenax ProSeal. They are both solvent based. Both oil and water beaded up after one application to my sample. My counters are completely transformed. It's too early to say how often I will have to reapply, but the fabricator suggested it would be about 1 year. He said to watch for water to stop beading up around the sink.
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Colld - You are awesome! Thank you so much for letting me know where to find the Virginia Mist and Jet Mist. Basically I think I need to work backwards - start with the supplier and then find a fabricator who works with them I guess. It sounds like PMI is great. I looked up the stones you mentioned and they are gorgeous! I have never seen the Giallo Matisse - totally beautiful. Will you do them in a different finish? or keep them polished? Eastcoastmom - who did you use to install? Are you in Philly, too? What stone did you choose? I think I need to schedule a babysitter and then do a day long trip of driving to these places. They are probably 1 1/2 hours away from where I live, but well worth the trip if I actually find something I like. I'm completely confused now that the KD said I couldn't pull off Virginia Mist. So I guess I have to rethink everything, even if I go back to VM as what I want. Thanks everyone for all of your kind words and advice. This forum is SO helpful to me right now!
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lisa_a
9 years ago
Sorry you had to deal with this angst but I really appreciate you posting how you resolved it for our benefit.

Enjoy your kitchen!
designsaavy
8 years ago
Julie, I just spoke to someone at Tenax about the Tenax Ager and the Ager Tiger. He told me that it would leave a wet look on my leathered Black Pearl granite. I told him that I didn't want a wet look, but a matte black look. He told me the Proseal alone would not change the color.

Can you tell me what the products did for your countertop? From what you explained above, you applied both the Ager and the Proseal. Do you have pics?

My Black Pearl granite is a big splotchy mess.
designsaavy
8 years ago
That looks great! So, apply Tenax Ager (NOT Ager Tiger) and rub in well before applying the Proseal?
Julie Drew
Original Author
8 years ago
Yes, that's what he did.

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