Q: How do you update granite countertops without replacing them?

• <div><p>You can&rsquo;t change the color of the stone, but you can update granite countertops without replacing them by painting them. Because granite is a porous material, you&rsquo;ll want to seal them first before painting them so that the paint doesn&rsquo;t hurt the surface. This is important because you don&rsquo;t want to devalue your counters by damaging the original surface; even if you don&rsquo;t like the color now, you or a new homeowner may want to remove the paint someday and return them to their original color. You can also cover them with </p></div>

Question 1

Does flagstone need to be sealed?

Accepted Answer

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Sealing is essential to keep your flagstone looking new for as long as possible. If you don’t seal flagstone, the surface can wear and stain. It also helps protect the stone’s natural texture. Just make sure you choose a matte sealant to avoid making your stone slippery like a glossy sealant can.

Question 2

What does a mason do?

Accepted Answer

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A mason lays brick or stone together, sometimes with mortar in between the bricks and stones, and sometimes without mortar, also called a dry-stack or surface bonding. Examples of work masons do include:

Brick, stone, or cement block houses and buildings
Freestanding stone or brick walls
Chimneys with wood-burning fireplaces
Cement block basement or crawl space walls

Question 3

How often should stone slab countertops be professionally inspected?

Accepted Answer

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It is advisable to have stone countertops inspected every few years, especially if damage is noticed. Regular maintenance and inspection help catch and resolve issues early, extending the countertops' lifespan.

Question 4

Can you make granite countertops darker?

Accepted Answer

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You generally cannot change the color of the natural stone, such as making granite countertops darker or lighter. Some people claim that certain chemicals will lighten or darken granite, but those will damage the stone and not provide uniform, expected results, so it’s better not to try. Similarly, some people ask whether they can stain over granite. Granite is beloved for its stain-resistant finish, so you probably won’t get the best outcome if you try to stain over granite to make it darker.

Instead, consider honing, painting, or applying another material over the top of the granite to make it appear darker.

Question 5

How do you update granite countertops without replacing them?

Accepted Answer

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You can’t change the color of the stone, but you can update granite countertops without replacing them by painting them. Because granite is a porous material, you’ll want to seal them first before painting them so that the paint doesn’t hurt the surface. This is important because you don’t want to devalue your counters by damaging the original surface; even if you don’t like the color now, you or a new homeowner may want to remove the paint someday and return them to their original color. You can also cover them with