What's the best, most economical way to seal granite countertops? We've had ones in kitchen and baths for five years and have never done anything to seal them. The kitchen counters have a couple chips on the edges. Suggestions?
I think you have two separate questions here, the first with a sub-part.
(1) Are you sure you actually need to seal them? They may not need it -- see here:
http://www.wikihow.com/Seal-Granite-CountertopsIf it's already stain-resistant/sealed, you don't need or want to do more.
I haven't used the fluorocarbon aliphatic resin they recommend in that wikihow article, but I have used siloxane-based sealants, and my one bit of advise is: GOOD VENTILATION. That stuff reeks! In a "wow, I can totally believe I'm upping my cancer risk" kind of way. Note: I don't know how nasty they really are for you, but the smell is enough to give pause.
(2) The chips need an epoxy-style agent that cures really hard. Something like this:
http://amzn.to/2hrwAekI haven't used that specific one, but it gets good reviews. Note, though, that you need to get the chipped area really clean *and oil free* before using any type of repair kit, or the epoxy/acrylic won't bond well, and your repair won't hold for long. If you buy a kit, follow its instructions -- you usually need to clean with alcohol or acetone. A wire brush isn't a bad idea for getting rid of larger and looser particles, either, but be gentle with it.
