I'm wondering if there is another forum elsewhere--I'm assuming it's not here at OG--where one could find out about the relative safety of the impregnator-type sealants used in the fabrication of granite kitchen counters. Since it will be a food prep surface, one would want to use all caution, but of course the granite fabricator claims all granite *has* to be sealed. I've read elsewhere that the harder granites do not have to be sealed. I don't know enough of the chemistry of the matter, but would like suggestions for where to research further.

Ah...lemonbalm2....never "assume"! You never know what infor you may find within these Forums!

I'm sure there's a lot of other sources of info out there on granite and granite sealants, but here's some I found interesting, especially cause they're not "company" or "stone-product manufacturers'" public relations copy. X-(

Here's a quote from this woman's experience w/granite countertops at the following website:
http://www.newsday.com/features/home/ny-lshome3892093ju...homegarden-headlines
...."all "true" granites are subject to staining and must be sealed. But the catch is that the majority of stones sold commercially as "granite" are not. When it comes to kitchen counters, some of these stones - larvikite, for example, or gabbro, dolerite and anorthosite - are superior to true granite because [u]they're so dense they're impervious even to sealers. In fact, they should never be sealed,[/u] because that will cause other problems. At the other end of the spectrum are stones so porous you would never ever want to use them in a kitchen."

And another from this website:
http://www.keidel.com/design/select/tops-matl-granite.htm
"Some food preparers have an instinctive aversion to the possibility of any chemicals coming into contact with food. While granite sealers leave only negligible surface residue and are not considered to be a health risk, those individuals may prefer to purchase a solid surface or engineered stone product that doesn't have to be sealed."

There's a stone product put out by this company in Virginia which is already impregnated w/sealant: http://www.luckstone.com/arch/getting_started/faq_3.php3

From what I've gathered, despite what the fabricators of stone may tell you, sealant or no sealant, it will stain. And if you DO seal it, it has to be repeated every 6 months or so. I also gather the color and design of the stone has a lot to do w/how it absorbs water and stains.

If, however, you do go with a sealant:
(1)Absolutely have the fabricator/installer tell you the name of the sealant they're using. Don't except an answer like:
"Oh, it's industrial strength something-or-other. All the pros use it." OR "Oh, I don't remember the name, and besides you don't really need to know it." PHOOEY!X-(

Once you find the name, either ask the installer or look up on the internet for the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet). Every product (especially something chemically related) has to have one, and it's you're right to see it.

Finally, there's a company called "Safecoat" that manufactures environmentally friendly, supposedly non-toxic sealants. Perhaps they may carry something that might be suitable for your use.
http://www.afmsafecoat.com/products.html
(Scroll down to their list of sealants).

Hope some of this helps!

gardenz

thank you gardenz! I will follow those links. Indeed some of what I'm looking at is anorthocite (sic?) precisely because it doesn't apparently need sealing, but I've also gotten fond of Atlantic Green Granite but haven't been able to find out about it's composition yet...