Quick answer
A sealer soaks into the pores and slows stains. It does not stop etching from lemon, wine or vinegar, it does nothing for scratches, and it has to be reapplied every year or two. Our Stone Protection Film is a clear physical layer bonded over the surface: it blocks stains and etching, resists and self-heals scratches, and carries a 10-year written warranty. Film is what we recommend on every surface we cover.
Side-by-side comparison
| Penetrating sealer | Anti-etch liquid coating | Protection film | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Soaks into pores | Thin coating on the surface | Clear film bonded over the surface |
| Stops stains | Slows them | Yes, while intact | Yes |
| Stops etching | No | Partly, wears over time | Yes |
| Scratch resistance | No | Limited | Yes, with self-healing top layer |
| Changes the look | No | Can change sheen | Your call. Gloss or Satin, matched to the existing finish or used to change it |
| Maintenance | Reapply periodically | Reapply as it wears | Clean with normal non-abrasive cleaners |
| Typical life | About 1 to 3 years | Varies by product and use | 10 to 15 years, 10-year warranty |
| Removable | Wears away | Stripped chemically | Yes, without machining the stone |
What a sealer cannot do
- Stop etching. Acid reacts with the stone itself, and a sealer sits down in the pores rather than over the surface.
- Stop scratches, scuffs or chips. A sealer adds no physical layer at all.
- Stay put. Most penetrating sealers need reapplying every one to three years, and there is no visible sign when they stop working.
- Do much on engineered stone, porcelain or non-stone surfaces, which are not porous enough to take a sealer.
An anti-etch liquid coating goes further than a sealer, but it is still a thin film of product that wears, can change the sheen unevenly and has to be stripped chemically and redone.
Where our film goes
- Marble, limestone, travertine and onyx benchtops, islands, vanities and tables.
- Granite, quartzite and dolomite, where the film handles stains, scratches and everyday wear.
- Engineered stone and porcelain, including slabs already installed.
- Selected non-stone surfaces. Send us a photo and we will tell you whether the film suits it.
- Restaurants, bars, wineries and cafes with stone tables and counters.
- Newly installed or newly restored surfaces you want to keep perfect, rentals, and homes being prepared for sale.
Gloss or Satin is your choice
Our film comes in Gloss and Satin. Neither is tied to a stone type. Most clients keep the original design intent, so Gloss goes over polished surfaces and Satin over honed, leathered or matte ones, but you can use the film to change the finish instead if that is the look you want. A polished marble island can go Satin, a honed benchtop can go Gloss. We bring samples so you can see both on your own surface before anything is cut.
What about DIY films?
Cheap adhesive vinyl sold online is not the same product. It is usually thinner, can look plastic, and is hard to lay flat around sinks and edges. Professional films use optically clear aliphatic polyurethane that stays flat and does not yellow, and are installed with trimmed, sealed edges.
Next: what affects the cost of protection film.
Frequently asked questions
Get a free, no-obligation quote
Send us a few photos of your benchtop, the stone type (if you know it) and your suburb. We reply within the hour during business hours.