How Often Should Natural Stone Be Resealed?
Sealant wears off gradually and invisibly, so a lot of homeowners find out too late. Here's a realistic resealing schedule by stone type.
Sealant isn't permanent, and it doesn't fail all at once — it thins out gradually with foot traffic, weather, and cleaning, so the stone underneath becomes more absorbent long before it looks any different.
As a general guide: exterior stone like sandstone, limestone and travertine paving typically needs resealing every 1 to 3 years, depending on exposure and traffic. Interior stone floors, which see far less weathering, can often go 3 to 5 years between reseals.
The simplest test is the water test: splash a little water on the stone. If it beads up, the seal is still working. If it soaks straight in and darkens the stone, the seal has worn through and the surface is exposed.
Resealing too infrequently leaves stone open to staining and frost damage; resealing over a dirty or already-sealed surface just traps grime underneath. A proper deep clean before resealing is what actually makes the seal last.
Need this done professionally rather than DIY?
Natural Stone & Hard Floor Cleaning