Granite owners get sold a lot of protection they don't need, so let's start honestly: granite is the toughest natural stone in the average kitchen, it rarely etches, and for plenty of granite benchtops a sensible sealing routine is genuinely enough. We tell people that to their face. But tough isn't immune, and the granite jobs we do take on follow a pattern.
What actually damages granite benchtops?
Three things, mostly. Staining: granite is still porous, and lighter granites in particular drink in oil, wine and coffee, which sit as darkened patches that resist normal cleaning. Heat marks: many slabs carry resin fills from the factory, and those fills can mark or discolour under a pan that would leave the granite itself untouched. And wear: years of dragged appliances and gritty scourers slowly dull the polish. What granite almost never does is etch. The lemon juice and vinegar that ruin marble usually leave granite alone.
Sealing granite, sensibly
For most granite, care is simple: a penetrating sealer renewed when it stops working, mild dish soap for cleaning, and boards and trivets doing their usual jobs. The water test tells you when the sealer is done: splash a little water on the bench, and if it darkens into the stone within a few minutes instead of sitting in beads, it's time to reseal. If your granite is dark, dense and lightly used, that routine may honestly be all you ever need.
When film earns its place on granite
The granite owners who choose surface protection film usually have one of three situations: a pale granite that marks visibly with oil and wine; a hard-working kitchen where nobody wants to think about resealing schedules again; or a new benchtop they want kept at day-one condition without managing it. The film covers the whole surface all the time: spills bead on top, resin fills sit safely under cover, and everyday wear lands on a self-healing layer instead of the polish.
Half our granite conversations end with "you don't need us." We're fine with that.
Not sure which kind of granite owner you are? Ask us and we'll tell you straight, including if the answer is "just reseal it". The wider comparison of every option is in the honest guide to kitchen benchtop protectors.