Slate stone may be a lot stronger than wood, but when it comes to the elemental forces of weather slate, too, is not exempted to decay and erosion. Fortunately, mankind has discovered ways to protect stone surfaces, like slate, from the inevitable process of weathering, top of which is the use of stone sealers.

So, what is a sealer? In a nutshell, a slate sealer is a chemical mixture, usually in the form of a thick mixture, which you apply on a stone to protect it from dust, stains, tear and wear and the other elements of nature that the stone is often exposed to. Basically, sealing slate with a slate sealer is one of the most effective means to maintain the latter's smooth surface, stain-free look and most importantly, its durability.

Okay, there are different types of sealers that you can choose from for sealing slate stones. However, if you're particularly aiming to make your slate stone structures as durable and longer lasting as possible, then you have to go straight to the impregnating or penetrating sealers. From the name itself, an impregnating or penetrating sealer protects not just the surface of the stone, but also the interior. Indeed, when it comes to sealing slate, the impregnating sealers are deemed as top of the class.

Basically, impregnating and penetrating sealers are designed to penetrate through the surface of the stone and thus do more job than the common topical sealers. Because they can go under the surface, they do a more effective job of preventing oil and water from seeping or sticking into the stone, something that the other sealers wouldn't be capable of.

However, the greatest edge of a impregnating slate sealer over the others is probably the fact that it can prevent salt crystallization from occurring on the stone's surface. Hence, the stone stands at a higher chance of standing against weather and human impacts.

Ultimately, sealing slate with impregnating and penetrating sealers would also prove to be more cost-effective in the long run. Sure, they don't come as cheap as the other types, but because they last longer, you don't have to buy them again for a longer period of time. And because they are longer lasting than their counterparts are, sealing slate with this type of sealers could save you from the tedious process of re-applying sealers every now and then to renew their effectiveness. Now, isn't that just awesome?