Two Ways to Test Stone Sealer Performance

If you want to do a field test to find out whether the sealer on natural stone is performing, you can choose a quick, informal test, no equipment required, or a more scientific test using a Rilem tube. Here are the details.

Absorbency Test Instructions

Take a drop or two of water and place it on the surface of the stone.
Record the time it takes to soak into the stone.
If the water soaks into the stone in under five minutes, the stone is absorbent, which means the sealer is not performing.

A more scientific approach to check absorbency is to use a RILEM tube.” This is a relatively easy, fast test that can provide quantitative results. Here are instructions.

Rilem Tube Test Instructions

Place the tube on the surface of the stone.
Fill the tube with water.
Note the water level.
Wait twenty minutes.
Note the water level again.
If the stone is absorbent, the water in the tube will lower, which means the sealer is not performing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fred Hueston is the author of Stone and Tile Restoration: The Manual, a comprehensive online manual for stone and tile restoration contractors. He is also Chief Technical Director for Surface Care PROS (www.backstage.surfacecarepros.com) and Stone Forensics (www.stoneforensics.com) [Learn more about Fred.]

Article ID: 743
Created: March 11, 2023
Last Updated: May 28, 2025
Author: Fred Hueston

Online URL: https://sr-manual.com/kb/article/two-ways-to-test-stone-sealer-performance-743.html