What benefits come from appying mineral oil to concrete counter tops rather than other sealers? Finsher, Virginia
Good question finsher,
Mineral oil is not considered a sealer. Concrete is very absorbent and draws the mineral oil in. When concrete is saturated with the mineral oil it repels oils and other liquids. The oil can be applied with ease and is available anywhere. The finished concrete has a natural look and feel. Mineral oil is often used with a layer of wax to get a true seal on the concrete. Our first concrete counters were "sealed" with mineral oil and a layer of carnauba wax. The look was very appealing and had a nice feel. The counters were prone to water marks and staining. Modern sealers can give you a natural, durable and stain resistant seal. They are also very easy to apply. So the only advantage, as I see it, to using mineral oil is the price and availability.
doing the concrete thing,
Big Al
